NEW YORK -- After their worst start in a quarter-century, the New York Yankees allowed themselves a moment to exhale: For the first time since the second week of the season, they're back at .500.
A resurgent Nathan Eovaldi combined with his bullpen on a two-hitter to win his fifth straight decision, and the Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-0 Tuesday night to extend their winning streak to six games.
"It's a milestone for us," Chase Headley said. "When things are going bad, you set your sights to get back to .500 and then you go from there. We've had to play really good baseball to get back here, but we're here and now we've got to keep going, keep building."
Carlos Beltran homered off knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and drove in New York's first two runs. Having dropped as many as eight games under .500, the Yankees (22-22) won for the 13th time in 18 games and evened their record for the first time since they were 4-4 on the morning of April 15. New York had not strung together this many wins since last June 1-9.
"There's no doubt that we played horrible the first month," Beltran said. "We were able to fight through it as a team and turn it around."
Eovaldi (5-2), whose fastball velocity trails only the Mets' Noah Syndergaard among big league starting pitchers, improved to 5-0 with a 2.92 ERA in his last six starts and has allowed one run and three hits over 12 innings in his last two outings. He gave up two hits over six-plus innings in this one, escaping trouble in the second when, with two on, Kevin Pillar hit into a forceout and Darwin Barney struck out.
"After the third inning, I felt a lot better. I was able to locate the ball inside," said Eovaldi, who shifted more to his splitter as the game went on.
With New York ahead 2-0, Dellin Betances relieved after Troy Tulowitzki's leadoff walk in the seventh. He struck out Jimmy Paredes, retired Pillar on a flyout to the left-field warning track and fanned Barney.
After the Yankees doubled their lead in the bottom half, New York was able to avoid using the remainder of its late-inning trio, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. Kirby Yates and Luis Cessa finished with an inning each.
Just having the Done BMC bullpen trio since Chapman's return May 9 from a domestic violence suspension has changed the Yankees' mindset.
"That gives us a sense of relief to the pitchers, the starting pitchers, saying, you know what: I don't have to be perfect," Beltran explained.
Beltran drove in a first-inning run when he beat Tulowitzki's relay throw from second on a grounder to avoid what would have been an inning-ending double play and allow Jacoby Ellsbury to sprint home from third. Ellsbury tripled leading off when Jose Bautista made an ill-advised attempt for a diving backhand catch, and the ball rolled to the right-field scoreboard.
Beltran homered into the right-field second deck in the fourth, his 10th this season. Austin Romine chased Dickey with an RBI double in the seventh, and Ellsbury followed with a run-scoring infield hit against Joe Biagini. Headley added a sacrifice fly in the eighth, hitting right-handed against switch-pitcher Pat Venditte, and Didi Gregorius had an RBI single.
Following their only off day in a stretch of 40 games in 41 days, the Yankees started a three-game series that will be their only time at home over a 20-game span. New York also is beginning a stretch in which it plays 12 of 13 games against AL East rivals.
Making his 250th major league start, Dickey (2-6) dropped to 1-6 in nine appearances since winning his opener at Tampa Bay. He gave up four runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.
New York is winning despite the absence of Alex Rodriguez, who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury for three weeks, and a minimal contribution from Mark Teixeira, who has two RBI since April 26.
"We were struggling mightily for a while there," manager Joe Girardi said. "So you get those going, and you've really got something."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: Starting a rehab assignment at Double-A Trenton, Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with a pair of singles and an RBI. He is likely to be activated by Friday. ... RHP Luis Severino (strained right triceps) is to start Sunday for Class A Tampa.
UP NEXT
RHP Ivan Nova (3-1) is slated to start for the Yankees on five days' rest, and Marco Estrada (1-2) goes to the mound for the Blue Jays. Nova is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in three starts since joining the rotation.
A resurgent Nathan Eovaldi combined with his bullpen on a two-hitter to win his fifth straight decision, and the Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-0 Tuesday night to extend their winning streak to six games.
"It's a milestone for us," Chase Headley said. "When things are going bad, you set your sights to get back to .500 and then you go from there. We've had to play really good baseball to get back here, but we're here and now we've got to keep going, keep building."
Carlos Beltran homered off knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and drove in New York's first two runs. Having dropped as many as eight games under .500, the Yankees (22-22) won for the 13th time in 18 games and evened their record for the first time since they were 4-4 on the morning of April 15. New York had not strung together this many wins since last June 1-9.
"There's no doubt that we played horrible the first month," Beltran said. "We were able to fight through it as a team and turn it around."
Eovaldi (5-2), whose fastball velocity trails only the Mets' Noah Syndergaard among big league starting pitchers, improved to 5-0 with a 2.92 ERA in his last six starts and has allowed one run and three hits over 12 innings in his last two outings. He gave up two hits over six-plus innings in this one, escaping trouble in the second when, with two on, Kevin Pillar hit into a forceout and Darwin Barney struck out.
"After the third inning, I felt a lot better. I was able to locate the ball inside," said Eovaldi, who shifted more to his splitter as the game went on.
With New York ahead 2-0, Dellin Betances relieved after Troy Tulowitzki's leadoff walk in the seventh. He struck out Jimmy Paredes, retired Pillar on a flyout to the left-field warning track and fanned Barney.
After the Yankees doubled their lead in the bottom half, New York was able to avoid using the remainder of its late-inning trio, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. Kirby Yates and Luis Cessa finished with an inning each.
Just having the Done BMC bullpen trio since Chapman's return May 9 from a domestic violence suspension has changed the Yankees' mindset.
"That gives us a sense of relief to the pitchers, the starting pitchers, saying, you know what: I don't have to be perfect," Beltran explained.
Beltran drove in a first-inning run when he beat Tulowitzki's relay throw from second on a grounder to avoid what would have been an inning-ending double play and allow Jacoby Ellsbury to sprint home from third. Ellsbury tripled leading off when Jose Bautista made an ill-advised attempt for a diving backhand catch, and the ball rolled to the right-field scoreboard.
Beltran homered into the right-field second deck in the fourth, his 10th this season. Austin Romine chased Dickey with an RBI double in the seventh, and Ellsbury followed with a run-scoring infield hit against Joe Biagini. Headley added a sacrifice fly in the eighth, hitting right-handed against switch-pitcher Pat Venditte, and Didi Gregorius had an RBI single.
Following their only off day in a stretch of 40 games in 41 days, the Yankees started a three-game series that will be their only time at home over a 20-game span. New York also is beginning a stretch in which it plays 12 of 13 games against AL East rivals.
Making his 250th major league start, Dickey (2-6) dropped to 1-6 in nine appearances since winning his opener at Tampa Bay. He gave up four runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.
New York is winning despite the absence of Alex Rodriguez, who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury for three weeks, and a minimal contribution from Mark Teixeira, who has two RBI since April 26.
"We were struggling mightily for a while there," manager Joe Girardi said. "So you get those going, and you've really got something."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: Starting a rehab assignment at Double-A Trenton, Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with a pair of singles and an RBI. He is likely to be activated by Friday. ... RHP Luis Severino (strained right triceps) is to start Sunday for Class A Tampa.
UP NEXT
RHP Ivan Nova (3-1) is slated to start for the Yankees on five days' rest, and Marco Estrada (1-2) goes to the mound for the Blue Jays. Nova is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in three starts since joining the rotation.
7:05PM,EDT,May 24,2016
Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Toronto - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | TOR | NYY |
| Bautista grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Donaldson grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Encarnación struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| R.A. Dickey pitching for Toronto | TOR | NYY |
| Ellsbury tripled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Gardner walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Teixeira struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Beltrán grounded into fielder's choice to first, Ellsbury scored, Gardner out at second. | 0 | 1 |
| Beltrán to second on passed ball by Thole. | 0 | 1 |
| Ackley struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | TOR | NYY |
| Saunders flied out to left. | 0 | 1 |
| Tulowitzki singled to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Paredes walked, Tulowitzki to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Pillar grounded into force out to second, Tulowitzki to third, Paredes out at second. | 0 | 1 |
| Barney grounded out to third. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| R.A. Dickey pitching for Toronto | TOR | NYY |
| Castro struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Headley grounded out to first. | 0 | 1 |
| Gregorius lined out to first. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | TOR | NYY |
| Thole walked. | 0 | 1 |
| Bautista singled to center, Thole to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Donaldson sacrificed to third, Thole to third, Bautista to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Encarnación struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Saunders flied out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| R.A. Dickey pitching for Toronto | TOR | NYY |
| Romine singled to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Ellsbury struck out swinging, Romine to second on passed ball. | 0 | 1 |
| Gardner flied out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Teixeira lined out to third. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | TOR | NYY |
| Tulowitzki grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 1 |
| Paredes struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Pillar lined out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| R.A. Dickey pitching for Toronto | TOR | NYY |
| Beltrán homered to right (381 feet). | 0 | 2 |
| Ackley lined out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Castro grounded out to first. | 0 | 2 |
| Headley popped out to third. | 0 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | TOR | NYY |
| Barney struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Thole struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Bautista grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| R.A. Dickey pitching for Toronto | TOR | NYY |
| Gregorius grounded out to first. | 0 | 2 |
| Romine grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 2 |
| Ellsbury grounded out to catcher. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | TOR | NYY |
| Donaldson grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| Encarnación grounded out to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Saunders flied out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| R.A. Dickey pitching for Toronto | TOR | NYY |
| Gardner struck out looking. | 0 | 2 |
| Teixeira struck out looking. | 0 | 2 |
| Beltrán struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Nathan Eovaldi pitching for New York | TOR | NYY |
| Tulowitzki walked. | 0 | 2 |
| Betances relieved Eovaldi. | 0 | 2 |
| Paredes struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| Tulowitzki stole second. | 0 | 2 |
| Pillar flied out to left. | 0 | 2 |
| Smoak hit for Barney. | 0 | 2 |
| Smoak struck out swinging. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| R.A. Dickey pitching for Toronto | TOR | NYY |
| Martin at second base. | 0 | 2 |
| Goins at shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| Ackley reached on infield single to shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| Castro grounded out to shortstop, Ackley to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Headley grounded out to second, Ackley to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Gregorius walked. | 0 | 2 |
| Romine hit a ground rule double to right, Ackley scored, Gregorius to third. | 0 | 3 |
| Biagini relieved Dickey. | 0 | 3 |
| Ellsbury reached on infield single to shortstop, Gregorius scored, Romine to third. | 0 | 4 |
| Gardner flied out to left. | 0 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Kirby Yates pitching for New York | TOR | NYY |
| Hicks in right field. | 0 | 4 |
| Yates relieved Betances. | 0 | 4 |
| Thole lined out to left. | 0 | 4 |
| Bautista walked. | 0 | 4 |
| Donaldson fouled out to third. | 0 | 4 |
| Encarnación flied out to right. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jesse Chavez pitching for Toronto | TOR | NYY |
| Chavez relieved Biagini. | 0 | 4 |
| Teixeira singled to left center. | 0 | 4 |
| Beltrán walked, Teixeira to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Hicks walked, Teixeira to third, Beltrán to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Castro grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Teixeira out at home, Beltrán to third, Hicks to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Venditte relieved Chavez. | 0 | 4 |
| Headley hit sacrifice fly to center, Beltrán scored, Hicks to third. | 0 | 5 |
| Gregorius singled to right, Hicks scored, Castro to second. | 0 | 6 |
| Romine struck out swinging. | 0 | 6 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Luis Cessa pitching for New York | TOR | NYY |
| Cessa relieved Yates. | 0 | 6 |
| Saunders grounded out to second. | 0 | 6 |
| Martin hit by pitch. | 0 | 6 |
| Martin to second on fielder's indifference. | 0 | 6 |
| Paredes grounded out to second, Martin to third. | 0 | 6 |
| Pillar grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto Blue Jays | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Bautista RF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | .232 | .376 | .494 |
| Donaldson 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .246 | .343 | .509 |
| Encarnación 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19 | .235 | .302 | .437 |
| Saunders LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .314 | .379 | .556 |
| Tulowitzki SS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | .209 | .292 | .393 |
Martin 2B
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .172 | .243 | .180 |
| Paredes DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 16 | .308 | .400 | .615 |
| Pillar CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .244 | .276 | .364 |
| Barney 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | .319 | .356 | .435 |
a-Smoak PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .282 | .398 | .417 |
Goins SS
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .148 | .197 | .235 |
| Thole C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | .150 | .244 | .225 |
| Totals | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 140 | |||
| a-struck out swinging for D Barney in the 7th | ||||||||||
| BATTING S: Donaldson Blue Jays RISP: 0-8 (Smoak 0-1, Saunders 0-1, Encarnación 0-1, Barney 0-1, Paredes 0-1, Pillar 0-3) Team LOB: 7 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Tulowitzki (1, 2nd base off Betances/Romine) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING PB: Thole 2. | ||||||||||
Game Notes
| SS TULOWITZKI (RIGHT QUAD TIGHTNESS) LEFT GAME BOT 7TH |
Game Information
| Stadium | Yankee Stadium, New York, NY |
| Attendance | 35,174 (70.9% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:40 |
| Weather | 69 degrees, overcast |
| Wind | 3 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - James Hoye, First Base - Chad Fairchild, Second Base - Jim Joyce, Third Base - Marvin Hudson |
No comments:
Post a Comment