Jesus Montero tags Tim Beckham out at home after receiving a throw from Brett Gardner in the third inning. (AP)
Lineup:
L - Brett Gardner (LF)
R - Nick Swisher (RF)
L - Curtis Granderson (CF)
R - Russell Martin (DH)
L - Eric Chavez (1B)
R - Jesus Montero (C)
R - Eduardo Nuñez (2B)
R - Brandon Laird (3B)
S - Ramiro Peña (SS)
Pitchers: Freddy Garcia, Ivan Nova, Dellin Betances, Adam Warren, Robert Fish, Daniel Turpen, D.J. Mitchell
Subs: Jorge Vazquez (1B), Kevin Russo (2B), Doug Bernier (SS), Bradley Suttle (3B), Gustavo Molina (C), Daniel Brewer (RF), Austin Krum (CF), Greg Golson (LF), Colin Curtis (DH)
Formidable Opponents: A viable version of the Rays' starting nine, with Ben Zobrist, John Jaso, and Reid Brignac only notable omissions, and two innings each of James Shields and Wade Davis, bookending the game.
Big hits: Eric Chavez (1-for-3) doubled off James Shields. He was one of just five Yankee baserunners in the ten-inning game. No Yankee reached base twice, and their only run came against Jake McGee in the eighth and scored on an error. Jesus Montero ground out and flew out in two trips.
Who Pitched Well: Everyone but Dellin Betances, really. Take out Betances's line and the other six Yankee pitchers put up this line: 8 1/3 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, and only one of those seven hits went for extra bases (a Tim Beckham double off Ivan Nova, who scattered three hits across three innings and hit a batter). Only Nova and D.J. Mitchell, who worked a perfect tenth inning, failed to strike anyone out, and Nova got six of his nine outs on groundballs (including a double play off the bat of Matt Joyce) and Mitchell got all three batters he faced to ground out in the tenth. Freddy Garcia faced seven batters and only two of them hit the ball into the outfield in the air. He got two pop ups, a strikeout, a groundout, and benefited from one overly aggressive baserunning decision by Joyce, who was thrown out going first to third on an infield single (nice play by Eduardo Nuñez, ranging to his left, to realize he didn't have a play at first, but had one at third). Garcia was sitting in the high-80s with his fastball, which according to Chad Jennings was about all he threw (along with one changeup, his best pitch, one slider, and three split fingers, one of which struck out Evan Longoria). Brought in with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh, Adam Warren struck out Joe Inglett to get out of the jam, then worked around a single for a scoreless eighth, getting all three outs on the ground (though Desmond Jennings helped by leading off with a bunt). Lefty Robert Fish faced one batter, lefty Casey Kotchman, and struck him out. Fellow Rule 5er Daniel Turpen followed and, after allowing a single to Daniel Mayora, struck out catching prospect Robinson Chirinos and Brandon Guyer.
Who Didn't: Dellin Betances retired the first five men he faced, getting the last two outs of the sixth on ground balls and the starting the seventh by striking out Manny Ramirez and Matt Joyce, but then ran into trouble, giving up a double to Kotchman, then walking Sean Rodriguez, Chirinos, and Beckham, the last forcing in a run and resulting in Betances getting the hook.
Rotation Battle: Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova did nothing to hurt their status as the two favorites. Adam Warren and D.J. Mitchell bounced back nicely from shakey first outings, particularly Warren, who impressed by getting out of Betances' jam.
Ouchies: Andrew Brackman (groin) threw off a mound Thursday morning and is expected to throw in a simulated game over the weekend. Russell Martin (knee) is expected to start Friday night's game against the Red Sox. He looked fine running down the line in Wednesday's game.
Oopsies: Brett Gardner was picked off second base after walking and stealing to start the game. Gardner later got that out back by throwing out Beckham at the plate in the third.
Next: The Red Sox come to Tampa for a 7:05 start that will be televised by both YES and the MLB Network. Bartolo Colon is scheduled to start and go three innings.