Ben Sheets put together his longest outing of the season (7.1 innings) and held the vaunted Yankee offense to 3 runs, but it was not enough as the A’s offense could not get going against Javier Vazquez.
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) – Javier Vazquez allowed just one run over seven solid innings, and the New York Yankees defeated the Oakland Athletics, 3-1, to take the first of a three-game set at Oakland Coliseum.
Vazquez (7-7), who hadn’t won since June 12, yielded three hits and two walks while fanning two for the Yankees, who have won four of five. Mark Teixeira belted a solo homer, while Curtis Granderson and Francisco Cervelli each had an RBI in the win.
Mariano Rivera recorded his 19th save of the season with a perfect ninth.
Coco Crisp’s sacrifice fly accounted for Oakland’s lone run, as the A’s lost for only the third time in 10 games. Ben Sheets (3-8) was effective in defeat, giving up three runs and eight hits while fanning four in 7 1/3 innings.
After each pitcher threw a perfect first inning, the Yankees jumped on Sheets for two runs in the second.
The first two batters were retired, but Nick Swisher doubled, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Granderson’s triple. Cervelli followed with a single to increase the lead.
The A’s were able to cut their deficit in half in the third when Cliff Pennington tripled and came around to score on Crisp’s sacrifice fly, but Vazquez limited the damage from there.
Teixeira’s homer with one out in the sixth put the Yankees back ahead by two, and Vazquez set Oakland down in order in the sixth and seventh to finish his outing.
Joba Chamberlain and Rivera combined to retire the final six Oakland hitters.
Vazquez made his 400th career start…New York leads the season series, 3-1…Swisher, a former A’s outfielder, was the lone player on either team with multiple hits.