In the most crucial game to date, Drew Hutchison twirled questionably the most commanding D-Jays' pitching performances of the season.
The final score Monday (Aug. 8) at George M. Steinbrenner Field was 4-3 for the D-Jays.
Yankees Abe Almonte singled to lead off the bottom of the first. It would be the last hit Hutchison issued before he left the game after six complete innings.
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During one stretch, the Lakeland native put down 14 Yankees hitters in a row. The righthander ended with five strikeouts and did not walk a batter, but he did hit two batters, which is out of character for him.
The story of late has been the Jays disappointing bullpen. It reared its ugly head in the seventh. With a 4-0 lead and Hutchison in the showers, Harold Mozingo proceeded to give up a single, a home run, a walk and a double to the only four batters he faced.
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Scott Gracey entered the game at that point with two men on and nobody out. The New Mexico native faced the minimum six batters in two innings. He allowed just one of Mozingo's runners to score. Matt Wright finished off the ninth inning for the save.
Brian Van Kirk is very quietly putting together an outstanding season. The leftfielder and designated hitter smashed his fifth homer of the season and singled to knock in three of the four D-Jays runs.
The 25-year-old batted .344 in July and is currently hitting .357 in the early stages of August.
On Deck: The D-Jays completed their six-game road trip with a 3-3 record and return home today (Aug. 9), hosting the Brevard County Manatees. First pitch at is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Notes: The Yankees remain on top of the Florida State League North Division with a slim one-game lead over the D-Jays and Clearwater Threshers.
