The Yanks spotted Boston the first game before coming back to batter them by a combined 16 runs over the last two to take the series against their long-time rival. Gary Sanchez went yard twice Thursday night and drove in five runs to lead the Bombers offense in a 9-1 whupping and build their lead in the AL East over Boston to three games.
Michael Pineda only allowed one run over seven innings despite not having his best stuff. When did you think you’d be saying Pineda would limit anyone while not having his best stuff coming into the season? He improved to 7-3 in 2017.
Starlin Castro went 2-for-5 and drove in two runs while Aaron Judge bounced back from a quiet few days with three hits and two runs scored.
The fact the Yankees are currently 11 games over .500 (34-23) and sitting in first place is pretty incredible when you think of all the adversity they’ve overcome over the first two months of the season. Sanchez missed considerable time with a strained bicep. Shortstop Didi Gregorius, hitting .324 started the season on the DL. First basemen Greg Bird has dealt with an injured ankle all season. Jacoby Ellsbury is out with a concussion. Their closer, Aroldis Chapman has been on the shelf for a few weeks with a sore shoulder. Beyond the injuries their supposed best starting pitcher, Masahiro Tanaka has been a complete disaster, to the point Joe Girardi has to think about replacing him in the rotation, at least temporarily.
All that yet here we are—two weeks into June and the Yanks still overachieving preseason expectations. They’ll try to keep things rolling tonight in the Bronx against Baltimore, with Jordan Montgomery opposing red hot Dylan Bundy.