Bronx, NY (Sports Network) – Curtis Granderson belted a pair of homers, including a three-run blast in the sixth inning, as the New York Yankees held off Tampa Bay, 8-6, to open a key four-game series between the AL East rivals.
Granderson Blasts Two Homers, Yanks Hold Off Rays 8-6
Granderson smacked a two-run shot in the third inning and added his 21st of the year in the sixth, as the Yankees widened their lead to 1 1/2 games in the division. Francisco Cervelli ended with three hits and scored three times.
Ivan Nova gave up three hits and three runs over 5 2/3 innings in the start for the Yankees. Chad Gaudin (1-4) recorded the final out in the top of the sixth to get the win, New York's third in four games.
Matt Garza (14-9) surrendered eight hits and seven runs -- five earned -- over five-plus innings to lose his second straight decision. He's allowed 26 hits and 17 earned runs over his last three outings.
Evan Longoria singled in a run off Mariano Rivera with two outs in the top of the ninth, and Dan Johnson was hit by a pitch. Matt Joyce grounded out to first base, as Rivera held on for his 32nd save.
Brett Gardner and Cervelli singled to put runners at the corners with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth. Derek Jeter gave the Yankees the 5-4 lead with a ground single up the middle.
Jeter went to second when B.J. Upton threw the ball to third base, and Grant Balfour entered from the bullpen, but Granderson homered off the pole in right field for an 8-4 cushion.
John Jaso scored on Longoria's sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Cervelli singled in the third ahead of Granderson’s blast to right-center off Garza.
The Yankees padded their lead to 4-0 in the fifth. Alex Rodriguez lifted a sacrifice fly to left with the bases loaded. Robinson Cano was intentionally walked and Nick Swisher drew ball four outside for a 4-0 margin.
Carl Crawford reached first on Cervelli's catcher interference call with the bases full in the sixth to account for Tampa Bay's first run. Longoria then grounded into a double play, which plated Jaso. Boone Logan entered from the bullpen, but walked Joyce and allowed a single to Carlos Pena to load the bases again. Gaudin walked Upton before finally escaping the frame with the score tied by getting Jason Bartlett to fly out to left.
The Yankees’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth is five...Before the game, the Yankees unveiled a large monument of late owner George Steinbrenner. The Yankees brought back many former members of the club to honor “The Boss”, who passed away earlier this summer after a 37-year run as owner of the Bronx Bombers. The team revealed a monument in Steinbrenner’s honor in the famed Monument Park...This was Granderson’s third multi-homer game of the year and seventh of his career.
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