Cano, Yanks down Rockies to claim three-game series

Published May 09, 2013

Sports Network

Denver, CO –  Robinson Cano belted a solo home run to help lift the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies in the rubber match of a three-game series at Coors Field.

Thursday's tilt became a battle of the bullpens when a two-hour, seven- minute rain delay knocked both starting pitchers, New York's CC Sabathia and Colorado's Jeff Francis (1-3), out after four innings.

Once play resumed, Cano launched a two-out shot to right field off Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino to put New York up 3-1 in the fifth.

Colorado had its chances against Yankees' relievers Adam Warren (1-0), Boone Logan, Preston Claiborne and David Robertson, but stranded two runners in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Robertson recovered after issuing a walk to the Rockies' leadoff hitter, Eric Young, in the eighth, then Mariano Rivera overcame plunking a batter in the ninth to earn his 13th save of the season.

Vernon Wells gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the opening frame, but the Rockies answered in the bottom of the first on a Carlos Gonzalez sacrifice fly.

New York went back in front in the fourth. Former Rockie Chris Nelson stroked a leadoff double and eventually scored on Chris Stewart's sac fly to center field.

After Sabathia retired the Rockies in order in the home half, heavy rain halted play. Sabathia had allowed just one hit prior to the stoppage.

Game Notes

Cano picked up his 1,500th career hit with a two-out single in the third inning ... Joe Girardi notched his 499th win as Yankees manager.

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Red Sox down A's, take three-game series

Boston, MA –  Daniel Nava had a pinch-hit RBI single which proved to be the eventual game-winner as part of a three-run fifth inning, and the Boston Red Sox survived with a 6-5 win over the Oakland Athletics to take the three-game series at Fenway Park.

David Ortiz and Shane Victorino also drove in runs in the decisive fifth frame for Boston, which responded well after dropping last night's contest, 13-0. Stephen Drew added two RBI.

Jon Lester (4-0) remained perfect on the season despite walking six batters in 5 2/3 innings of work. He also allowed three runs and struck out five.

Oakland was paced by Chris Young, who hit two home runs and drove in four of the team's five runs. Jed Lowrie went 3-for-5 with a run scored while Josh Donaldson had two hits and an RBI.

Brett Anderson (1-4) lasted just four-plus innings for the A's, yielding six runs and eight hits while striking out five.

In the deciding inning, Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a single and stole second before coming in on Victorino's double to put the hosts ahead for good. Dustin Pedroia added an infield hit ahead of an Ortiz single to plate Victorino which sent Anderson from the mound.

Chris Resop entered only to hit Mike Napoli and serve up Nava's pinch-single for a 6-3 game.

In the sixth, Lester loaded the bases with two down and was lifted in favor of Junichi Tazawa, who got Coco Crisp to fly out to left to get out of trouble.

Oakland tacked on one run apiece in the seventh and eighth innings on Donaldson's single to right and Young's second homer, this one a leadoff solo shot.

Andrew Bailey, filling in for an injured Joel Hanrahan, then struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save of the campaign.

Oakland opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning. Following singles by Lowrie and Brandon Moss, Young cranked his first home run of the afternoon to left field for a 3-0 game.

The Red Sox responded quickly, plating three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Ortiz started the rally with a one-out double to left field. Napoli followed with a double, scoring Ortiz, then Jonny Gomes walked. Two batters later, Drew brought in two more runs with a triple to right field.

Game Notes

Home plate umpire Jerry Layne left the game in the top of the fourth inning after being struck on the hand by a foul ball ... Victorino also left in the seventh inning with an apparent back injury ... Ellsbury stole his league-best 10th base of the season.

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