ANAHEIM — Didi Gregorius did it again. While it took a team effort to send the game to extras, the red-hot Yankee shortstop gave New York the lead for good with a tenth inning blast off of Blake Parker. In the first game of this series, the Yankees took the victory, 4-3, over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
DIDI GIVES #YANKEES THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/gS1QYwzK1Y
— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) April 28, 2018
Both starting pitchers were excellent in today’s low scoring affair. Luis Severino dazzled in seven innings of three-run ball, striking out eight. The Yankee ace was dominant but a couple of runs in the seventh cost him an individual victory.
Angels starter Andrew Heaney was equally as good, going five plus and giving just a lone earned run, while striking out nine Yankees. A high pitch count, though, forced Mike Scioscia to take him out of the game early.
In this matchup that featured multiple stars on both sides, it was Anaheim’s prized offseason acquisition that struck first.
Shohei Ohtani opened the scoring, turning on a Severino fastball and depositing it into the seats in right field. It was his fourth homer of the season.
The Yankees had a chance in the fourth inning to tie the game, with men on first and third and just one out. After Gary Sanchez grounded out, Neil Walker almost hit one out of the park but it instead fell a few feet short, and into the glove of Justin Upton.
Miguel Andujar, however, led off the fifth inning with a double as the Yankees tried to plate their first run. While Gleyber Torres subsequently struck out, Aaron Hicks delivered with a sacrifice fly two batters later to tie the game at one.
In the sixth, New York would take the lead, 2-1, with another sac fly. Contrary to the one in the fifth, this was in no way text book. First, Kole Calhoun stole what would’ve been a three-run home run for Walker. Instead, confusion ensued with the inning ending on a 9-6 double play.
Stanton, who was at second, was called out after Andrelton Simmons stepped on the base, claiming he left early on the fly ball. The inning indeed ended on the play but the umpires added a run to the Yankees’ tally as Gregorius, who led the team with three hits, simultaneously scored on the play. Neither manager was angered by the decision so play continued with New York leading 2-1.
Though Severino was good for most of the night, the Angels got to him in the seventh. With Mike Trout and Albert Pujols on base, Luis Valbuena, who pinch-hit for Ohtani, struck out, but Simmons delivered with a two-run triple to give the lead back to the Halos.
In the eighth, it looked as if the Bombers were ready to take back the lead. Stanton sent a deep drive to left field, but just like two earlier fly balls, it was caught for an out.
Keynan Middleton, who had not blown a save this season, was sent into close the door on the Yankees. The never-say-die Bombers, however, had other plans.
After working the bases loaded, Aaron Boone sent up Brett Gardner to hit for Ronald Torreyes. The longest tenured Yankee then delivered with a sac fly that knotted the game at three.
It ain't over 'til it's over!#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/FZMHYq1dSu
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 28, 2018
In the tenth, the red-hot Gregorius did it again as he gave the Yankees the lead, 4-3, to improve his average to .458 over the last six games.
Aroldis Chapman closed out the Angels in the ninth for his fifth save of the season.
Notably, Calhoun made two excellent plays on the field to rob the Yankees of two extra-base hits. Also, Josh Bard was ejected early in the game after complaining about a wide strike zone from the dugout.
The series continues tomorrow with Masahiro Tanaka facing Garrett Richards.
Current Yankees Record: 16-9
