SAN FRANCISCO — In a season that has defined by injuries and uncertainty, one player has constantly impressed throughout: Luke Voit.
After getting another three hits last night, he hit three more tonight, with the last being a ninth inning, two-run home run that gave the Yankees breathing room in their 7-3 win at Oracle Park. Voit’s batting average now stands at .276 as he continues to cement his place as the team’s first baseman of the future.
Tonight, other Yankees stepped up as well as DJ LeMahieu had three hits, while Gleyber Torres and unlikely clean-up hitter Gio Urshela each had a pair of hits.
While James Paxton did not have his best stuff tonight, he still ended with a respectable line of three runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He also struckout eight Giants.
Facing Madison Bumgarner in a battle of left-handers, it was Bumgarner that gave in first, giving up 11 hits to the Yankee offense. Giving up two runs right away in the first inning, the Bombers never looked back in tonight’s series opener.
San Francisco did have their chances, specifically in the sixth and seventh innings, to tie or take the lead but Tommy Kahnle and Adam Ottavino, respectively, came out of the bullpen and shut down those rallies.
Voit’s home run in the ninth then gave Aroldis Chapman more than enough of a cushion as he easily sealed the game in the ninth, in favor of the Yankees.
Voit happens. pic.twitter.com/DzFWt5m7kB
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 27, 2019
In the game, Cameron Maybin also got his first Yankee hit, a RBI-single in the first inning. Thairo Estrada also made his first professional appearance in left field and also got a RBI-hit, before getting pulled for pinch-runner Tyler Wade in the sixth inning.
Tomorrow’s game features yet another pair of lefties, J.A. Happ and Derek Holland. First pitch is at 4:05.
Current Yankees Record: 15-11
