Bullpen dazzles again, Didi gets the big hit as Yanks win 5-3

The Yankees survived a near Aroldis Chapman meltdown last night to take both games in the Bronx vs the Mets, as the split Subway series was in Flushing on Wednesday night for two games before another series vs the Red Sox. Jaime Garcia was making his third start as a Yankee, and gave them a solid performance, pitching into the sixth inning. Garcia would find trouble in the sixth, but would be picked up by the Yankee bullpen, which was dominant once again as the Yankees beat the Mets on the road 5-3.

Photo Credit: AP Frank Franklin II

The Mets struck first in this one, as Juan Lagares led off the bottom of the first with a double and was eventually knocked in on a Yoenis Cespedes sacrifice fly. The Yanks would tie it right back up in the second without getting a hit and some help from the Mets. A Chase Headley walk, followed by a wild pitch and a passed ball, allowed Headley to advance from first to third. Garrett Cooper got the job done at the plate with a runner on third, grounding out to third base and scoring Headley to bring it to 1-1.

After an economical second and third inning from Garcia, the Yanks took the lead in the fourth after Aaron Judge stepped to the plate and absolutely crushed a ball 457 feet into the third upper deck, his American League leading 37th of the season, and good for a 2-1 Yankees lead. Judge got a breaking ball up in the zone on a 1-0 count and got every part of it, as Cespedes did not move an inch as the ball flew over his head. 

Photo Credit: AP Frank Franklin II

Garcia appeared to be cruising along without issue after getting a double play ball in the fifth, with the number eight batter in the box. Yet, Rene Rivera proved to be a reliable number eight hitter, sending a Garcia breaking ball over the left field wall to tie the game at two. Garcia got out of the inning even after giving up a hit to the opposing pitcher, who was 1-1 with a walk at the plate.

The Bombers were brewing in the sixth after a Judge base hit and walks to Didi and Gary, loading the bases with only one man out. Mets manager Terry Collins decided that his starter Robert Gsellman had enough, and pulled him to bring on Paul Sewald. The first batter Sewald faced was Headley, who like Cespedes in the first, drove in a run with a deep sacrifice fly to give the Yankees the lead once again. Cooper was up next and ripped a ball right to the jumping youngster at shortstop Amed Rosario to save a run and keep the game at 3-2.

Garcia began the sixth by giving up a base hit Asdrubal Cabrera, but was bailed out by Sanchez in the next at-bat, as Cabrera was nailed at second attempting to advance on a ball in the dirt. It was a great stop and even better throw by Sanchez, who has seemed to be more focused at and behind the plate since his benching. Garcia would continue to struggle in the inning, walking Cespedes and giving up a double to Conforto to put runners on second and third and end his night.

Photo Credit: AP Frank Franklin II

With so many arms to choose from in such a tough spot in the game, Joe Girardi went with Tommy Kahnle. Kahnle was up 0-2 to his first batter out of the pen, but left a pitch in the zone allowing D’Arnaud to get good wood on the ball and manufacture the third sacrifice fly of the game.  Kahnle kept the go ahead run on base after getting Rosario to fly out to shallow center, as the score read 3-3 headed to the seventh.

In the seventh, Ronald Torreyes got involved and knocked a double down the third base line to start the inning. Brett Gardner would pinch hit for the pitcher, and laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved to Torreyes to third. After Ellsbury and Hicks walked, Judge came to the plate with the bases loaded and only one out, with a chance to blow the game open. Judge could not get the go ahead run in, popping up to the catcher and leaving it up to Didi.

Photo Credit: AP Frank Franklin II

Didi, like he has done throughout the season, came through for the Yanks, stroking a double down the right field line that one hopped the wall. Torreyes and Ellsbury scored, and Hicks moved to third as the Yanks were now in command 5-3. Sanchez grounded out with two men on to end the Yankees threat, and handing it over to Adam Warren in the bottom of the seventh, who executed a perfect one two three frame and brought the Yanks to the eighth still up by two. 

Long time closer David Robertson would get the save opportunity in the ninth, trying to give the Yankees their third consecutive victory over their crosstown rivals. D Rob got the first batter out, and would have gotten the second batter out if it were not for a ball in the dirt that got through Sanchez’s legs, a sight all too familiar to Yankee fans, and allowing Rosario to advance to first on the strikeout.   

D Rob, however, stayed composed, and got Rene Rivera to strike out looking to end the game by the score of 5-3. This win clinched the series for the Yankees, and will look to complete the sweep tomorrow night, as Luis Severino will look to bounce back from his last start against the Red Sox and move the Yankees closer to the AL East lead.

Winning pitcher: Tommy Kahnle: (2-3, 2.27 ERA): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 K, 0 BB

Losing pitcher: Paul Sewald: (0-5, 4.21 ERA): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 K, 2 BB

Save: David Robertson (14)

Notables:    

Didi Gregorius: 1-3, 2 RBI

Aaron Judge: 2-5, HR (37), 2 R

Chase Headley: 2-2, R

Ronald Torreyes: 2-4, R

Article by: Matt Luzzi
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