Series Recap: Yankees trounce Texas
The New York Yankees brought their big bats to Arlington and took two of three against the Texas Rangers. In the process, the Yankees captured their third straight series victory in September. It was quite the series of moments and milestones for the Baby Bombers.
With 20 games left on the docket and 17 of them in New York, it's go time!
GAME 1
This game played like a bad move I've seen a few times before, the most memorable or forgettable being a loss at Anaheim. The Yankees were rolling with an early lead but wound up getting thumped by the Rangers 11-5.
OFFENSE KEEPS ROLLING
The Bronx Bombers didn't miss a beat in the early going against Martin Perez. Matt Holliday set the stage with a single to center. Following a fielder's choice, grounder and error at second on a ball hit by Didi Gregorius, Chase Headley and Jacoby Ellsbury notched consecutive singles to give the Yankees a 1-0 advantage. A Todd Frazier hit by pitch doubled the lead to 2-0.
https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/906315174587576320
With two down, Gary Sanchez, returning from suspension, ripped a two-run single to left, staking the club to a 4-0 lead in the second.
New York was ahead 5-1 after a homer to right by Gregorius in the third.
https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/906321413304406018
MASA MISERABLE
The Yankees didn't sign Masahiro Tanaka to be Martin Perez but looking at the records and ERA, it's pretty much what they're getting. Tanaka was responsible for seven runs on eight hits through four frames. Yes, he fanned seven but that's essentially window dressing. After a superb August, it was not a kind start to September.
The rest of the Scranton shuttle didn't fare much better, along with Caleb Smith, who let up three runs and didn't record an out.
GAME 2
A resilient Yanks lineup coupled with dynamic pitching amounted to a 3-1 victory.
SATURDAYS ARE FOR SEVY
About the only thing able to throw off the timing of Luis Severino is an Apple watch. The young fireballer tossed no-hit ball for 4.2 innings and his lone hit allowed came on a Brett Nicholas RBI-double in the fifth. This marked a major-league high No. 15 start yielding one run or less for Severino, who whiffed 10 in seven innings.
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CASHING IN
New York finally cashed in against Andrew Cashner and the Texas staff in the eighth. Todd Frazier started the rally with a hit by pitch, signaling the end of Cashner's afternoon. Facing Alex Claudio, Matt Holliday, pinch-hitting for Greg Bird, set up runners at the corners with a single to right. A sac fly to center by Headley proved to be the equalizer.
In the ninth, the Yankees scratched out two more runs. Starlin Castro set the table with a single to right. Following a fielder's choice by Judge, Ellsbury singled to right, setting up runners at the corners.
With Ricky Rodriguez on, Frazier loaded the bases with another hit by pitch. Ensuing batter Tyler Austin delivered with a clutch go-ahead single to left. A two-out walk to Headley made the score 3-1.
ECONOMICAL BULLPEN
David Robertson was sharp enough to go two innings, disposing of the Rangers with eight pitches in the eighth.
Yet, Aroldis Chapman delivered perhaps his most reassuring outing of the season with a smooth, almost effortless 13-pitch, two-strikeout frame for save No. 17.
GAME 3
On the first New York football Sunday, the Bronx Bombers threw up a 16 spot (four more than the New York Jets) in a 16-7 victory. It was a laugher full of milestone home runs and even Tyler Wade and Erik Kratz got in on the action.
https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/907015512252669954
YOU CAN'T SPELL ELITE WITHOUT EL GARY
Sanchez was locked in yet again and pounding the baseball. El Gary started the scoring with a solo smash to left in the first off A.J. Griffin. The Yankees backstop also went deep to center off Tyson Ross in the eighth. In swatting home run No. 30 he equaled a single-season record by a Yankee catcher, joining Jorge Posada (2003) and Yogi Berra (1956, 1952).
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/907007124584136704
JUDGE JOGS AND WALKS
Judge also walked and homered his way into the history books. Coaxing a free pass in the second, he set a major-league rookie record with 107 on the campaign. Smashing solo homers in the fourth and sixth, Judge reached 42 41 round trippers on the year. In eclipsing 40 home runs, Judge joins Babe Ruth (1920), Lou Gehrig (1927), Joe DiMaggio (1937) and Mickey Mantle (1956) as Yankees aged 25 or younger with 40 home runs in a season.
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DIDI CLEANS UP
Batting fourth on the afternoon, Gregorius went 4-for-4 with four-RBI, including a RBI-double to give New York a 2-1 lead in the third and a two-run single in the Yankees six-run fourth. Sir Didi set a career high by reaching 72-RBI on the campaign.
ON DECK
At 77-65, the Yankees head to New York for a three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays starting Monday night. Due to Hurricane Irma, the Rays will host the Yankees at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets.
Pitching probables include CC Sabathia vs. Jake Odorizzi, Sonny Gray vs. Blake Snell, Jaime Garcia vs. Chris Archer.