New look Yankees show resiliency in thrilling 6-5 victory over Mets in extras

It was a somber day for the New York Yankees. Guys like Carlos Beltran, Ivan Nova, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman were gone. The locker room wasn’t the same and the game they had to play tonight almost seemed like an afterthought.

In tonight's 6-5 win, the Yankees showed that they might still have some energy left in them.

Photo Credit: Kathy Willens | AP

The Yankees’ anemic offense could only put together four hits off Met’s starter Logan Verrett (4-6, 4.20 ERA). Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury did their parts at the top of the lineup, going 4-8 combined with two RBI’s, a walk and four runs scored.

Didi Gregorius came up clutch in the top of the eighth, looping a single into left to score Ronald Torreyes and Brett Gardner that tied the game at 5-5.

Up until the 5th inning, C.C Sabathia (6-9, 4.15 ERA) was throwing fairly well, his only blemish coming on a Wilmer Flores solo home run in the second. In the fifth, Michael Conforto laced a double that scored Brandon Nimmo, who was supposed to go to the Cincinnati Reds in the Jay Bruce trade.

Photo Credit: Kathy Willens | AP

In the sixth, Wilmer Flores and Travis D’Arnaud both singled to have two men on with no outs. Then, the relatively unknown Matt Reynolds blasted a three-run shot off C.C to bring the score to 5-3. After walking pinch-hitter Steven Matz, a pitcher, C.C was taken out of the game and replaced by Richard Bleier, who allowed a single and walk before also getting taken out.

Photo Credit: Kathy Willens | AP

Newly acquired reliever Tyler Clippard made his 2016 debut with the Yankees in the seventh and did well, striking out two in a clean inning. Adam Warren threw 1.2 innings of shutout relief, striking out one and allowing no hits to send the game to extra innings.

The Yankees wasted no time putting the pressure on the Mets in the top of the 10th inning. After Seth Lugo of the Mets issued a walk to Ellsbury, Mark Teixeira followed that up with a single beating the shift. Then, the Yankees pinch hit Ben Gamel, who was rushed onto the field to bunt in place of Alex Rodriguez, who was in the on deck circle scheduled to pinch hit. Gamel laid down a bunt that Lugo tried to go to third with, but Ellsbury, along with everyone else, was safe. Starlin Castro then hit a deep sacrifice fly to score Ellsbury and put the Yankees up 6-5.

Photo Credit: Kathy Willens | AP

Dellin Betances came on in the bottom of the inning to record the save. He allowed a leadoff double to James Loney who was then bunted to third. He then hit Alejandro De Aza with a pitch to put the winning run aboard. Betances bared down from there and got Rene Rivera to ground out to him, then he struck Curtis Granderson out on a curveball in the dirt to hand the Yankees the win.

It was a nice come from behind victory for the Yankees, who have had a rough couple days. They showed a sense of resiliency that hasn't always been there for them.

Win: Adam Warren (4-2, 5.31 ERA overall | 1-0, 0.00 ERA w/ Yankees): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Loss: Seth Lugo (0-1, 3.18 ERA): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Save: Dellin Betances (1)

Notables:
Brett Gardner: 2-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, BB, 2B, 3B
Jacoby Ellsbury: 2-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2B
Tyler Clippard: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Starlin Castro: 0-3, (go-ahead RBI SAC Fly in 10th)
Dellin Betances: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 HBP, 1 K, SV

Article by: Phil Akre
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