But the Yankees finally supplied some power in the seventh, and were able to hold on for a 3-0 win at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York.
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Sanchez went the opposite way against Jesse Chavez, the rookie’s 14th home run in 136 at-bats this year. The five-hitter was New York’s 10th shutout of the season. NY remained two games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second American League wild-card spot and is four behind the AL East-leading Red Sox.
At 20 years, 32 days old, Urias will be the youngest Dodgers starter ever against the Yankees in NY, as noted by Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider on Monday. Earlier in the plate appearance, Judge grimaced on a foul ball but stayed in the game before getting pulled when the Yankees noticed he was not running well. Judge is scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday.
Gregorius, out of the starting lineup again because of a sore rib, connected on Stripling’s next pitch for his first career pinch-hit homer. Gregorius batted for Ronald Torreyes and sent Stripling’s fastball into the right-center field seats.
The Dodgers managed just one walk and three hits while striking out seven times in 6-2/3 innings against Sabathia on Tuesday night.
The shortstop said before Tuesday’s game that he’d be available off the bench and felt better than he did on Monday. Ellsbury did not start because manager Joe Girardi wanted to give him a day off against a left-handed starter after he played 11 days in a row. “And it probably affects him more because it’s on the lead side”.
It didn’t seem to affect him much Tuesday. For Gregorius, it was his 18th home run and first as a pinch hitter. The hefty veteran surrendered three runs – all on solo home runs – and seven hits in the outing and has yielded 13 homers in his last nine outings. He struck out seven, walked one and threw 93 pitches before getting a loud ovation. It marked the first time Sabathia didn’t allow a run since June 10. He’s been spectacular since returning to the big leagues on August 3, going 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA across 28 innings of work.
Yankees: RHP Michael Pineda (6-11, 5.07) is 0-1 with a 4.65 ERA in his past six starts. The 36-year-old lefty has since rebounded as the Yanks have clawed back into postseason contention, pitching to a 2.40 ERA over his last five starts, during which he has 27 strikeouts against six walks.
The Dodgers turn to Julio Urias in their middle game against the Yankees on Tuesday night in NY, another spot start in a second half filled with intermittent flashes of brilliance. Girardi said he told Ellsbury on Friday that he would have Tuesday off, but when Aaron Judge injured his right oblique on a swing in the fourth inning Tuesday, the center fielder was needed. He ended up walking to load the bases and was thrown out at second on an inning-ending fielder’s choice before being removed from the game.
The New York Yankees have a very small margin for error the rest of the way and can not afford a series loss at home if they hope to stay in the American League postseason race.
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Dellin Betances finished off the victory with a four-out save.
