Chapman nails down four out save as Yanks take rubber game against Rays 3-2

After such a tough loss last night, the Yankees looked to rebound today and take the series from the Rays. They were up against a tough customer in Chris Archer, but made him work as hard as he ever has, scoring three runs in the second inning, thanks mostly to a Brett Gardner two-run single. Although the eighth and ninth innings were nail biters, Aroldis Chapman was able t to record a four out save, and the Yanks were able to win 3-2.

Frank Franklin II/AP

Right off the bat the Yankees were making Chris Archer work. He threw 19 pitches in the first inning, but worked around a Sanchez single. The second inning was where the Yankees really got to him, as Castro, Ellsbury, and Frazier all hit singles. Frazier’s drove in Castro to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead. After Clint Frazier struck out, Romine walked to load the bases, and Gardner slapped a two-run single in the shortstop hole to give the Yanks a 3-0 lead. Archer settled down after that, giving up just a couple of walks in the next two innings, but after Sanchez doubled to lead off the fifth, Kevin Cash took him out in favor of Jose Alvarado. Archer had 92 pitches through four innings plus.

Frank Franklin/AP

On the other side, Jaime Garcia actually pitched pretty well for the Yanks. He gave up just three singles in the first two innings, but then Kiermaier smashed his second solo home run in as many games to lead off the third ining to put the Rays on the board. He settled down again after the home run though, and was only removed with two outs in the fifth after Lucas Duda punched a check swing single into left field. Chad Green came on and did his thing, getting Longoria to fly out to end the inning, and then striking out the side in the bottom of the sixth. 

The bullpens pitched a clean seventh inning. Dan Jennings and Sergio Romo combined to through a 1-2-3 inning, and Tommy Kahnle pitched around two singles to retire the Rays. Romo came back out to pitch the eighth, and after retiring Didi, Castro singled and Ellsbury doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. After Todd Frazier was intentionally walked to load the bases, Clint Frazier popped out to first. Girardi then made the curious decision of leaving Romine in to bat with the bases loaded and two outs. It did not pay off, as Romine struck out swinging. Bird, Judge, and Holliday were all on the bench ready to pinch hit, so leaving Romine in to face Romo is…something.

Dellin Betances came on for the bottom of the inning. Duda flew out, Longoria singled, and Logan Morrison struck out, which then prompted Girardi to go to Aroldis Chapman for a four out save. Steven Souza walked, and then Hechavarria singled up the middle to drive in a run. Souza moved to third, and the Rays had first and third, two outs. However, Wilson Ramos struck out, and the Yankee lead was preserved heading to the ninth inning.

The Yanks continued their RISP struggles in the ninth, as Gardner and Headley led off with singles to place runners on the corners, but Sanchez struck out and Didi and Castro popped out to end the threat against Brad Boxberger.

Chapman came back out for the ninth and promptly walked the first man he faced in Curt Casali. However, he struck out Miller, Kiermaier, and Duda to nail down the save, and the Yankees won a big game 3-2. This was their fourth consecutive series win. 

Win: Chad Green (5-0): 1.1 IP, 3 K
Loss: Chris Archer (9-10): 4.0 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K
Save: Aroldis Chapman (18)

Notables:
Brett Gardner: 2-5, 2 RBI
Gary Sanchez/Jacoby Ellsbury: 2-5, 2B
Jaime Garcia: 4.2 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K
Kevin Kiermaier: 2-5, HR (13), RBI

Article by: Alex Weir

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