Chicago White Sox 2 – New York Yankees 3
The Yankees took on the tough task of Chris Sale to open a four-game series with the visiting Chicago White Sox.
Michael Pineda pitched a scoreless first inning and Chris Sale avoided trouble with two on and two out with a ground out. Pineda allowed a base hit in the second inning and stranded the bases loaded in the top of the third but the score changed in the bottom of the third.
After Jacoby Ellsbury was hit by a pitch on the foot, he showed he was okay when he stole second base. Then, on a pop up just shy of second base, Ellsbury obstructed shortstop Alexei Ramirez‘s path to the ball, resulting in him being called out and Chase Headley reaching on the fielder’s choice. A walk to Alex Rodriguez put two on base for Carlos Beltran. On a 2-2 count, Carlos Beltran jumped on a fastball inside and pulled a sharp line drive home run into left field to put the Yankees ahead by three.
With a rare three-run lead against Chris Sale, Michael Pineda looked to make it stand. In the fourth inning and fifth inning, batters reached base but were stranded. In fact, through five innings, Pineda surrendered seven singles but no runs.
He served up the first White Sox run in the sixth inning when outfielder Trayce Thompson kept the ball fair enough down the left field line for a solo home run to bring the lead down to two. In six innings, Michael Pineda allowed one run on eight hits while walking none and striking out six.
In the seventh inning, Justin Wilson started by retiring the first two but a walk to Adam Eaton and a single by Jose Abreu put runners on the corners. With the lead threatened, Dellin Betances got the call with two outs in the seventh inning. Struggling with command, Betances began his appearance by walking Melky Cabrera. On a full count to Trayce Thompson, Betances walked him too, walking in a run to bring the Yankees lead down to one. He bounced back by striking out Adam LaRoche and all Yankees fans were able to exhale.
His eighth inning went much smoother as a single led off the inning but a double play and a strikeout wrapped up the inning. With the one-run lead, the closer Andrew Miller got the call for the ninth inning.
Andrew Miller started the ninth inning with a strikeout of Tyler Saladino. Adam Eaton reached with a single to left center to put a runner on base for a big threat, Jose Abreu. Miller got ahead of Abreu and got him to chase a breaking ball in the dirt for the second out. A fly out to right field ended the game and got the final homestand of the season started on a good note.
Win – Michael Pineda (12-8)
Loss – Chris Sale (12-11)
Save – Andrew Miller (35)
Notables
White Sox
*Trayce Thompson – 1 for 3, R, BB, Solo home run (5) in the 6th, 2 RBI (15)
*Adam Eaton – 3 for 4, R, BB
Yankees
*Carlos Beltran – 2 for 4, R, Three-run home run (18) in the 3rd, 3 RBI (63)
*Chase Headley – 2 for 4, R
Current Yankees Record: 84-68
