Los Angeles Angels 3 — New York Yankees 4
In a game of the bullpens, homegrown Yankees achieve a couple of firsts.
In the first inning, Mike Trout got a hold of a Vidal Nuno 1-0 pitch for a solo home run and an early one-run lead. On the other side, the Angels sent Hector Santiago to the mound and he caused the tying run to come in the second inning. With one out, Santiago would hit Mark Teixeira with a pitch, gave up a single to Brett Gardner and walked Brian Roberts to load the bases. Kelly Johnson would fly out to shallow left field. With John Ryan Murphy up, Santiago would balk and that would bring in the tying run. Murphy would take advantage of the possibly rattled Santiago with a single to right field that brought home two runs and gave the Yankees a 3-1 lead.
Vidal Nuno would give the lead back in the fourth inning. Albert Pujols would hit a single and Kendrick would walk. Aybar would ground out and a throwing error by Brian Roberts on a potential double play would bring in one run. Catcher Chris Iannetta would hit a double that brought in the tying run.
Over just 4.1 innings, Vidal Nuno gave up three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out four.
In the fifth inning, John Ryan Murphy would get Hector Santiago once again, this time for a bomb of a solo home run to left field, his first career home run. This gave the Yankees a lead they would not surrender. After getting the last two outs in the fifth inning, Betances would cruise through his two innings of work. He would strike out three of the first five batters he faced before getting into trouble that the birthday boy, Shawn Kelley would bail him out of. With one on and one out, Shawn Kelley walked Mike Trout before getting Albert Pujols to fly out and Howie Kendrick to strike out swinging at a slider. With two on in the eighth inning, two runners would get on and pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez would face lefty specialist Matt Thornton. He would fly out and the Yankees bullpen continues to hold onto a slim lead.
With a one-run lead, David Robertson got his first save opportunity since returning from the disabled list. He would get the first out on a strikeout of Collin Cowgill but Mike Trout would hit a single up the middle. Slugger Albert Pujols would have his at-bat extended due to some “Steve Bartman-like antics” down in foul territory by first base but Robertson would get him to fly out before Kendrick struck out on a fastball for his third save of the season. It took him 26 pitches but he got the job done.
Congratulations to Dellin Betances on his first major league win and John Ryan Murphy on his first career home run. First of many in pinstripes we can only hope.
The bullpen (Betances, Kelley, Thornton and Robertson) provided 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball. They gave up four hits and walked two but struck out six.
Win – Dellin Betances (1-0)
Loss – Hector Santiago (0-4)
Save – David Robertson (3)
Notables
Angels
*Mike Trout – 2 for 3, R, 2 BB, Solo Home Run (6) in the 1st, RBI (15)
*Chris Iannetta – 2 for 4, 2B, RBI (9)
Yankees
*John Ryan Murphy – 2 for 3, R, Solo Home Run (1) in the 5th, 3 RBI (3)
*Brett Gardner – 2 for 3, R
Current Yankees Record: 14-10
