Yankees Game 150: Gary Sanchez goes deep for the Yankees win
After a dominant outing by Michael Pineda, Gary Sanchez broke the tie with a three-run home run in tonight's New York Yankees win.
New York Yankees 5 – Tampa Bay Rays 3 Following a day off, the Yankees start a series in Tampa Bay with the Rays. After two scoreless innings by Michael Pineda and the Rays' Drew Smyly, the Rays took advantage of some lackluster defense in the third inning. With one on and two out, Evan Longoria hit a ground ball to third baseman Donovan Solano and Solano made a high throw to Mark Teixeira for an infield single that extended the inning. Brad Miller hit a fly ball to left-center field that got over Mason Williams in center field for a two-run triple. The Yankees got one back when Mark Teixeira took Smyly deep to left field for a solo home run.
Throughout Pineda's start, four of his five complete innings of work featured two or more strikeouts as he blazed a trail through the Rays lineup. The unfortunate problem is it elevated his pitch count. With one on, one out and 98 pitches; Michael Pineda's night was done. Tommy Layne came on and struck out Corey Dickerson for his one and only assignment. Luis Severino came on and followed with a strikeout of Mikie Mahtook to wrap up the inning and Pineda's pitching line.
In 5 1/3 innings, Michael Pineda allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out 11. In the seventh inning, Brad Boxberger came on in relief of Smyly but the Yankees feasted on the Rays bullpen. Ronald Torreyes welcomed Boxberger with a single. Then with one out, Mason Williams hit a single and Brett Gardner brought home Torreyes with a run-scoring single. Boxberger struck out the returning Aaron Hicks but hung a first-pitch curveball to Gary Sanchez and the hot-hitting Yankees catcher put it deep to left-center field for a three-run home run, putting the Yankees ahead by three.
Luis Severino pitched a scoreless seventh inning. Tyler Clippard gave up a run after a leadoff triple to Logan Forsythe and a wild pitch made it a two-run game. After two rough outings for Dellin Betances, the Yankees closer came on in the ninth inning for the save. Betances set the Rays down in order to wrap up tonight's win. Win – Luis Severino (3-8) Loss – Brad Boxberger (4-3) Save – Dellin Betances (12) Notables Yankees *Gary Sanchez – 1 for 3, R, 2 BB, Three-run home run (17) in the 7th, 3 RBI (33) *Mark Teixeira – 1 for 4, R, Solo home run (13) in the 4th, RBI (38) Rays *Brad Miller – 2 for 4, 3B, 2 RBI (75) *Logan Forsythe – 2 for 4, 2 R, 3B Current Yankees Record: 78-72