New York Yankees 15 – Atlanta Braves 4
The Yankees scored early and often with some assistance by the Braves pitching staff in tonight’s series opener.
After Braves starter Williams Perez retired the first two batters, he lost the strike zone. Carlos Beltran continued swinging a hot bat when he got on base with a single. Brian McCann, returning to Atlanta for the first time since joining the Yankees, walked on a full count. Greg Bird followed with a walk of his own to load the bases and Chase Headley cashed in with a ground-rule double to left center field, scoring two runs. Didi Gregorius dealt the big blow when he hit a three-run home run to right field to give the Yankees a five-run lead after one inning.
Masahiro Tanaka got a big lead to work with but struggled in the first inning of work.
Nick Markakis started the bottom of the first inning with a single. Cameron Maybin walked and Freddie Freeman got the Braves on the board with a run-scoring single. Nick Swisher plated the second run on a sacrifice fly. Tanaka gave up another hit to Adonis Garcia but Tanaka minimized the damage. Tanaka allowed two runs in the bottom of the first inning but the Yankees offense was not done with the Braves.
Perez retired the first two batters in the second inning but struggled again. Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran hit a pair of singles before Brian McCann walked to load the bases again. Perez was removed from the game and reliever Ross Detwiler came in to face Greg Bird. The lefty Detwiler walked Bird to bring in a run. Chase Headley walked in a run too before Didi Gregorius did not want to reach without swinging the bat. The Yankees shortstop had himself a night with a two-run single to give him five runs batted in for the night. And it is just the second inning.
All of the nine Yankees runs that scored in the first two innings came with two outs.
Following the rough first inning, Masahiro Tanaka returned with a strong second inning when he struck out all three batters on called strike threes. He took one last bump in the third inning when Freddie Freeman took him deep to center field, a frequent occurrence for him this year.
Following the home run by Freeman, Tanaka retired 14 of the next 15 batters to come to the plate. In seven innings, Masahiro Tanaka allowed three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out seven.
The Yankees offense was held off the scoreboard until the eighth inning.
Against reliever Andrew McKirahan, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a single to left field. After a force out put Brett Gardner at first base, Carlos Beltran went the other way on a double to right field. Brian McCann hit a three-run home run to right field, receiving a warm reception from his former home crowd, as the Yankees lead extended to nine.
After Chase Headley hit his second ground-rule double of the game, Didi Gregorius reached a career-high six runs batted in with a single to center field.
Justin Wilson and Bryan Mitchell, returning from the scary injury, finished the eighth inning and the Braves turned to a position player on the mound for the ninth inning.
With outfielder Jonny Gomes on the mound, Chris Young flexed his muscles to avoid embarrassment when he hit a solo home run to left field. John Ryan Murphy and Brett Gardner followed with a pair of doubles. Brian McCann plated a run on a sacrifice fly to left to put the Yankees ahead by 12.
In one inning of relief, Jonny Gomes allowed two runs on three hits without a walk and one strikeout.
Not a bad appearance on the mound by comparison to his pitching teammates.
Bryan Mitchell allowed a run in the ninth inning but the best sign was that he showed no fear of returning to live action so quickly after his injury. Solid win with a breakout by the Yankees offense.
Win – Masahiro Tanaka (10-6)
Loss – Williams Perez (4-5)
Notables
Yankees
*Didi Gregorius – 4 for 5, R, Three-run home run (7) in the 1st, 6 RBI (40)
*Brian McCann – 1 for 2, 3 R, 3 BB, Three-run home run (23) in the 8th, 4 RBI (79)
*Chase Headley – 2 for 4, 2 R, BB, 2 2B, 3 RBI (53)
Braves
*Freddie Freeman – 2 for 3, R, BB, Solo home run (15) in the 3rd, 2 RBI (49)
Current Yankees Record: 70-57
