BRONX, N.Y. – The New York Yankees called up Jordan Montgomery, a 24-year-old lefty, to make his season debut as the fifth starter for the team.
Prior to Montgomery’s promotion, the Yankees were using a four-man rotation because there were multiple off days at the beginning of the season. Montgomery beat out Chad Green for the final spot and his Yankees came away with a 8-4 win in his first start of the year.
The young lefty started out the game strong, striking out Steven Souza Jr. and Kevin Kiermaier. However, he didn’t fare as well against Evan Longoria and Rickie Weeks. Montgomery pitched around Longoria, issuing a walk. He then served up a two-run homer to Weeks to give the Rays a 2-0 lead.
But Montgomery settled down as the butterflies dissipated from his stomach. He pitched 4.2 innings and only allowed the two earned runs that he gave up in the first inning. He also struck out seven and walked two. Joe Girardi elected to pull Montgomery in the middle of the fifth inning due to his pitch count being so high.
Ray’s starter Blake Snell turned in 4.2 innings without giving up an earned run. Aside from Alex Colome, the Ray’s bullpen hasn’t been effective this season. They allowed four earned runs Wednesday afternoon and allowed the Yankees to pull away.
The Yankees trailed the Rays 3-0 all the way up until the sixth inning where they bulled the Rays over, literally. Brett Gardner pinch hit for Pete Kozma and plowed into Rickie Weeks at first base after hitting a comebacker to the pitcher, who threw low to first. Both players exited the game and the Yankees took the lead 4-3. Jacoby Ellsbury and Aaron Hicks added on to the lead by each driving home a run, making it a four run inning for the Yanks.
Gardy is a tough SOB! That’s one hell of a collision! pic.twitter.com/WCmtpJNWKY
— The BP Show (@YankeesPodcast) April 12, 2017
Aaron Judge belted his third home run of the season in the bottom of the seventh inning off of Erasmo Ramirez. With the lead being 8-3, the Yankees’ bullpen was able to comfortably close out the game. Coming into today’s game, the Yankees’ bullpen ranked number one in all of baseball with an ERA of 1.13.
Aaron Judge to Monument Park for a two-run homer. The scary thing? I don’t think he got all of it.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) April 12, 2017
Aroldis Chapman nailed down the game in the ninth inning after Jonathan Holder allowed two runners to reach base. Chapman sizzled a 101 MPH fastball past Kiermaier to end the game.
The Yankees will look for the series sweep on Thursday night against the Rays
Luis Severino will square up against Matt Andriese tomorrow night as the Yankees look for the sweep.
Win- Bryan Mitchell (1,0)
Loss- Jumbo Diaz (0,1)
Notables:
Judge: 2-3, 3 RBI, HR (3)
Hicks: 0-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB
