Yanks rally late, steal 6-5 win over Angels

It took the better part of nine innings, but the banged-up Yankees did just enough to secure a win in Anaheim. They were on the back foot almost immediately thanks to a solo shot from Andrelton Simmons in the first inning, given up by CC Sabathia. Carsten Charles would not reach the famed 3,000 strikeout mark in this game, but he would draw ever closer. His career total now sits at 2,997 after five innings of work. However, he would surrender another Simmons solo homer and a bigger blow, a Kole Calhoun three-run blast that gave Los Angeles a five-run lead in the fourth inning.  

Photo courtesy of AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez

In the top of the sixth, the comeback began. Tyler Wade reached on an infield single and used his blazing speed to score from first on a DJ LeMahieu double. LeMahieu would score on a wild pitch after moving to third on a Luke Voit single. Then, in the very next inning, a Mike Ford walk, a Gio Urshela single, and a Mike Tauchman walk would load the bases for Wade. He walked to force in a run, and a LeMahieu sacrifice fly would draw the Yankees within a run. Tauchman would score on a Voit groundout to tie the game. The rally was killed after Wade got caught by an Andrelton Simmons hidden ball trick after a lengthy review, which prompted many debates about the nature of the replay rule and whether it was used correctly. Regardless, the inning was over, but Wade would get a chance to redeem himself in the ninth. 

Photo courtesy of AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Meanwhile, New York got three crucial innings of relief from Jonathan Loaisiga, who supplanted Sabathia and held the Angels scoreless from the sixth inning on. Wade led off the ninth with a base hit, then used his speed to steal second. LeMahieu singled him home, and the comeback was complete. Chapman shut the door in the bottom of the frame and secured the Yankees’ sixth straight win.  And boy, was this type of win rare. According to Katie Sharp, it was the first time since 2012 that New York had come back from a five-plus run deficit entering the sixth inning. A remarkable show of determination from a team missing so many key pieces.

What’s Next? 

The Yankees turn to Masahiro Tanaka (2-1, 2.76 ERA) to secure the series sweep as Los Angeles counters with Trevor Cahill. (1-2, 5.47 ERA) First pitch is scheduled for 9:07 PM EST.