Yankees Blast Five Home Runs In Close Win (58-62)

Morales was roughed up

It's basically to the point in the season where it's just fun to watch baseball and we're trying to soak up as much as possible before the offseason-- thus, tonight's loss wasn't too disappointing. The Yankees jumped out to a lead in the bottom of the first when Nick Swisher ran into one, driving it to deep left to make it 1-0. The Yanks went to the long ball twice in the next inning, scoring twice on back-to-back home runs to right field by Curtis Granderson and Russell Martin to make it 3-0. The Red Sox came roaring back in the third inning though, started on a leadoff single for Mike Aviles. Aviles reached third (and Scott Podsednik reached first) on a botched double play ball. Pedro Ciriaco proceeded to beat out the back end of a double play ball for an RBI forceout to make it 3-1. Jacoby Ellsbury's walk would eventually put two men on base and two outs for Dustin Pedroia. That was when Pedroia lifted one to left, driving it well out of the park for a three-run homer to make it 4-3.

Pedroia had a three-run homer

It took them until the fifth, but the Yankees eventually answered for that as Derek Jeter lined a home run around the foul pole in left field to tie the game. One inning later, the Yankees knocked Franklin Morales out of the game after putting runners at the corners with one out. Clayton Mortensen came in and struck out Russell Martin, but then allowed the go ahead run on a soft single to right for Jayson Nix to make it 5-4. The Yankees added onto that lead in the seventh inning when Nick Swisher blasted his second home run of the game to right-center, making it 6-4. The Yankees were able to hold that lead and one of the strongest bullpens in baseball easily shut down the Red Sox.

Bright Spots:
Andrew Miller- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K
Jacoby Ellsbury- 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB
Dustin Pedroia- 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Mike Aviles- 2-4, 1 R

Dull Spots:
Franklin Morales- 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 3 K, L (3-4)
Clayton Mortensen- 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 K
Adrian Gonzalez- 0-4, 1 LOB
Cody Ross- 0-4, 2 K
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 0-4, 2 K
Scott Podsednik- 0-3, 2 LOB

Player of the Game:
Despite only going 1-4, Pedroia's hit was a big one as he blasted a three-run homer to left field and is now .281/10/47 this season.