Yankees Game 71: Starlin walks off in high scoring win

Despite a grand slam from Headley and a three-run home run from Beltran, Starlin shines bright with his walk-off home run in today's dramatic win.

Colorado Rockies 8 – New York Yankees 9

After losing the first of two at home, the Yankees looked to settle on a series split with the visiting Colorado Rockies.

In the first inning, Charlie Blackmon reached on an infield single and advanced on a sacrifice by DJ LeMahieu. With one in scoring position, Carlos Gonzalez hit a single to left field and Blackmon was sent home but Brett Gardner denied the Rockies a run when he got it to home on one hop for the out in a scoreless inning to start the game.

Colorado starter Jon Gray held the Yankees off the board in the first inning but some wildness in the second inning proved very costly. Around a single by Starlin Castro, Brian McCann and Didi Gregorius walked to load the bases to start the second inning. On the first pitch to Chase Headley, the Yankees' third baseman went to straight center field for the first grand slam for the 2016 Yankees.

With a four-run lead, CC Sabathia tried to come up with a shut down inning but the Rockies have a potent offense.

In the third inning, catcher Nick Hundley led off with a single and runners were on second and third after a sacrifice went into right field on the Sabathia throwing error. The thorn in the Yankees' side, Charlie Blackmon struck for a two-run single to center field to cut the Yankees lead in half.

In the fourth inning, Sabathia started with a walk of Trevor Story. With one out, Mark Reynolds hit a single and Nick Hundley delivered the big blow with a three-run home run to left-center, erasing the Yankees four-run lead completely, putting the Rockies ahead by one. Sabathia exited after walking one and generating the first out of the fifth inning. Anthony Swarzak came on in relief and immediately surrendered a run-scoring single to Trevor Story. Ryan Raburn extended the Rockies lead to 8-4 when he hit a two-run home run to center field.

In 4 1/3 innings, CC Sabathia allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts. In his previous 44 innings entering today's start, Sabathia allowed six runs.

Gray and reliever Jordan Lyles silenced the Yankees bats until the seventh inning. Starting the seventh inning, Rob Refsnyder reached base due to catcher's interference. Jacoby Ellsbury flew out but Brett Gardner hit a single to get on base and Carlos Beltran made a big impact. The Yankees right fielder hit his 19th home run of the season, a three-run home run deep to right field to bring the Yankees within one. After the second out of the inning, former Yankee Boone Logan came in to face Brian McCann but McCann went to right field for a ground-rule double. Miguel Castro came on to face Starlin Castro, no relation, and Starlin won the battle of Castros with an infield single. With the inning extended, Didi Gregorius made it count with a single to left center field to tie the game, 8-8.

Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman each added a scoreless inning, all striking out two each to keep the game tied entering the ninth inning.

After failing to score in the eighth inning, Starlin Castro saw one pitch from Jason Motte and swung at the next one. The second pitch from Motte went deep into the right field seats for a walk-off solo home run, the first of his career.

Win – Aroldis Chapman (1-0)

Loss – Jason Motte (0-1)

Notables

Rockies

*Nick Hundley – 2 for 4, 2 R, Three-run home run (4) in the 4th, 3 RBI (16)

*Ryan Raburn – 1 for 4, R, Two-run home run (7) in the 5th, 2 RBI (20)

Yankees

*Starlin Castro – 3 for 5, 2 R, Walk-off solo home run (10) in the 9, RBI (28)

*Chase Headley – 1 for 3, R, Grand slam (4) in the 2nd, 4 RBI (18)

*Carlos Beltran – 1 for 3, R, BB, Three-run home run (19) in the 7th, 3 RBI (51)

Current Yankees Record: 35-36