Photo Courtesy: Darryl Briggs
By Lew Patton
There is nothing like winning a ball game, but when you can totally dominate the New York Yankees in the process, it’s even sweeter.
Shin-Soo Choo hit a go-ahead single and a three-run homer in a 10-run third inning that chased CC Sabithia from his shortest start in six years. The result? The Texas Rangers routed the reeling Yankees 15-4 Saturday to send New York to its ninth loss in 10 games.
This was great news and a great game for the Rangers as every starter had at least one hit. The Rangers, who rode a seven-run third Friday to a 10-9 win, won their fourth straight and at 20-23 are three games under .500 for the first time since they were 6-9. New York lost its fifth in a row.
Nick Martinez (4-0), who pitched just 3 miles from Yankee Stadium for Fordham in 2009 and `11, beat New York for the first time in three career starts. The 18th-round draft pick, who has a 1.96 ERA, allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings, including a pair of solo home runs. He has given up three earned runs or fewer in 15 consecutive starts.
These kinds of games don’t happen very often, but when they do, is a pretty cool accomplishment. Especially if you’re on the winning side of the battle.
