Yankees blast four home runs in 13-5 beatdown of O's

Coming off three consecutive road series wins against Baltimore, Texas and Tampa Bay, the Yankees returned home to kick off a crucial seven game homestand against the Orioles and Twins.  After owning the Orioles in a three game sweep the last time these two teams met in the Bronx, the Yankees once again looked their dominant selves from earlier this season as they opened up a 6-0 lead after just one inning.  Two home runs from Aaron Judge and one each from Todd Frazier and Gary Sanchez helped the Yankees cruise to an easy 13-5 victory.

Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP Photo

Needing a good start on the heels of a very shaky outing in his last start against Texas, Masahiro looked sharp early in this one, needing only seven pitches to get through the first inning, and the Yankees offense exploded early to provide him with all the run support he’d need all night.  Having gone just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position yesterday against the Rays, the Yankees immediately reversed course in this one and went three for their first four with runners in scoring position, capped by Todd Frazier’s three-run home run to give the Yankees a commanding 6-0 lead in the first inning, chasing Orioles’ starter Wade Miley after he recorded just one out. This also marked the third consecutive game the Yankees scored in the first inning.

Both teams exchanged zeroes in the second and third inning, as Tanaka looked sharp, allowing just two hits with four strikeouts through three, and Orioles’ relief man Mike Wright came on in relief of Miley to throw 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing only a single hit and walk each.

Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP Photo

Jonathan Schoop would break through first for the Orioles in the top of the fourth, taking Tanaka deep for his 32nd home run of the year.  The Orioles tried to make some more noise in the frame after Adam Jones followed with a bloop single to center and Trey Mancini reached on an error by Todd Frazier, but Tanaka got both Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo to strike out swinging and escaped further damage when Welington Castillo grounded out.

Mike Wright came out again in the bottom of the fourth but Buck Showalter would come to regret that decision as the Yankees quickly blew the game wide open before the first out of the inning could be recorded.  Clint Frazier led off the frame with a hard single to center and Ellsbury followed with a walk.  Up came Aaron Judge who has done nothing but destroy the Orioles all season and he drilled an absolute missile into the bleachers in right center, clearing the Yankees bullpen and giving the Bombers a commanding 9-1 lead.

The Orioles would tack on a second run in the sixth courtesy of another solo home run, this time from Trey Mancini, but Tanaka wouldn’t allow anything more and the Yankees held a 9-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth when they would further add to their lead.  Clint Frazier just missed hitting one out, hitting it off the top of the right center field wall for a double. Jacoby Ellsbury followed with another walk. Aaron Judge then blasted his second three-run home run of the night - his 43rd on the year - and Gary Sanchez followed with his 31st to turn this game into a laugher at 13-2.

Photo Credit: Frank Franklin/AP Photo

Tanaka worked into and out of trouble in the seventh to end his night at 102 pitches and just two earned runs over seven innings of work.  This wasn’t the sharpest he’s looked this season but certainly an encouraging performance after his last outing dud.

Bryan Mitchell and Giovanny Gallegos worked two frustrating innings out of the bullpen to end this game, yielding three runs, and the Yankees won by a final of 13-5.  With the win, the Yankees remain three games back of Boston in the American League East and three games up on Minnesota for the first Wild Card spot.  The Yankees take on the Orioles again tomorrow in the second game of this four game set.  Luis Severino (12-6, 2.96) gets the ball for New York and is opposed by Gabriel Ynoa (1-1, 4.19).  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM EST.

Winning Pitcher: Masahiro Tanaka (12-11, 4.73), 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 8 K, 2 HR

Losing Pitcher: Wade Miley (8-13, 5.32), 0.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 1 HR

Notables:

Jacoby Ellsbury: 1-2. 3 BB, 3 R

Clint Frazier: 2-3, BB, 2B, 2 R

Todd Frazier: 2-3, 2 BB, 2B, HR (25), 3 RBI (71)

Aaron Judge: 3-4, 2 HR (42,43), 6 RBI (96), 3 R

Gary Sanchez: 2-4, 2B, HR (31), 2 RBI (85)

Chance Sisco: 2-2, 2B - first MLB hit, HR (1), RBI (1), R

Trey Mancini: 2-5, HR (24), RBI (76), 2 R

Jonathan Schoop: 1-3, HR (32), RBI (104), R

Article by: Andrew Natalizio
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