The New York Yankees started their series against the division-leading Baltimore Orioles on Friday night and it was an absolute slugfest. CC Sabathia was mashed in 5.2 innings of work but the Yankees’ offense bailed him out as they surged back, all the way from a 9-1 deficit, to win, 14-11.
It was a night filled with big hits and a bevy of home runs. The Yankees and Orioles combined for eight home runs and 29 hits over the span of the 10-inning game. The Orioles started out the game with big blasts from Wellington Castillo and Manny Machado. The O’s third basemen hit the longest home run at Yankee Stadium in stat cast history (470 ft.).
Tonight’s word: Dingers. Nothing but dingers. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/Mp9k6p2r0k
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 29, 2017
Baltimore went into the bottom of the fifth inning up 5-0 until Aaron Judge hit a solo home run to bring the Yankees within four. The Orioles quickly responded when Mark Trumbo took Yankees’ reliever Bryan Mitchell deep for a grand slam.
Although the O’s were up eight runs deep into the game, the Yankees never looked defeated. The Bronx Bombers answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning – Judge provided his second homer of the night – and trailed by five at the top of the seventh.
It is high, it is far, it is gone. Aaron Judge bangs the gavel: pic.twitter.com/r0wY66eTdC
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) April 29, 2017
This back and forth slugfest continued when Baltimore added another two runs to make their lead 11-4, courtesy of a Jonathan Schoop two-run single. But Jacoby Ellsbury gave the Yankees the surge they needed to take over momentum for the rest of the night. Ellsbury launched a grand slam in the bottom half of the seventh to bring the Yankees within three runs.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, it was Starlin Castro who provided the late-inning heroics with a game-tying, two-run home run. Castro pulled his best Adrian Beltre impression by getting down on one knee in the follow through of his swing. Interim closer for the Orioles Brad Brach recorded his first blown save of the season.
FROM ONE KNEE, WE ARE TIED!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/PcOXsqOaBv
— Bronx Pinstripes (@BronxPinstripes) April 29, 2017
Jayson Aquino pitched in relief of Brach and didn’t fair much better than his teammate. Aquino allowed a walk-off, three-run home run to Matt Holliday, which gave the Yankees their first lead of the night, 14-11.
TWO Judgement Bombs
Ellsbury GRAND SLAMI
Castro from ONE KNEE
Holliday WALKOFF#YANKEES WINNNNNNNNNNN pic.twitter.com/PrCP3LL2UH— Bronx Pinstripes (@BronxPinstripes) April 29, 2017
With the win, the Yankees improved to 14-7 on the season and 9-1 at home. The win puts the Bronx Bombers in a tie for first place with the Orioles going into Saturday afternoon’s matchup. Ubaldo Jiminez will take on Michael Pineda in a game that will potentially move the Yankees into sole possession of first place.
Win- Aroldis Chapman
Loss- Jayson Aquino
Notes:
Although the Yankees and Orioles share the same record, the Yankees run differential is +38 compared to the O’s, meager, +6. With Mark Texiera and Alex Rodriguez no longer on the team, the offense is rejuvenated. Aaron Judge is now tied for the American League lead in home runs with nine.
