Yankees 4, Mets 2: Late homers push Yankees to win

When the two starting pitchers both come into a game with ERAs over 4.5, naturally the only thing to expect is a low scoring game.

The Yankees managed just two runs and five hits off Mets’ starter Rafael Montero in his six innings. Yankees’ starter Luis Cessa played less of a role, exiting with an injury after 4.1 innings. However, he also allowed just two runs.

The Yankees finally managed to get separation late, thanks to a trio of home runs. Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, and Gary Sanchez all hit late inning solo homers, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. And thanks to 4.2 scoreless innings from the Yankees’ bullpen, that was enough to get them over the line in the series opener against the Mets.

After two pretty good innings from Cessa, the Mets got on the board first in the third. Curtis Granderson reacquainted himself with his old stomping grounds and put one into the second deck in right. Two batters later, Yoenis Cespedes added a second solo home run.

The Yankees got their first run in the fourth. With one out in the inning, a Hicks single was followed by walks to Judge and Didi Gregorius, loading the bases. Sanchez worked the count full, before eventually flying out. It was just good enough to get a run home, as Hicks beat Cespedes’ throw home.

In the fifth inning, Cessa got a ground out to start the inning, but the training staff came out to look at him shortly after. Following a single by Juan Lagares in the next at bat, Girardi and the trainer were back out and Cessa was removed from the game. Chad Green came in and got the last two outs of the fifth.

In the sixth inning, Judge hit his 36th home run of the season, tying the game at two.

Green went another two innings after coming in for Cessa. He allowed just one baserunner in his 2.2 innings, striking out four. David Robertson replaced him to start the eighth. He walked one, but struck out the side in an otherwise flawless eighth.

The Yankees took the lead for the first time when Hicks led off the bottom of the eighth with a home run. A couple batters later, Sanchez added an insurance run when he also homered.

After the mess Aroldis Chapman made last night, Dellin Betances was tasked with closing in the ninth. He got two quick outs, but a Tyler Wade error kept the game alive, and allowed the Mets to bring the tying run to the plate. It ended up being no big deal as Betances proceeded to strike out Ahmed Rosario to end the game.

Tomorrow’s starting pitchers are Sonny Gray and Jacob deGrom, so expect a 15-13 game or somthing.