The New York Yankees late rally falls just short as they lose to the Cincinatti Reds

The New York Yankees were defeated by the Cincinnati Reds by the score of 6-5 on Saturday afternoon. Ivan Nova started for the Yankees and set a career high in strikeouts but he still gave up too many runs. He really made one bad mistake that cost him. The bullpen did a good job. The Yankees offense was ok but not great. They were good late but came up just short. Jayson Nix led the Yankees offense, Nick Swisher and Raul Ibanez both had good days. Joey Votto led the Reds offense with a big hit. 
Nova pitched six innings giving up seven hits and five runs. He walked two and struck out 12 and suffered his second loss of the season. Cody Eppley pitched 1/3 of an inning giving up a walk, Clay Rapada pitched 2/3 of an inning and retired both batters that he faced. David Phelps pitched two innings giving up a hit and an unearned run. He walked one and struck out three.

Homer Bailey got his second win of the season pitching 6 1/3 innings and giving up seven hits and three runs. He walked one and struck out seven. Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts and Sean Marshall the closer struggled pitching 1/3 of an inning and giving up four hits and two runs with a strikeout. Jose Arredondo picked up his first save of the season pitching 2/3 of an inning retiring both batters that he faced on groundouts.

Derek Jeter had a hit, Curtis Granderson drew a walk and Ibanez had two hits and an RBI. Swisher had two hits and an RBI, Russell Martin had a hit and an RBI and Eric Chavez had a hit. Andruw Jones had a hit and Nix had three hits and two RBI. Ibanez had two doubles, Martin and Nix each had a homerun. The Yankees were 2-7 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

Chris Heisey had two hits and an RBI for the Reds. Drew Stubbs drew two walks, Joey Votto had a hit, three RBI and drew a walk. Brandon Phillips had two hits and an RBI, Jay Bruce drew a walk and Mike Costanzo had a hit. Devin Mesoraco and Heisey each had a double and Votto had a homerun. The Reds were 3-10 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base. Stubbs had a stolen base and was picked off.

Phillips hit an RBI single in the first inning to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. Heisey hit an RBI double in the second to make it 2-0 Reds. Martin hit a solo homerun in the third to make it a 2-1 game. Ibanez hit an RBI double in the fourth to tie the game at two. Votto hit a three run homerun in the fifth to make it 5-2 Reds. The Yankees cut the lead to 5-3 on a Nix solo homerun in the bottom of the fifth inning. Costanzo hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth to give the Reds a 6-3 lead. In the ninth inning the Yankees rallied for two runs. Swisher hit an RBI single and Nix hit an RBI single but Jeter and Granderson grounded out to end the game with a man stuck on third base.

The Yankees and Reds has split the first two games of this three game series. The rubber game will be played on Sunday afternoon. CC Sabathia and Johnny Cueto will square off in a good pitching matchup. The Yankees will remain home and take on the Kansas City Royals for three games. The Yankees would like to start making a run now as they are in fourth place and five games behind the division leading Baltimore Orioles.