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Yankees Game 15: Pineda completes a clean sweep

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Chicago Cubs 0 — New York Yankees 2

After winning the first game in dominant fashion, the Yankees turned to Michael Pineda for the day-night doubleheader sweep.

In honor of Jackie Robinson, all players in the league wore the #42 on April 15, the day of Jackie Robinson’s MLB debut. The Yankees night to honor Jackie Robinson was delayed due to rain yesterday. So the Yankees and the visiting Chicago Cubs honor Jackie Robinson tonight, in the second of a day-night doubleheader.

The Yankees fifth starter allowed one hit in the first four innings. In the fifth inning, Pineda gave up a pair of singles and catcher Welington Castillo advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Pineda would shut the door on the rally with a strikeout of Ryan Kalish and a weak fly out by Darwin Barney.

While the Cubs were struggling to get any offense going, the Yankees offense had all the opportunities to put this game well out of reach.

In the first inning, the Yankees got two two-out hits, a double and a single, to put runners in scoring position but Yangervis Solarte couldn’t come through. In the second inning, Ichiro Suzuki led off with a single to center field but would be stuck at first for the inning. In the third inning, Derek Jeter reached on a rare error by Darwin Barney and got to second base. Carlos Beltran would hit a sharp line drive to left field but a pair of fly outs would strand the two on the corners.

The string of inability to drive the run home would finally end in the fourth inning.

Three singles in the fourth inning, the last by Brett Gardner would bring home the first run of the game. Notably, Scott Sizemore made his return to the majors in tonight’s game after three years of trying to make it back and was the first single in the fourth inning that would eventually come around to score. In the fifth inning, another two out rally would plate the second run of the game. After Soriano and Solarte got singles, Scott Sizemore would bring home his first run since 2011 with a single to left field to make it a two-run game.

The futility of the Yankees offense was overshadowed by the dominant pitchers in pinstripes. Pineda would give up a two-out triple to Anthony Rizzo but he would be stranded. Over six scoreless innings, Michael Pineda allowed four hits while walking one and striking out three.

David Phelps would come in for the Yankees and he would find himself in some early hot water with a single and a walk putting the tying run on base. A pop out, strikeout and a fly out would strand the runners and maintain the shutout. Phelps would get one strikeout in the eighth inning before Matt Thornton made his appearance. He would do his job, getting pinch-hitter Junior Lake to strikeout and Anthony Rizzo to ground out.

With Shawn Kelley unavailable due to his work earlier today, the ninth inning was a combined effort. Matt Thornton would start the inning but gave up a single to the lone batter he faced in the ninth. Adam Warren would come in for the last three outs of the game. he would get the first out but would walk Luis Valbuena on a close call to put the tying run on the bases. The second out would come on a pop out but a wild pitch would put the potential tying run on second base. A ground out to shortstop would complete the shutout for the Yankees and a clean sweep of the Cubs.

Over the two games, 18 innings, the Yankees pitchers combined for nine hits and four walks while allowing no runs and striking out 17.

 

Win – Michael Pineda (2-1)

Loss – Travis Wood (0-2)

Save – Adam Warren (1)

 

Notables

Cubs

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Yankees

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Current Yankees Record: 9-6