NEW YORK -- The way Jordan Montgomery keeps his cool on the mound, it's hard to believe he's a rookie.
The way the New York Yankees keep winning games lately, it's easy to forget who they're missing.
Montgomery took a shutout into the seventh inning for his first major league win, Matt Holliday hit a three-run homer in his return to the lineup and the Yankees romped to their eighth consecutive victory by beating the Chicago White Sox 7-4 on Monday night.
"We've just kind of found a nice rhythm and a nice recipe," Holliday said.
The veteran slugger triggered a five-run third with a titanic shot into the raised bleachers beyond the left-center bullpen, his first home run at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge added a two-run drive to chase Derek Holland (1-2) with the score 7-0 in the fifth.
Despite playing without injured catcher Gary Sanchez and shortstop Didi Gregorius, the Baby Bombers have rebounded from a 1-4 start with the club's longest winning streak since a 10-game run in June 2012.
"We've got guys in this room that can handle their business and are showing it," backup catcher Austin Romine said. "They want that opportunity."
Making his second career start, Montgomery (1-0) immediately found himself in a first-inning jam. But the 24-year-old lefty calmly pitched out of it by setting down slumping cleanup hitter Jose Abreu and streaking Avisail Garcia with runners at second and third.
"Just went out there and kind of stayed within myself," said Montgomery, who pitched in the College World Series as a South Carolina freshman. "Hopefully the first of many, so I'm not trying to make too big a deal of it."
Garcia began the night leading the majors with a .465 batting average, yet Montgomery never flinched.
"He's got poise beyond his years," Holliday said. "He's got a very veteran demeanor to him."
After scattering four hits over the first six innings, Montgomery gave up consecutive singles to start the seventh and then a three-run homer to Yolmer Sanchez, who finished with three hits.
That was it for the 6-foot-6 Montgomery, who jogged off the field to cheers.
"He showed that he is a very good pitcher and that he has the talent to pitch in the big leagues," Abreu said through a translator.
Adam Warren replaced Montgomery and worked into the ninth. Warren gave up an RBI double to Kevan Smith before Aroldis Chapman earned his fourth save when Tyler Saladino grounded into a game-ending double play -- the fourth turned by the Yankees.
Warren retired 22 straight batters to begin the season before issuing a two-out walk in the seventh.
Starlin Castro had three hits for New York, and Judge drove in three runs. Castro and Chase Headley hit successive doubles after Holliday's homer, estimated at 459 feet.
Holliday missed the previous two games with lower back stiffness.
Judge added a run-scoring infield single to complete the outburst. New York has won its first seven home games for the first time since 1998.
Holland was tagged for 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings and fell to 1-7 with a 6.97 ERA against the Yankees. The left-hander allowed one hit over six scoreless innings last time out in Cleveland.
"I wasn't getting the call inside," Holland said. "I have to adjust to that. That's on me."
BIRD ON THE BENCH
Despite breaking out of his slump Sunday night with a huge game at the plate, Yankees 1B Greg Bird was left on the bench in favor of Chris Carter. Still, manager Joe Girardi insisted the team views Bird as an everyday player. "Holland's really tough on left-handers," Girardi explained. "So we got as many righties as we could today." LF Brett Gardner also was rested as Girardi stacked his lineup with eight right-handed hitters underneath leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury. Bird struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: 3B Todd Frazier sat out again because of an illness manager Rick Renteria described as a "flu-like stomach irritation." Renteria said Frazier was feeling better, though, and finally able to keep food down. ... Bench coach Joe McEwing went to the mound and removed Holland. McEwing took on the task because Renteria was hobbled by knee inflammation.
Yankees: Gregorius (right shoulder strain) could play in a simulated game in the next few days. He is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment soon.
ON THE MOVE
New York traded Triple-A pitcher Johnny Barbato to the Pittsburgh Pirates for $150,000 or a player to be named. The right-hander made 13 major league relief appearances last year.
UP NEXT
RHP Luis Severino (1-0) looks to extend New York's winning streak Tuesday night when he faces RHP Miguel Gonzalez (1-0) in the second game of the series. The 23-year-old Severino set a career high with 11 strikeouts last time out against Tampa Bay, ending a string of 13 winless starts that dated to a victory over the White Sox in September 2015.
---
More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball




Final
Series: Game 1 of 3

White Sox 4

(6-6, 4-3 away)

Yankees 7

(9-4, 7-0 home)






7:05PM,EDT,April 17,2017
Yankee Stadium, New York,New York 

123456789 R H E
CHW 000000301 4 11 3
NYY 00502000 - 7 9 0
W: J. Montgomery (1-0)
L: D. Holland (1-2)
S: A. Chapman (4)






View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-PitchInning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Chicago - Top of 1stSCORE
Jordan Montgomery pitching for New YorkCHWNYY
Saladino singled to center.00
Anderson flied out to center.00
Cabrera walked, Saladino to second.00
Saladino to third, Cabrera to second on passed ball by Romine.00
Abreu grounded out to third.00
A. García flied out to center.00
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Bottom of 1stSCORE
Derek Holland pitching for ChicagoCHWNYY
Ellsbury singled to left.00
Hicks grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Ellsbury out at second.00
Holliday grounded out to shortstop.00
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 2ndSCORE
Jordan Montgomery pitching for New YorkCHWNYY
Davidson struck out swinging.00
Sánchez singled to center.00
Smith grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Sánchez out at second.00
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Bottom of 2ndSCORE
Derek Holland pitching for ChicagoCHWNYY
Castro hit a ground rule double to deep center.00
Headley safe at second on throwing error by shortstop Anderson, Castro to third, Headley advanced to first on Anderson throwing error, Headley thrown out at second attempting to advance on play.00
Judge struck out swinging.00
Carter popped out to second.00
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors
Chicago - Top of 3rdSCORE
Jordan Montgomery pitching for New YorkCHWNYY
May grounded out to second.00
Saladino struck out swinging.00
Anderson flied out to right.00
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Bottom of 3rdSCORE
Derek Holland pitching for ChicagoCHWNYY
Romine struck out swinging.00
Kozma reached on infield single to first.00
Ellsbury safe at first on error by first baseman Abreu, Kozma to second.00
Hicks grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Ellsbury out at second, Kozma to third.00
Holliday homered to left, Kozma and Hicks scored.03
Castro doubled to deep center.03
Headley doubled to left, Castro scored, Headley to third on error by left fielder Cabrera.04
Judge reached on infield single to shortstop, Headley scored.05
Carter flied out to left.05
5 Runs, 5 Hits, 2 Errors
Chicago - Top of 4thSCORE
Jordan Montgomery pitching for New YorkCHWNYY
Cabrera singled to right.05
Abreu flied out to left.05
A. García grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Cabrera out at second.05
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Bottom of 4thSCORE
Derek Holland pitching for ChicagoCHWNYY
Romine walked.05
Kozma flied out to left.05
Ellsbury struck out swinging.05
Hicks flied out to left.05
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 5thSCORE
Jordan Montgomery pitching for New YorkCHWNYY
Davidson struck out swinging.05
Sánchez flied out to left.05
Smith grounded out to third.05
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Bottom of 5thSCORE
Derek Holland pitching for ChicagoCHWNYY
Holliday struck out swinging.05
Castro singled to shallow left.05
Headley flied out to center.05
Judge homered to left, Castro scored.07
Swarzak relieved Holland.07
Carter flied out to right.07
2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 6thSCORE
Jordan Montgomery pitching for New YorkCHWNYY
May struck out swinging.07
Saladino walked.07
Anderson singled to center, Saladino to second.07
Cabrera popped out to first.07
Abreu flied out to right.07
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Bottom of 6thSCORE
Anthony Swarzak pitching for ChicagoCHWNYY
Romine grounded out to first.07
Kozma struck out swinging.07
Ellsbury struck out swinging.07
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 7thSCORE
Jordan Montgomery pitching for New YorkCHWNYY
A. García reached on infield single to shortstop.07
Davidson singled to right, A. García to second.07
Sánchez homered to left, A. García and Davidson scored.37
Warren relieved Montgomery.37
Smith grounded out to pitcher.37
May grounded out to first.37
Saladino walked.37
Anderson grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Saladino out at second.37
3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Bottom of 7thSCORE
Anthony Swarzak pitching for ChicagoCHWNYY
Hicks fouled out to first.37
Holliday struck out swinging.37
Castro grounded out to shortstop.37
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 8thSCORE
Adam Warren pitching for New YorkCHWNYY
Cabrera singled to left center.37
Abreu flied out to right.37
A. García grounded into double play, shortstop to first, Cabrera out at second.37
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Bottom of 8thSCORE
Michael Ynoa pitching for ChicagoCHWNYY
Ynoa relieved Swarzak.37
Headley flied out to left.37
Judge struck out swinging.37
Bird hit for Carter.37
Bird struck out swinging.37
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 9thSCORE
Adam Warren pitching for New YorkCHWNYY
Bird at first base.37
Davidson struck out swinging.37
Sánchez singled to right.37
Smith doubled to deep center, Sánchez scored.47
Chapman relieved Warren.47
L. García hit for May.47
L. García singled to shallow right, Smith to third.47
Saladino grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, L. García out at second.47
1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors




Chicago White Sox

HittersABRHRBIBBSO#PAVGOBPSLG
Saladino 2B30102119.233.410.300
Anderson SS4010009.149.167.213
Cabrera LF30201014.294.368.412
Abreu 1B40000013.170.220.191
A. García RF4110009.447.490.638
Davidson 3B41100322.355.364.742
Sánchez DH42330021.350.350.600
Smith C40110014.091.091.182
May CF30000110.000.077.000
1010001.261.320.435
Totals34411435132   
a-singled to shallow right for J May in the 9th
BATTING
2B: Smith (1, Warren)
HR: Sánchez (1, 7th inning off Montgomery 2 on, 0 Out)
RBI: Sánchez 3 (3), Smith (1)
GIDP: Smith, A. García 2, Saladino
White Sox RISP: 2-7 (Saladino 0-1, L. García 1-1, Cabrera 0-1, Abreu 0-2, Sánchez 1-1, A. García 0-1)
Team LOB: 6
FIELDING
E: Anderson (2, throw); Abreu (3, ground ball); Cabrera (1, bobble)
DP: 1 (Saladino-Anderson-Abreu).

Game Information

StadiumYankee Stadium, New York, NY
Attendance28,181 (56.8% full) - % is based on regular season capacity
Game Time2:49
Weather68 degrees, partly cloudy
Wind15 mph
UmpiresHome Plate - Vic Carapazza, First Base - Mark Ripperger, Second Base - Tom Hallion, Third Base - Phil Cuzzi