Stanton hits two homers, Severino strikes out 11 in Yankees 3-2 win over the Red Sox

FINAL SCORE: Yankees 3 Red Sox 2

In a big series, the Red Sox and the Yankees faced off on a beautiful Tuesday night in the Bronx with the two best records in the MLB. This was sure to be a great matchup and truly did not disappoint as Luis Severino was dominant, Stanton homered twice, and Aaron Judge hit a clutch go-ahead single. 

Photo Credit: Kathy Willens | AP

Following a scare from Mookie Betts on a deep fly ball to center field, Severino worked around a two-out error from Gleyber Torres to retire the Red Sox in the top of the first inning. In Drew Pomeranz’s first inning of work, he set down the Yankees in order.

In the second, Severino worked around a two-out double by Eduardo Nunez down the right field line to keep the game blanked. In the bottom of the inning, Giancarlo Stanton took a high 3-2 fastball into the left field bleachers, a ball which got out in a hurry, to give the Yankees an early 1-0 lead. Following Stanton, the Yankees worked two walks in a row to set up what looked to be like a big inning. This was all for nothing as Pomeranz worked back to retire the side in order from there and end the threat.

What looked to be a bad start and double from Christian Vasquez to start the third inning, was cut down by Aaron Judge with a perfect throw at second to record an outfield assist. Severino then struck out Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi and recorded a 1-2-3 inning. Pomeranz, who looked much better in this inning, hitting spots and working his pitches well, set the Yankees down in order.

In the fourth, JD Martinez put another scare into Yankees fans, ripping a one-out double off the right-center field wall, just inches away from leaving the park. Severino then got the next two batters to fly and ground out respectively to end the threat. Although no damage had been done, Severino had looked not as sharp as his recent outings and wass making a lot of mistakes. Giancarlo Stanton did not waste much time again, parking a ball into the short right porch, giving the Yankees a nice 2-0 lead. Stanton seems to be heating up and is a good sign for things to come. Pomeranz once again limited the damage, setting down the Yankees rather quickly after.

With now a 2-0 cushion, Severino worked around a dropped third strike to strike out the next two batters. Sitting on his third strikeout of the inning, Severino gave up a base hit to Mookie Betts to put the situation at first and second with two outs. With Benintendi at the plate, Severino allowed a base hit to center field, scoring 1 pushing the score to 2-1 in a big spot with runners on first and second and two outs. With Hanley Ramirez at the plate, and a base open, Severino worked out of the jam to get Hanley to ground to Torres and end the threat. With a slimmer lead of 2-1, the Yankees got things started with a base hit by Gleyber Torres. This was quickly erased by a double play off the bat of Gardner who has been struggling as of late, to say the least. Aaron Judge then struck out on a check swing to end the inning.

Photo Credit: Kathy Willens | AP

In a pivotal sixth inning for Severino, he got Martinez to strike out on a very bad swing, followed by a Bogaerts pop up and a HUGE strike out of Rafael Devers to likely finish his night. Although Severino did not have his A+ stuff today, he worked out of trouble and went six innings giving up just one run, a line the Yankees will take any time out. What looked to be another 1-2-3 inning by the Yankees in the bottom of the frame in Pomeranz’s last inning of work was extended by a throwing error, allowing Gary Sanchez to advance to second with two outs. Aaron Hicks quickly popped out to end the threat.

The Yankees surprisingly sent out Severino with a rested bullpen for the seventh, a move that ended up not working out as Eduardo Nunez beat out a soft hit ground ball to start off the inning. Severino was then taken out after a very solid outing, turning the ball over to David Robertson to help get out of the jam. Robertson got Jackie Bradley Jr. to strike out on a pitch in the dirt, then got Vasquez to fly out weakly to Hicks. Unfortunately, Robertson allowed a bloop triple that just missed Gardner’s glove to tie the game at two runs. Robertson got Benintendi on a slider to end the threat, hold Betts 90 feet away, and keep the game tied.

Following an Andujar ground out, Neil Walker pinch-hit for a struggling Tyler Austin and ripped a double down the right field line. Gleyber Torres then came to the plate and had a great-at bat to turn the order over and work a walk. The struggling Gardner worked a walk in a great at-bat to push the situation to bases loaded and one out. Alex Cora had seen enough of Heath Hembree at that point and brought in the ever so controversial Joe Kelly to face the reigning Rookie of the Year, Aaron Judge.  What an a- bat this shaped up to be with power at the plate vs. pure power on the mound. Aaron Judge (who many consider not clutch) delivered a huge single to left scoring one, but Benintendi came up with a perfect throw to cut down Torres at the plate. With Didi up with two outs, Kelly forced a ground out to escape the big jam, limiting the damage to one run, making it a 3-2 Yankee lead.

Photo Credit: Kathy Willens | AP

The Yankees called upon Chad Green in the eighth who surrendered a leadoff single down the line to Hanley Ramirez. A JD Martinez line out to center field followed, and then Green forced a giant double play to get out of the inning and do his job. Looking to add some cushion in the eighth, Stanton worked a leadoff walk and stole second base amidst a Gary Sanchez strikeout. With one out and a runner on second, Stanton moved up to third on a changeup spiked in the dirt. Hicks then grounded out to Hanley Ramirez who made a great play to throw out Stanton at the plate. Miguel Andujar proceeded to strike out on a pitch in the dirt courtesy of the newly brought on Carson Smith.

As Aroldis Chapman trotted out, Yankee fans were filled with confidence as he has had a great year, and this is a game they should very well win against a great team in a big setting, even for May. After two quick outs, Chapman hit JBJ squarely on the elbow pad to put a runner on and two outs. Chapman worked a grounder off the bat of Vasquez to end the game and give game one of the series to the Yankees.


THE GOOD
Giancarlo Stanton had two big solo home runs to kick off the scoring for the Yankees.
Aaron Judge was very clutch tonight, coming up with the game-winning base hit off Joe Kelly.
Luis Severino had a great start once again today, only giving up two runs in 6+ innings of work.
Gleyber Torres looked good at the plate once again with a base hit and a walk.
The bullpen combo of Robertson, Green and Chapman shut down the Sox.
Neil Walker came in to pinch-hit and had a clutch double.


THE BAD
The rest of the lineup was not great tonight, but overall got the job done.
Aaron Boone a questionable bullpen decision, but it ultimately did not end up hurting him in the end.
The umpire in tonight’s game was really not consistent or good for both sides and really affected how the pitchers pitched.
Tyler Austin, Brett Gardner, and Miguel Andujar continued struggling at the plate.

Winning Pitcher: David Robertson (3-1, 2.95 ERA) 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
Losing Pitcher: Heath Hembree (2-1, 4.24 ERA) 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB

Save: Aroldis Chapman (8)

Notables

Aaron Judge: 1-4, 1 RBI

Giancarlo Stanton: 2-3, 2 HR (9), 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB

Neil Walker: 1-1, 1 2B, 1 R

Luis Severino: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 11 K, 0 BB

What’s next?

The Yankees will look to secure a series win as Masahiro Tanaka will face Rick Porcello in place of the scratched David Price.


Article by: Brendan Mills

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