Of course it ended this way.
Eduardo Nunez’s dribbler to first with the bases loaded that Brandon Moss couldn’t handle ended a wild, 10-9 Yankees win over the A’s in a game that lasted 5:43 and was filled with terrible baseball.
Melky Mesa, in his major-league debut, misjudged his steps and missed third base on what should have been a game-winning single to center by Alex Rodriguez.
Instead, Mesa had to go back to third and Robinson Cano came to the plate.
Cano hit a comebacker that Tyson Ross fumbled but recovered and threw home while spinning to the ground. He was still able to make the play and force Mesa at home, extending the game even further.
Nunez’s grounder seemed destined to do the same, but Moss booted it, allowing Ichiro Suzuki to score the winning run.
With the Orioles outlasting the Red Sox yesterday, the Yankees still have a one-game lead in the AL East.
After Freddy Garcia and Justin Thomas combined to give up four runs in the top of the 13th, the Yankees stormed back in the bottom of the inning, capped by Raul Ibanez’s two-run shot with one out to tie it at 9-9.
Garcia gave up three runs in the 13th, with Jonny Gomes and Yoenis Cespedes hitting back-to-back homers off the right-hander.
The Yankees loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with three singles off Pedro Figueroa and Ichiro Suzuki scored on a wild pitch by Pat Neshek and then another when Eduardo Nunez’s sacrifice fly drove in Alex Rodriguez.
Ibanez followed with his second homer of the day to help send the game to the 14th.
Joe Girardi was adamant about not using David Robertson and Rafael Soriano yesterday and he stook to his guns despite the length of yesterday’s game.
The Yankees had a chance to win the game in the 12th, but couldn’t push a run across, as Derek Jeter flied out to right with the bases loaded and two out.
After Ibanez hustled into second for a one-out double in the 12th and advanced to third on a wild pitch, he was nailed at the plate trying to score on Russell Martin’s grounder to second.
Ibanez barreled into Derek Norris, but the catcher held on to Cliff Pennington’s throw for the second out.
The Yankees also had a chance to take the lead in the seventh when Nick Swisher pop up to right-center fell between three A’s and Ibanez was hit by a pitch.
Jayson Nix bunted both players over, but Curtis Granderson’s foul popup was caught by third baseman Josh Donaldson and pinch-hitter Eric Chavez struck out looking to end the inning.
They also managed to preserve a 5-5 tie in the eighth when Cody Eppley got Cespedes to fly to Granderson in center to keep it 5-5.
Earlier, Ibanez broke an 0-for-18 slide with a pinch-hit, go-ahead homer in the fifth, but the A’s tied it in the seventh with Chris Carter’s sacrifice fly off Logan.
Derek Lowe helped restore some order to the game after Ivan Nova’s ugly start.
Nova began the game by giving up three straight doubles- not helped by some awkward outfield defense.
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild visited Nova after Cespedes’ double made it 2-0 and Nova responded by retiring the next three batters without allowing another run.
After briefly settling down in the second, Nova fell apart for good in the third, surrendering a leadoff homer to Drew and then allowing two walks and a run-scoring single before being removed with the bases loaded and only one out.
Clay Rapada immediately got out of the jam and temporarily protected the lead by getting Josh Reddick to bounce into an inning-ending double play.
That was one of few pitching highlights for the day.