Sabathia continues to roll, Judge hits blast to give Yankees 5-1 win over Seattle

On a beautiful Friday night in Seattle, the Bombers were looking to ride the momentum of a dominate Luis Severino start that gave the Yankees a victory Thursday night. The birthday boy C.C. Sabathia (8-3, 3.54 ERA) was on the hill for the Bombers, and in Safeco Field he started the evening 9-1 with a 2.08 ERA. Lead by another strong outing from Sabathia, a three-run bomb by Aaron Judge, and a shutdown performance by the bullpen, the Yankees cruised to another clean 5-1 victory.

AP Photo/ Ted S. Warren

During the bottom of the first inning, Sabathia would retire the first two batters, but walked Robinson Cano. After a loud single to left field by Nelson Cruz that put runners on first and third, Kyle Seager singled on a deflected ball to Starlin Castro, where new first baseman Chase Headley missed the bag giving Seattle an early 1-0 lead.

Against the starting pitcher for the Mariners, Andrew Moore (1-1, 5.25 ERA) the Bombers knew they would get plenty of strikes to hit. After two quiet innings, Red Thunder would strike during the top of the third. After a double by Headley on a sharp line drive to left field, Clint Frazier doubled on a fly ball off the center field wall to tie the game at one. A walk by Gary Sanchez brought up Aaron Judge with runners on first and third and two out. Judge hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field that gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead after three.

AP Photo/ Ted S. Warren

It seems as if the Yankee bats may start to be getting warm as they found themselves with another scoring opportunity in the top of the fifth. A Brett Gardner single to right field, followed by a line drive single to left field by Gary Sanchez set the Bombers up with runners on first and third, one out and Judge at the plate. On a prodigious blast to left field Judge hit home run number 31 on the season giving the Yankees a 5-1 lead.  

AP Photo/ Ted S. Warren

Sabathia did not have his best stuff this evening, but being the veteran that he is, he worked through it and gave his team a chance to win. After five innings, and 98 pitches Sabathia ended the night, and put the game in the hands of the high-powered Yankee bullpen. No matter if it is after a loss, or during a win streak, Sabathia always seems to show up when the Bombers need him to and he did again tonight. Tommy Kahnle (1-3, 2.37 ERA) came in with a runner on first and nobody out. After striking out Mitch Haniger, Kahnle retired the next two batters to keep the Yankees ahead 5-1 after six.

Well, the trade with the Chicago White Sox, gave the Bombers much needed depth in their bullpen. The Yankees envisioned a powerful bullpen, where they could end the game after five innings. Tonight, they got to partially test that theory, first with Kahnle, then with the former Yankee David Robertson (4-2, 2.62 ERA) who came in during the bottom of the seventh and struck out the side. Dellin Betances came in during the bottom of the eighth inning, and while he did allow a couple of hits he ultimately worked out of the inning unscathed. Adam Warren (2-1, 1.77 ERA) came in to finish the game during the bottom of the ninth, and the Yankees secured their second straight victory by a final of 5-1.

Tomorrow the Bombers will play game three in Seattle 9:10 PM ET. For the Yankees Masahiro Tanaka (7-9, 5.33 ERA) will take the hill looking to keep the team rolling. For Seattle, Ariel Miranda (7-4, 4.35 ERA) will look to get the Mariners back on track.

Winning Pitcher: C.C. Sabathia (9-3, 3.44 ERA) 5.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 5 SO

Losing Pitcher: Andrew Moore (1-2, 5.70 ERA) 6.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB, 2 SO

Notables

Clint Frazier: 1-4, R, RBI (9)

Chase Headley: 2-4, R

Aaron Judge: 1-2, R, HR (31), 4 RBI (72), BB

Didi Gregorius: 3-4

Article by: Randy Hancock

Follow @randy06
Follow @bronxbomberball