Yankees Game 98: Eovaldi, Green team up to secure win
With the Big 3 unavailable, Nathan Eovaldi gave the Yankees much needed length in today's win.
San Francisco Giants 2 – New York Yankees 5
After splitting the first two of the three-game series, the Yankees and the San Francisco Giants had the rubber match today.
Nathan Eovaldi retired the Giants in order to start the game and the Yankees got two-out offense from one of the hottest bats in pinstripes this year. Jeff Samardzija retired the first two Yankees but Carlos Beltran made the inning count with a solo home run to right field to put the Yankees on the board, 1-0. In the second inning, Mark Teixeira added to the lead with a solo home run into right center field.
The home run was his 200th as a Yankee.
Eovaldi ran into a tough spot in the fourth inning after a leadoff walk of Brandon Belt and single by Buster Posey. Eovaldi struck out Brandon Crawford but a walk of Conor Gillaspie loaded the bases. A pop out of Williamson and a ground out by Ramiro Pena stranded the bases loaded with the Giants off the scoreboard. Eovaldi gave up a two-out triple in the fifth inning but struck out Brandon Belt to continue keeping the Giants off the scoreboard.
In the sixth inning, the Yankees rallied against Samardzija to give Eovaldi some room to work.
Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner led off with a single each to put runners on the corners. A rare double play was turned on Ellsbury to get two outs but Hicks came around to score the third run of the game. With two outs, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann got on with a pair of singles and Starlin Castro made it a four-run game with a single too. Didi Gregorius dealt the big shot, a ground-rule double to center field that plated one run and ended Samardzija's day.
In the seventh inning, Eovaldi exited with two on and two out. Chasen Shreve came on for Brandon Belt but walked him to load the bases. Shreve out, Chad Green in for Buster Posey with the bases loaded. In a seven-pitch battle with Posey, the Giants catcher hit an excuse me single down the right field line to bring home two but a ground out by Crawford prevented the Giants from chipping away at the Yankees now, three-run lead.
In 6 2/3 innings, Nathan Eovaldi allowed two runs on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts. He threw a season-high 118 pitches.
Most importantly, he gave the Yankees much-needed length with the important relievers unavailable.
In the eighth inning, Mac Williamson got on base with a single. On a ground ball from Ramiro Pena, Mark Teixera was unable to snag it on a dive but Starlin Castro backed him up and making the grab. On the throw to first base, Chad Green covered and got Pena out. On the play, Williamson tried to get to third but Green threw to Headley and on one hop, Headley made the tag for the unconventional, but amazing, 4-1-5 double play to end the inning. Chad Green followed the eighth inning with a scoreless ninth inning to lock up today's victory and the series win.
In 2 1/3 innings of relief, Chad Green allowed no runs on three hits and he struck out one. He registered his first major league save today.
Win – Nathan Eovaldi (9-6)
Loss – Jeff Samardzija (9-6)
Save – Chad Green (1)
Notables
Giants
*Buster Posey – 2 for 4, 2 RBI (46)
*Angel Pagan – 3 for 5, R, 2B, 3B
Yankees
*Carlos Beltran – 2 for 4, 2 R, Solo home run (21) in the 1st, RBI (62)
*Mark Teixeira – 1 for 3, R, Solo home run (9) in the 2nd, RBI (23)
Current Yankees Record: 50-48