Yankees Beat Indians 5-4 as Pettitte Leaves With Broken Ankle

The New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Indians 5-4 today at Yankee Stadium after Andy Pettitte left in the fifth inning with a broken left ankle.

Robinson Cano had three hits, including a go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth inning, as the Yankees won their fifth straight game. Eric Chavez had two hits and batted in three runs.

Pettitte, 40, won’t need surgery to repair the fracture, which he sustained when a ball hit by Casey Kotchman struck his ankle, the team said. He landed gingerly while making the next pitch and limped off the field when manager Joe Girardi removed him. The Yankees today placed their No. 1 starter, CC Sabathia, on the 15-disabled list with a strained groin.

“Bad day for left-handers,” Girardi said in a televised interview. “Guys are going to have to step up.”

New York relievers Cody Eppley, Clay Rapada, Freddy Garcia, David Robertson and Rafael Soriano combined to allow two runs over the final four innings following Pettitte’s departure. Soriano loaded the bases in the ninth inning and walked in a run before getting a fly out to secure his 17th save of the season.

New York is 46-28, in first place in the American League East division.

To contact the reporter on this story: Eben Novy-Williams in New York at enovywilliam@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net