New York Yankees starter Brandon McCarthy is proving himself one of the best mid-season pickups so far. On Thursday, McCarthy defeated the Texas Rangers 4-2 to give the Yankees three wins in the four-game series.
McCarthy (W: 5-10, 4.49 ERA) pitched his third straight quality start, going six innings and allowing one earned run on four hits. He walked two and sturck out five. In three starts as a Yankee since July 3, he is now 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.
Four Yankee relievers pitched one-run, one-hit ball with David Robertson closing it out with two successive strikeouts for his 25th save in 27 chances.
The Yankees got single RBI's from four different players: Chase Headley (34), Francisco Cervelli (5), Brett Gardner (42), and Brian McCann (42). Cervelli provided the eventual game winner in the bottom of the fifth with a double down the left-field line that scored Ichiro Suzuki from first base.
Texas got a run off McCarthy when Elvis Andrews singled home Rougned Odor in the top of the third. Then, in the seventh, J.P. Arencibia hit his fourth home run, a solo shot off Adam Warren.
Colby Lewis (L: 6-8, 6.23) pitched well for Texas in a losing effort. Lewis allowed three runs in 6.1 innings, a quality start. He allowed four hits, walked three, and struck out two.
With the win, the Yankees move to within 2.5 games of the first-place Baltimore Orioles, who play late Thursday night in Seattle. The Yankees remain tied for second with the Toronto Blue Jays, who defeated Boston 8-0 Thursday afternoon.