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After getting the walk-off hit last night, Martin Prado continued his hot hitting today. He picked up three hits and drove in two of the Yankees' runs. And throw in six solid innings from Hiroki Kuroda and that added up to a nice 5-3 win over the White Sox on Joe Torre Day.
Chicago got on the board first in the top of the second. Conor Gillaspie led of the inning with a double off Kuroda. Alexi Ramirez followed that with a double of his own. That scored Gillaspie and made it 1-0. Kuroda came back to strike out the side but Chicago now had an early lead.
The Yankees quickly got that run back in the bottom of the second. Mark Teixeira drew a walk to lead off the inning. Carlos Beltran came up next and he grounded one towards second. It looked like it would be an easy double play ball, but Carlos Sanchez booted it and both runners were safe. Prado then laid down a bunt. Jose Abreu fielded it, but some White Sox derp allowed Prado to be safe with a single. That meant the bases were loaded with nobody out. Chase Headley then grounded into a double play. It wasn't optimal but it scored a run to tie the game.
Two innings later, the Yankees took the lead. Brian McCann led off the inning with a double. After Teixeira drew a second walk, Beltran punched a single through. McCann was held up at third, but Teixeira didn't realize it and got himself caught in a rundown. He stayed in it long enough for Beltran to move up to second, but that play will not be going on Tex's highlight reel. Prado came up next and he laced a double to left, that scored both runners and gave the Yankees a 3-1 lead.
The White Sox got one of those runs back in the top of the fifth. Alejandro De Aza led off the inning by drawing a walk. A wild pitch during Sanchez's at bat allowed him to move to second and he would come around to score when Abreu doubled. Kuroda then got Adam Dunn to ground into an inning-ending double play to keep the lead intact.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Yankees were able to extend their lead back out when Beltran led of the inning with a home run. After that, Prado chopped a hit into left field. He tried extending it to a double but was called out after the throw beat him to the bag. However, on closer look, Prado got his hand in before the tag was made and the call was reversed. Prado moved to third when Headley grounded out and scored on a Stephen Drew sac fly. After six innings it was 5-2 Yankees.
Shawn Kelley would come out to start the seventh inning, ending Kuroda's day. Hirok went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six. Jordan Danks led off the seventh inning with a single. After Adrian Nieto struck out, De Aza doubled, putting runners at second and third. Kelley then got Sanchez to ground out, but it was enough to score a run. That brought up Abreu as the tying run. Abreu wound up walking, leading Girardi to go back to the bullpen and bring in Dellin Betances to face Dunn. Betances got him to fly out to the warning track in right field.
After the Yankees couldn't add to their lead in the seventh, Adam Warren pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth.
The Yankees again went down in order in the eighth, meaning it was time for David Robertson to come in and try and get the save. Other than a walk to Paul Konerko, Robertson got through the inning without much trouble. That sealed a 5-3 win over the White Sox, giving the Yankees their third straight win.
The Yankees and White Sox will finish up their series tomorrow at 1:05 eastern. The starting pitching matchup will be a battle of the Chrises. It'll be Chris Capuano for the Yankees and Chris Sale for Chicago. Pretty even if you ask me.