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I think we all needed a game like that after Saturday’s horrors. A late offensive spark helped propel the Yankees to a 7-3 victory over the Orioles.
CC Sabathia took the mound today and once again pitched better than any other Yankee in the starting rotation. Sabathia went six innings and gave up three runs while walking four and striking out three. Yes, you read that correctly. Six innings. Six whole innings. That would be a first of the season. It’s still early, but it looks like CC is pitching like the CC of 2016. This is exactly what we need right now. Praise be.
On the opposite side, Wade Miley was lights out for his time on the mound. Miley went five innings, giving up one hit and striking out five batters. If the five innings part of that line confuses you a bit, keep in mind that he also walked seven batters. The Yankees’ offense could not do anything with this “caché” of opportunities. Normally, against the Orioles bullpen, this would not be an ideal situation to be in. Thankfully the offense came alive.
In the top of the 6th, Aaron Judge hit one of the hardest hit balls of the season for a single. Austin Romine followed up with a single of his own before Ronald Torreyes crushed a ball to the gap in right-center field for a bases clearing triple. Toe now leads the Yankees with seven RBI, just like we all saw coming. In the top of the 8th, Judge decreed that this game would be tied with a home run to left, his first dinger of the year.
In the top of the 9th, the Orioles bullpen and defense collapsed. Darren O’Day handed Matt Holliday his fifth walk of the game. Jacoby Ellsbury came on as a pinch runner and pinch ran his way onto second base. Chris Carter walked and Starlin Castro knocked in Ellsbury with a single up the middle. Chase Headley joined the walk parade and Judge would knock in another run with an infield single. Chris Davis’ tumble while fielding helped a bit. Austin Romine’s sac-fly gave the Yankees a 6-3 lead and an errant throw to third base would allow Headley to score from third base, which gave the Yankees a “caché” of a lead. It’s nice to be on the opposite side of bad baseball.
The Yankees bullpen did its job today. Tyler Clippard, Dellin Betances, and Aroldis Chapman combined for no walks, no hits, and five strikeouts. A nice diving catch from Aaron Judge would drop the gavel and declare that this game/series/road trip was over.
The Bronx Bombers finally come home tomorrow to face the Rays. Michael Pineda will go against Alex Cobb. The game starts at 1PM.
Game highlights