Yankees 2, Rangers 4: Five hits not enough to overcome five errors

Just another one of those games where the Yankees make a starter that you have never heard of coming into the game look like an All-Star. This time it was Miles Mikolas, who was making just his fourth start of the season. The right hander had no problem tossing 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball, as the Texas Rangers beat the Yankees, 4-2, in the opener of a four game series this week at Yankee Stadium.

It wasn't just the offense, as the Yankees committed five errors in a game for the first time since July 7, 2007, three of which were by starter Shane Greene, who suffered his first loss since joining the Yankees' rotation. The five errors were also the same amount of hits that the Yankees managed to collect.

The Yankees jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning. Derek Jeter worked a one-out walk against Mikolas, moved to second base on a balk, then reached third base on an infield single by the speedy Jacoby Ellsbury. Carlos Beltran followed up Ellsbury with a sac-fly to center, scoring Jeter for the game's first run.

Texas evened the score in the 3rd inning on a fielder's choice off the bat of Adrian Beltre. Shin-Soo Choo hit a out-out double to right field off of Greene, then moved to third base on an infield single by Elvus Andrus. A batter later, Beltre hit a ball to Derek Jeter, who tossed ball over to second to start the double play, but the throw was dropped by Brian Roberts at the bag; everybody was safe and the run scored.

An inning later, in the 4th, Ellsbury lead off the inning by hitting his 8th homerun of the season, a solo shot to right field to put the Yankees back up by a score of 2-1 -- just his 4th at Yankee Stadium this year.

Greene was chased from the game during the Rangers' three-run 6th inning, in which Greene retired the first two hitters before giving up a single to Jake Smolinski, walking Jim Adduci, and giving up an game-tying single to Geovany Soto, who drove in Smolinski to tie game.

That was the end of Greene's night. He made a pair of errors in the 2nd inning, but somehow managed to get out unharmed. His first two big league starts were very good, this one wasn't terrible, but it obviously could have been better. He only gave up five hits and four runs, while walking just one batter and striking out five.

Matt Thornton took over on the mound with a pair of left-handed hitters coming up to face him. To no surprise, his outing was not a success. Both hitters, Rounged Odor and Choo, smacked back-to-back RBI singles to put the Rangers up 4-2, knocking Thornton out of the game. Adam Warren came on to record the final out of the 6th, then worked a scoreless 7th inning.

David Huff pitched the final two innings for the Yankees, giving up a pair of hits with a walk. He also struck out three, helping keep the Yankees in the game for a chance to tie or take the lead in the final innings.

Mikolas was a rock on the mound for the Rangers, working to two outs in the 8th inning. He only gave up two runs on four hits, with a pair of walks and three strikeouts. He came into the game with an ERA over 10, and the Yankees did what they do best in making him look really good.

The Yankees tired to make things interesting in the bottom of the 9th. Kelly Johnson ripped a one-out single into right-center field, then after Roberts wasted no time popping out to Beltre on the first pitch he saw against Joakim Soria, Brian McCann, who pinch-hit for Ichiro Suzuki, was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on with two outs. Yangervis Solarte hit for Francisco Cervelli, but flew out to left field to end the game.

The Yankees and Rangers will continue this four game series on Tuesday night when Chase Whitley and Nick Martinez take the mound for their teams. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm ET.

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