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After starting the season so well, CC Sabathia has struggled as of late. At least for tonight, early season Sabathia was back. He went seven innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk, striking out seven. The offense did their part, putting up five runs as the Yankees beat the Mariners 5-1.
With two outs and no one on in the top of the second, Aaron Judge came to the plate. Even though he reached via error, one could be forgiven for thinking the Yankees’ scoring chance was over for that inning considering who was due up after him. However, Aaron Hicks worked the count full and drew a walk, keeping the inning alive. Ronald Torreyes then doubled to left, scoring Judge. Somehow, the bottom of the Yankees’ order gave them a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Mariners got on the board. Right after making a nice catch for the first out of the inning, Judge misplayed fly ball to right, allowing Leonys Martin to get to third with a stand up triple. Ketel Marte then punched a ball up the middle, scoring Martin to tie the game.
The Yankees retook the lead in the top of the fifth. The doubles machine that is Torreyes led off the inning with his second of the night. After striking out in his first two at bats, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a two-run home run, putting the Yankees up 3-1.
An inning later, the Yankees tacked on another run. After Mark Teixeira led off the inning with a double, Brian McCann couldn’t sneak a grounder past the shift, as Robinson Cano made a sliding stop to get the out. Teixeira moved to third on the play. Judge then flew out to deep center field. Despite Leonys Martin’s best effort, the fly out was deep enough to score Teixeira.
Following seven strong innings from Sabathia, Tommy Layne came in to pitch the eighth. After he threw a 1-2-3 inning, the Yankees added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Ellsbury led off with (what was originally ruled) a double after Martin misplayed a ball in left. It was later changed to an error. Didi Gregorius added a ground-rule double, scoring Ellsbury.
Dellin Betances worked a scoreless inning in the ninth, sealing a 5-1 win. After the Anthony Swarzak fiasco last night, the Yankees’ pitching made sure there would be no such repeat tonight.