BRONX, N.Y. — The New York Yankees have either won or split their past six series. They kept that streak intact against the Washington Nationals. The pinstripes pitched well and ground out some late-inning heroics.
GAME 1
It was a seesaw affair in the early going, yet the Yankees bullpen and defense imploded for an 11-4 defeat.
TURNING POINT
With the contest knotted at three entering the eighth inning, the wheels fell off. It figures the Yankee starters are throwing better but now the bullpen is being touched up a bit of late.
Jonathan Loaisiga allowed a single to Yadiel Hernandez, who advanced to second base on an Aaron Judge error in right. Victor Robles laid down a sacrifice bunt and a DJ LeMahieu error at third base enabled pinch-runner Andrew Stevenson to move to third base. Trea Turner would single home the go-ahead run. Josh Harrison socked a three-run homer to left. It would only continue to spiral out of control after that. Gleyber Torres made an error later during the frame. The six-run eighth all but sealed the deal.
GAME 2
Consider this a makeup for not winning Gerrit Cole’s start on Thursday. Somehow the Yankees withstood 14 Ks from Max Scherzer and walked it off in extras for a 4-3 victory.
TURNING POINT
Torres was the man of the hour late in this one. The Yankee shortstop squared the contest at two with an RBI single to right off Brad Hand in the bottom of the ninth.
In the eleventh, a soft bases-loaded nubber did the trick, as Tanner Rainey couldn’t field the ball on what would’ve needed to be a bang-bang play at the plate and Torres was the walk-off hero.
Infield Gley Rule pic.twitter.com/Fox7h9YgEd
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 8, 2021
GAME 3
Once again the Yankees received a representative start and came through late with another 3-2 walk-off win.
TURNING POINT
Facing Hand in the ninth inning, Tyler Wade of all people coaxed a four-pitch free pass. The ensuing batter Judge also coaxed a walk. After LeMahieu grounded into a force-out, the Yankees had runners at the corners and one out. A Giancarlo Stanton rip single to left was the difference-maker as the Yankees celebrated the walk-off win.
ON DECK
At 18-16, the Yankees head to St. Petersburg, Fla. and take on the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game series starting Tuesday evening.
Pitching probables, Jordan Montgomery vs. Luis Patiño, Cole vs. TBD, Jameson Taillon vs. TBD.
