♦After blowing leads the previous two games, the New York Yankees finally gave Baltimore a taste of their own medicine.
A solo home run by Aaron Judge erased Baltimore’s one run lead in the eighth inning, and walks and good baserunning led to a Bombers four-spot up in the ninth to defeat Baltimore, 7-3 and salvage one of three at Camden Yards.
Tied 3-3 entering the ninth, Matt Holiday and Chris Carter drew walks off Daren O’Day before Starlin Castro’s single plated Jacoby Ellsbury (running for Holiday). Another walk to Chase Headley loaded the bases before Judge’s fielder choice plated another run. A deep sacrifice fly by Austin Romine scored Castro and a subsequent bad throw to third by Orioles second basemen Jonathan Schoop also allowed Chase Headley to score.
In all, the Yanks scored their four runs in the ninth on just one base hit. Baltimore pitching issued a total of 11 Yankee walks.
Some thoughts and reactions.
♦ C.C. Sabathia was effective for the Yankees a second consecutive start (and the only Yankee starter to not get rocked this season). He lasted 98 pitches over six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks to go with three strikeouts. It wasn’t close to his best stuff, but he kept the Yanks in the game. Compared to most other starts from Yankee pitchers this season he was Sandy Koufax.
♦ Are we seeing Ronald Torreyes transform into a Yankee lineup mainstay, even once Didi Gregorious returns? Starting at third base Torres collected three hits, including a triple that plated the first two New York runs. He’s up to .300 over the first week of the season and leads the team with 7 RBI.
♦ Strong game from Aaron Judge, who not only hit the game-tying homer in the eight and go ahead fielder’s choice in the ninth, but ended the game with a brilliant diving catch in right field. With Greg Bird and Gary Sanchez on the shelf, Judge is arguably the guy most fans (and management) care about seeing.
♦ Nice recovery in the bullpen after two bad days by Tyler Clippard and Dellin Betances. The two combined for two perfect innings and three strikeouts before Aroldis Chapman nailed down a non-save ninth inning with two strikeouts of his own.
♦ Holiday walked five times… Five! He’s the first Yankee since Mark Teixeira in 2009 to draw five walks in the game and just the second in the past 50 years.
♦ Rough day at the office for Bret Gardner, who went 0-for-5 and whiffed three times.
♦ Here’s your stat of the day….
Yankees have never gone 6 games into season without starter getting an out in 6th inning.
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) April 9, 2017
♦ The Yankees have their home opener Monday against Tampa Bay at 1:05pm. Michael Pineda gets the honors, taking on Alex Cobb.