Betances' five-out save seals 3-2 win over Athletics

Despite a very strong start from the struggling Masahiro Tanaka yesterday, the Yankees were unable to squeeze out a victory. CC Sabathia took the mound against an underrated Oakland lineup today sporting the sleek memorial day uniforms which feature a military green trim and camo cap. Although the Yankees only had two hits all day, Matt Holliday’s two-run home run in the sixth inning proved to be the game winner. Sabathia had a very good outing, leaving to a standing ovation after six and a third innings pitched of two run ball. Betances put the nail in the coffin and the Yanks locked up a 3-2 win.

Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II | AP

Battling with command early on, Sabathia escaped the 25 pitch first inning with three strikeouts and managed to get himself out of trouble after allowing a hit and a walk.

Chase Headley, who has been really slumping in the month of May, grabbed some pine and Ronald Torreyes got the nod at third base. The lineup would go against rookie Jharel Cotton, who seemed a tad nervous making his first start in the Big Apple. A walk, a hit by pitch, and a wild pitch put the Yankees in a good spot to attack early. Starlin Castro lined a ball to the warning track, scoring Gary Sanchez via sac fly. However, that would be all for the Yanks in the bottom half of the first.

With five strikeouts through two innings, Sabathia regained his control and found the zone that the ump was giving him.

Sabathia, who had been cruising through six and two thirds innings, gave up a two out, two strike triple to Ryon Healy, which evened the score at 1. The next batter hit a ball in what Paul O’Neill literally called “nowhereville.” After a Castro bobble on the pop-up, Judge seemed shocked when the ball ended up in his glove, for a rare 4-9 putout.

Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II | AP

Cotton took a no-hit bid into the bottom half of the sixth, until the always clutch Matt Holliday put a two run shot into the A’s bullpen, and the Yankees took a two run lead. After a Castro single, the A’s called to that bullpen and Frankie Montas came on to relieve Cotton.

Photo Credit: Al Bello | Getty Images

Josh Phegley narrowed the Yankees lead to one with a solo shot to left field with one out in the seventh, and that got some movement going in the Yanks bullpen.

Tyler Clippard came on in the top of the eighth and made things interesting, but with the brilliance of Dellin Betances, the Yanks managed to escape the second and third, one out jam with no damage and a 3-2 lead.

Returning for the top of the ninth, Betances got a pop out, a ground out, and a strike out, and the Yankees secured the victory.

Winning Pitcher: CC Sabathia (5-2, 4.42 ERA): 6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K

Losing Pitcher: Jharel Cotton (3-5, 5.56 ERA): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Save: Dellin Betances (5)

Notables:

Matt Holliday: 1-3, HR (9), 2 RBI (30)

Starlin Castro: 1-3, RBI (28)

Dellin Betances: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Article by: Noah Clement

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