LOS ANGELES — In the rubber match of this much talked about three-game set, the Yankees outclassed the Dodgers, 5-1, in the series finale in Los Angeles. Strong pitching was the star in this one, with a group of five Yankee pitchers shutting down the vaunted Dodger offense.
The win keeps the Bombers tied with the Astros for the AL’s best record and just a game back of LA for the best record in the Majors.
After a bad start last time out in Oakland, Domingo German bounced back big time tonight with a strong six inning performance. Though he did give up a lead-off homer to Joc Pederson, the right-hander settled in and kept the Dodgers off the scoreboard for the rest of his start.
After the five-strikeout outing, German was credited with his 17th win of 2019, improving his record to an astounding 17-3.
On the offensive side, the Yankees did not have many hits against Clayton Kershaw but made the most of the ones they did have.
DJ LeMahieu set the tone with a leadoff homerun against the left-hander, his 22nd long ball of the year. Then, in the third, Aaron Judge hit a monster home run to center field, his third of the series.
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Notably, Didi Gregorius had to leave the game after being hit in the shoulder by a Kershaw pitch in the first inning. That forced Mike Ford into the game and of course, the big man delivered.
In the sixth inning, the first baseman drove a high fastball off Kershaw to deep in right field. He followed it up with an eighth inning RBI-double to give the Bombers some breathing room.
A quartet of Yankee bullpen arms then pitched three shutout innings, while not giving up a hit. They also struckout a whopping seven Dodgers in dominant outings from each of them.
Aroldis Chapman walked Corey Seager to leadoff the ninth but punched out the next three batters to close out the victory.
It was a tremendous bounceback series from New York after the debacle in Oakland and are now back on track for a strong stretch run.
The Yankees head to Seattle for the beginning of a three-game set, but neither team has yet to name a starting pitcher for tomorrow’s opener.
Current Yankees Record: 85-47
