A win on Sunday – which would complete the Yankees’ second consecutive series sweep – could put them into a playoff position just six weeks after selling at the trade deadline.
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Sanchez homered and almost launched another as Tampa Bay messed up an intentional walk, leading the hard-charging Yankees to their season-best seventh straight win, 5-1 over the Rays on Saturday.
The Yankees used the long ball again tonight, and once more it was provided by a combination of a veteran and a rookie with Teixeira’s grand slam and Sanchez’s solo shot. Later than inning, Jacoby Ellsbury also scored from a sac fly by way of Didi Gregorius to make it 5-1, the final score of the game.
Gary Sanchez hit a solo home run, his 12th of the season, in the second inning. With Tanaka pitching into the eighth inning, the Yankees needed only six pitches from Adam Warren – he got a double play to end the eighth – before tacking on runs that let them use Tyler Clippard for just one out in the ninth.
Their best hitter, two-thirds of their No Runs DMC bullpen and a starting pitcher being moved for prospects before the August 1 trade deadline seemingly would turn the mediocre Yankees into a club that would finish with a losing record. “I think you have to be prepared because if they throw it over the plate, it’s probably going to be one of the softer pitches you see in your career”.
“We’re trying to get in”, Yankees closer Dellin Betances said. He pitched three hitless innings with five walks and two strikeouts. In 10.1 innings, Snell has only given up three earned runs which is impressive for a rookie facing the deep Yankees’ lineup. New York Yankees fans called him out for a curtain call. The Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles went into their game Saturday night in Detroit tied for the second wild card.
The next day, Gary Sanchez was promoted, Alex Rodriguez played his last game the following week and since Tanaka’s last loss, the Yankees (75-65) are 22-12 while one game out of the second wild-card spot and four out of first. Austin, who began this season with Double-A Trenton, ended New York’s biggest win to date when he drove a full count fastball from Erasmo Ramirez a few rows into the right-center field seats. It was the seventh time Milwaukee hit back-to-back homers this season.
The streaky Souza had been in a 5-for-40 slump without a home run.
Romero said he knew what he was supposed to do with runners on third and second and no outs, but failed because the ball slipped from his sweaty hand.
Before the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash said he would keep Archer in the rotation if he neared 20 losses. I have to watch his neck, ” Girardi said. I’ll stick with the hot home team and hope they hit more homers… Logan Forsythe has hit 119 times with 67 runs and 47 RBI.
Yankees: RHP Michael Pineda (6-11, 5.10) pitches against Tampa Bay. Chris Archer (8-18, 4.05 ERA) took the loss for the Rays and Masahiro Tanaka (13-4, 3.04 ERA) picks up the win for NY.
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The Yankees are 11 games over.500, building on what already was a season high, and have won nine of 11 and 13 of 17. Asked about Tim Tebow signing with the New York Mets, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said: “I’d be shocked if he’s not rusty, but the Mets thought enough of him to sign him, so I’m curious”.
