Yankees edge Cardinals for fifth straight win
NEW YORK -- Masahiro Tanaka recovered from allowing an early home run and pitched into the seventh inning as the New York Yankees ran their winning streak to five games with a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.
Tanaka lowered his ERA from 11.74 to 8.36 by allowing three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He withstood several hard outs, struck out five and walked two in a 103-pitch outing.
Starlin Castro hit a two-run homer and Austin Romine had a solo homer for the Yankees, who are 4-0 at home for the first time since 2003. Jacoby Ellsbury scored the other run on an error after advancing to third on a Chase Headley double.
Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer and Randal Grichuk had an RBI double for the Cardinals, who are 3-7 for the first time since 1997.
After allowing Carpenter's home run, Tanaka struck out Stephen Piscotty with two on to end the fourth. He had first and second when Grichuk lined a double to left field to make it a one-run game.
Tyler Clippard retired Dexter Fowler on a warning track fly ball to end the seventh. Dellin Betances worked around a two-out walk to Piscotty and ended a scoreless eighth by striking out Matt Adams.
Aroldis Chapman gave up a two-out double to pinch-hitter Jose Martinez in the ninth but recovered and notched his third save.
Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha allowed four runs (three earned) and nine hits in six innings.
Carpenter put St. Louis ahead 2-0 with one out in the first when he launched a full-count offering into right field seats. The Yankees tied it before Wacha recorded an out in the first as Castro lined a 1-1 pitch over the right-center field fence.
New York took a 3-2 lead when Romine lifted a 1-1 pitch over the right-center field wall with one out in the second.
The Yankees added a run in the fifth when Headley doubled and Ellsbury scored on a throwing error by second baseman Kolten Wong on a relay throw to the plate.
NOTES: St. Louis C Yadier Molina appeared in a game in his 34th different ballpark. ... The last time the Cardinals faced the Yankees in New York was June 2003. In that series, managers Joe Girardi and Mike Matheny were catchers for St. Louis. ... C Gary Sanchez (strained right biceps) took some leg swings in the pool. He is not expected to start baseball activities until sometime next week. ... Friday marked the 62nd anniversary of C Elston Howard becoming the first African-American to play for the Yankees.