Yankees Overcome Early Mistakes To Win In Extras

Jul 4, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Yankees batter Jacoby Ellsbury hits a two-run single against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Yankees beat the Twins 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

It took 14 innings. 14 long, grueling, mind-numbing innings, but the New York Yankees persevered and overcame an early 3-0 deficit due to shoddy defense, and took a much-needed victory over the Cleveland Indians 5-4 at Progressive Field on Wednesday night.

Yankees’ first baseman Mark Teixeira, who made a critical error in Brandon McCarthy‘s first inning as a Yankee, finished the night 2-for-6, and drove in 3 to lead the Bombers to their second victory in three games against the Tribe. After a shaky first inning, where his defense let him down, McCarthy proved, at least on this evening, that Brian Cashman could know what he’s talking about. The lanky right-hander went 6 2/3 innings, allowing 4 runs, but only one of those being earned. A very solid debut after struggling all season with the Diamondbacks. The real story is the 7 scoreless innings of relief that the Yankees’ bullpen provided while the offense was able to muster one run in the top of the 14th inning.

After the Indians jumped out to their early 3-0 lead, the Bombers began chipping away. Teixeira got the Yankees on the board with a long home run to cut the lead to 3-1. Brian McCann followed that up an inning later in the 5th, with a sac fly that scored Jacoby Ellsbury. If Tex hadn’t done enough, he went yard a second time as well in the 5th, giving the Yankees a 4-3 lead.

McCarthy’s one blip, came in the Tribe’s half of the 5th, as Carlos Santana hit an RBI single to drive in Asdrubal Cabrera,tying the score for the Indians at 4-4. It all came down to one of the Yankees’ most dependable hitters all season, Jacoby Ellsbury. In the Yankees’ top half of the 14th, Ellsbury drove a Vinny Pestano pitch over the right field wall to secure the 5-4 lead for the Yankees. Ellsbury finished 3-for-7 on the night, with a double and the key long ball. David Robertson came on in the bottom of the 14th and locked it down for New York.

The Yankees close out their four-game series with the Indians on Thursday, as David Phelps (3-4, 4.01 ERA) opposes T.J. House (1-2, 4.24 ERA). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. ET.