Yanks Go Yard Recap: Suzuki’s Single Stings Rays As New York Yankees Rally In Ninth To Win

Every so often, you can look back on one game and say that was the turning point in a player’s season. For Ichiro Suzuki, tonight may have been that. Suzuki came up with two hits, including the winning hit, as the Yankees staged another rally to beat the Rays 4-3.

Apr 23, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Ichiro Suzuki (31) high five teammates after they beat the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

It was also the second straight quality start for Phil Hughes. Hughes went seven strong innings, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out six.The Rays got the scoring started in the first when Desmond Jennings led off with a walk. Ryan Roberts followed with a double and then Ben Zobrist‘s sac fly brought home Jennings. The Yanks came back to tie it in the fourth. Eduardo Nunez struck out, but a wild pitch allowed him to reach first. Robinson Cano singled and Vernon Wells followed with a single to tie the game.

The game remained tied at one until the seventh. Matt Joyce led off the inning with a walk. With one out, James Loney singled and Jose Molina followed with a single to give the Rays a 2-1 lead. The Yanks fought back again in the top of the eighth. With one out, Suzuki singled and Jayson Nix followed with a single. Brett Gardner‘s chopper to second scored Ichiro to tie the game.

The Yanks took the lead in the ninth. Cano led off with a single. Fernando Rodney came in for David Price after that. After a strikeout, Travis Hafner was walked intenionally. Lyle Overbay followed with a walk of his own to load the bases. Chris Stewart fouled out, but Suzuki came up and on the first pitch gave the Yankees the lead with a two run single. Evan Longoria hit his fifth homer of the year in the bottom half of the ninth, but Mariano Rivera got the next three hitters to end the game.

Andy Pettitte will face Alex Cobb in the rubber game Wednesday night at 7:05.

Notes: Mark Teixeira announced he won’t be back on May 1 as he previously suggested. His wrist is still too tight for him to hit a ball off a tee. Kevin Youkilis remained out with a stiff back and probably will miss tomorrow night’s game as well.