After playing the equivalent of four games in three days and losing all three, there is no way the Yankees can flee Oakland fast enough. The offense struggled again, leaving 14 men on base as the A’s walked off with an 18 inning win by the score of 3-2.
After Preston Claiborne allowed a one out single in the 18th, Mariano Rivera came out of the pen to allow another single followed by an intentional walk to load the bases. Nate Freiman then came up with the big hit that won the game for Oakland after 18 long innings.
Each team used seven pitchers over the 18 innings and threw 255 pitches a piece. In total 137 batters came to the plate, the third highest total in a game this season.The Yankees also had many chances, getting runners in scoring position in innings ten through 14. The combination of Mark Teixiera, Travis Hafner, Kevin Youkilis, and Vernon Wells combined to go 0-28 in the game with 12 strikeouts.
To make it worse the Yankees got off to a strong start as Robinson Cano blasted his 16th homer run, a two run shot in the first innings. Hiroki Kuroda was strong, giving up just two hits in eight innings pitched. However, a leadoff walk in the third cost him as he gave up two runs that inning that tied the score at 2-2.
That score held up for hours before the Yankees eventually allowed the A’s to walk off. The Yankees will now go to Anaheim to take on the Angels over the weekend. Andy Pettitte will be called on to give a worn out bullpen some rest as he faces C.J. Wilson on Friday night.
By Sam Jackson