Yankees’ offense puts up another ten spot, game is close anyway

So this was a roller coaster.

To start things off, the Yankees trailed before even recording one out. Through four innings, they had scored zero runs off Aaron Sanchez, who entered this game with a 5.49 ERA. Over the course of the next couple innings, things quickly turned around, with the Yankees putting up ten runs, while CC Sabathia was crafting a solid outing. Then, Jonathan Holder happened and things got way too close for a game where a team racked up double-digit runs.

Eventually, the Yankees won this game, and that’s what matters in the standings. However, it was complicated.

As mentioned, the Blue Jays struck pretty quickly to open the scoring. After Eric Sogard started the game with a walk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a ball into no man’s land in right, scoring the run. Sabathia then got two outs and was on the verge of getting out of the inning, but a single by Randal Grichuk and a double from Rowdy Tellez pushed across a second run.

It took a while, but the Yankees eventually responded to that in the fifth inning. With one out in the inning, DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit reached on back-to-back single. Aaron Hicks hasn’t put up the best numbers since coming back, but he delivered the goods this time around. Hicks put one over the wall in right, giving the Yankees the lead.

After the first inning, Sabathia bounced back and ended up giving the Yankees six mostly strong innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out nine. It ended up being the first time he threw 100 or more pitches this season.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Yankees really broke the game open. In total, the Yankees plated a further seven runs. Gio Urshela and Brett Garnder both recorded RBI, followed by Luke Voit dealing a big blow, hitting a two-run, bases-clearing double. To cap things off, Giancarlo Stanton destroyed a baseball for his first home run of the season. Fittingly, it was an absolutely massive 445 foot shot to left-center.

The Yankees looked to be cruising to a win, but things got shaky thanks mostly to one man. Jonathan Holder entered the eighth inning with an eight-run lead, and he left with the game in a save situation. Holder allowed five runs on five hits, including a home run to kick off the inning, and a grand slam to finally knock him out of it. Chad Green came in for him and got two outs, but also allowed two runners to reach, bringing the tying run to the plate. Adam Ottavino replaced him and finally ended the madness of the top of the eighth with the Yankees still in front.

Among the nonsense that was the late innings of this game, the Blue Jays got another run back in the ninth. It wasn’t an easy inning, but Aroldis Chapman eventually closed out an adventurous win.

Tune in tomorrow to find out who the Yankees start since the expected opener had to pitch in this game. It’ll be a fun surprise!

Box score