New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of their American League baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York on Friday. (Reuters)
Agencies/New York
The Yankees turned a triple play at home for the first time in 45 years, Adam Jones dropped Vernon Wells’ fly ball while blowing a bubble for a tiebreaking three-run error and New York beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Friday for its fourth straight win.
‘‘That’s like being a kid again,’’ Youkilis said. ‘‘That’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever had on the field. You don’t see one written up like that. It was special. This game we play, it’s one of these games where it’s a job and it’s a grind at times. But when stuff like that happens, you feel like you’re back playing little league again.’’
Baltimore started the eighth with two singles off CC Sabathia (2-1), and Manny Machado hit a sharp low liner that Cano caught on a short hop near second base.
Cano tossed the ball to Nix, who replaced injured shortstop Eduardo Nunez in the third inning, for the forceout at second. Alexi Casilla, thinking the ball was going to be caught by Cano, got trapped in a rundown between second and third base.
Thinking triple play, Youkilis tagged Casillas and made a quick throw to first baseman Lyle Overbay when Machado ranged too far off the bag. Overbay then made an awkward throw to Cano, who tagged Machado, setting off a happy celebration.
The Yankees, who moved over .500 for the first time this year, had last turned a triple play on April 22, 2010, at Oakland - with Sabathia on the mound. They hadn’t accomplished the feat in the Bronx since June 3, 1968, against Minnesota.
With the score 2-all in the seventh, the Yankees had loaded the bases on two walks - one intentional - and a hit batter. Wells hit a long fly ball that Jones - a Gold Glove center fielder - ranged back for. On the warning track, Jones turned, raised his glove and blew a pink bubble. He closed his glove a bit early, and the ball bounced away as the bases cleared.
‘‘Just missed it,’’ Jones said. ‘’You could say it’s rain. You could say it’s cold. You could say anything, wind, you could say whatever you want. I was there. Didn’t catch it. Cost my team the game.’’
In the first meeting between the teams since the Yankees eliminated the Orioles in Game 5 of the division series, Sabathia allowed two runs - one earned - and eight hits with nine strikeouts and no walks. Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his second save.
Youkilis had three hits and an RBI but made an error at third base that led to the tying run in the seventh inning. Youkilis has hit in all nine games he’s played with the Yankees.