Source: FanGraphs
That was a good way to snap the little three-game losing streak, I’d say. The Yankees mounted yet another late-inning comeback in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader — but not before blowing their own late lead, I should note — to earn an 11-6 win over the Astros. Nice to see the offense snap out of its recent funk. There is no chance I’m writing two full recaps on a Sunday, so let’s bullet point this one:
- Bad Sevy: It was clear early on Luis Severino had no idea where the ball was going. He walked three of the first six batters he faced, but was able to skate through the first two innings scoreless thanks to some timely strikeouts and a double play ball. The third inning was less forgiving. It went hit batsmen, single, fielder’s choice, single, single, single, single, showers. Severino allowed three runs in that third inning, and left with the bases loaded and one out. Zoinks. The return of 2016 Severino, for at least one day.
- Two Leads: The Yankees took their first lead of the series three batters into the game on a double (Brett Gardner) and two ground outs. Nice and easy. They took their second lead of their series in the fourth inning. The Astros were up 3-1 at the time, then Starlin Castro lifted a two-run homer into the short porch, and Aaron Judge hammered a solo homer off the top of the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar. Just like that, it was 4-3 Yankees. Matt Holliday drew a walk to set up Castro’s two-run shot. It’s the second time this season Starlin and Judge have gone back-to-back.
- Blown Lead: What a job by Chad Green. He escaped Severino’s third inning mess with a double play, then chucked three more scoreless innings on top of it. Great, great work by him. And I was totally cool with Joe Girardi pulling Green when he did. He was about to face the middle of the lineup a second time. Adam Warren has been great this year and he just didn’t get the job done in the seventh. Castro botching a double play — he flipped the ball into left field — didn’t help, but the lead was gone by then. An infield single, a walk, and a single did that. The botched double play and a sac fly gave the Astros two more runs. The 4-3 lead became a 6-4 deficit.
- Fighting Spirit!: The Yankees answered Houston’s three-run top of the seventh with a six-run bottom of the seventh. A single (Gardner) and a double (Jacoby Ellsbury) with one out set it up. Holliday drove in the first run with an infield single. It was a great play by Carlos Correa. The ball was ticketed for center field, but Correa dove to stop the ball, preventing Ellsbury from scoring from second. Saved a run. Temporarily, anyway. Castro came through with a game-tying two-strike double to right, which also left the Yankees with men on second and third. An intentional walk to Judge set up Chase Headley (!) for the go-ahead triple (!!!). Shout out to Josh Reddick for making that possible with a weird route in right field. Chris Carter tacked on an insurance run with a double, giving the Yankees a 10-6 lead. All the fan favorites came through that inning.
- Leftovers: Warren remained in to pitch the eighth inning and retired the side in order. Jonathan Holder did the same in the ninth … Gardner tacked on another insurance run with a solo homer in the eighth. His seven homers match last year’s total … every starter had a hit except No. 9 hitter Austin Romine … the Yankees had eleven hits total, but only two singles. Two! Five doubles, one triple, three homers. This is their second game with nine extra-base hits this season. They had two all of last year … the Yankees are a perfect 12-0 when Judge homers this season.
Here are the box score, video highlights, and updated standings. Don’t miss our Bullpen Workload page either. The Yankees will retire No. 2 in honor of Derek Jeter later today, then play the second game of the doubleheader. Masahiro Tanaka and Charlie Morton are the scheduled starters for that one. Ready to do this all over again?
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