The Tribe offense has the ability on any given night to absolutely light up the score board and score at will, but the same time also has the potential to struggle some nights to get any hits at all. This game seemed to hold both sides of Indians, the struggling side of the offense starting off before coming alive late, however not quite having enough to pull out a comeback, losing 4-3 to the Yankees in New York.

Both teams struggled out of the gate with David Phelps retiring the first three batters in order, with Scott Kazmir responding nicely by giving up only one hit to Mark Teixeira, a two out single he followed up a strike out of Robinson Cano.

The second inning was more of the same, both pitchers dominating, with the only blemish being a walk to Carlos Santana, who was out the next at bat on a fielder’s choice off Mark Reynolds.

The Yankees finally broke through with their only scoring of the game in the third inning, after the Indians went down in order in the top of the inning. After a leadoff double by Lyle Overbay, Chris Stewart followed it up with a single, but was out trying to stretch it into a double. Ichrio was able to drive in the run from third base to give the Yankees a one run lead on a single to left. Jason Nix followed up with single to left field, setting the stage for a Teixeira three run home run to left field to put the Yankees up four. Kazmir was able to settle down and strike out the next two batter but the Yankees had none the less taken a four run lead.

The pitchers kept on rolling through the fourth and fifth innings, with two walks given up by Phelps and two walks and run hits given up by Kazmir yet not runs were able to score for either side.

The sixth inning was overall the best inning of the night for the starting pitchers with both of them having one-two-three innings, with one strike out a piece.

After a pitching gem of a sixth inning, the seventh inning proved to be a much different story. Joba Chamberlain came in to start the sixth inning, closing the book on Phelps and his one hitter through six innings. The top of the inning started with the Indians still down four, with the leadoff man Santana getting on base with a walk. It seemed to be another inning where the Tribe bats would sputter without driving in a run, after the walk was followed up by a Reynolds strike out and Jason Giambi pop up. With two outs however Mike Aviles kept the inning alive with a single to center field, before Drew Stubbs came to the plate and blasted a three run home run to right field to make it a one run game.

The bottom of the seventh inning saw Bryan Shaw come in to replace Kazmir. The inning did not start well, with a walk given up to Stewart followed by an error on Reynolds trying to throw Ichrio out at first, leaving men on first and second with no one out. The next batter, Nix, moved the runners to second and third on a sacrifice bunt before Teixeria was walked to load the bases. Nick Hagadone was brought in to try to get the Tribe out of the pressure situation, with the bases loaded, one out and Cano at the plate. Hagadone was able to do his job perfectly, by inducing a ground ball to second base for the inning ending double play.

The Tribe had their chance to go tie the game up in the eighth inning but were unable to capitalize. The inning was started by David Robertson coming in to pitch for the Yankees, who struggled out of the gate by allowing a leadoff walk to Jason Kipnis followed by a single to Michael Brantley. Robertson however was able to settle down and get Nick Swisher to line into a double play and Carlos Santana to ground out, ending the inning with no runs scored.

Cody Allen came in for the Tribe to start the bottom of the eighth inning. He had a strong inning, getting Vernon Wells and Kevin Youkilis both to fly out to start the inning. His only mistake during the eighth inning was a double to Brett Gardner, which was erased by a Reid Brignac strike out.

The ninth inning started off in the way many Yankees games do, with Mariano Rivera coming out of the bullpen to close the game out. Reynolds started the inning out for the Tribe with a five pitch strike out. Giambi was next up and followed up in the footsteps on Reynolds by striking out swinging for out number two. Aviles was the last up and was able to finally get contact off Rivera however it was a fly ball to right field to end the game.

The win goes to Phelps (4-3, 4.15 ERA), the loss going to Kazmir (3-3, 5.24 ERA) with the save going to Rivera (21, 1.61 ERA).

The Tribe will close out this series against the Yankees tomorrow at 1:05 ET at Yankees Stadium. Corey Kluber (3-3, 4.36 ERA) will take the mound for the Indians with C.C. Sabathia (5-4, 3.71 ERA) pitching for the Yankees

Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images