The New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night, 4-3.
It looked like Yankees’ starter Domingo German was not going to have it when Matt Duffy homered off of the first pitch German threw.
If you're keeping track, this means we took the lead on consecutive pitches… to the same hitter.
??? pic.twitter.com/8YDlUSdubZ
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 14, 2018
German immediately settled down, however, and looked really sharp in the process.
German dirt pic.twitter.com/D8dzbmmhCd
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) June 14, 2018
The Rays added one more run in the third. With first and second and two outs, Wilson Ramos hit the ball to left field. Giancarlo Stanton misplayed it, and a run scored, but Matt Duffy got cute and tried to score from first on the play, and Stanton got him at the plate as the trail runner to end the inning.
Stanton botches a ball. A run scores. Then he pegs out the second runner. pic.twitter.com/7ihn83WfUX
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) June 14, 2018
It was a good way to limit the damage.
The Rays scored their third and final run of the game in the sixth inning on a Joey Wendle single.
German had a great game. His final line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 10 K. German also earned his first career win. The Yankees are now 4-3 in his starts.
German generated swings and misses at a wild pace. His 26 swinging strikes tied him with Aaron Nola, and Chris Sale for the fourth highest such total in a game this season, according to Statcast.
It would be nice if German could start doing well without first having to mess up, but I’ll take it, for now!
The Yankees couldn’t buy a run for much of this game, as Blake Snell, despite his final line, showed how much he has developed this year.
The bombers threatened in the second to no avail. Miguel Andujar slapped a double down the right field line, then Tyler Austin and Ronald Torreyes both walked to load the bases for Neil Walker, who struck out after a long at bat.
In the fifth inning, the Yankees finally did their damage, however.
Down 2-0 at the time, Aaron hicks popped an opposite-field homer to right.
HICKSIE BABY! #Yankees pic.twitter.com/LQKGUJ7azn
— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) June 15, 2018
The Yankees were now on the board and down just one run!
Aaron Judge immediately followed suit with a single. Gary Sanchez had his second walk of the night, and now there were two men on for 21-year-old phenom Gleyber Torres.
Torres got himself in a great hitter’s count, 3-1. He then swung out of his shoes at what probably would have been ball four. I was mad!
Of course, Gleyber immediately made up for his sin in the best way: hitting a 3-run home run to take a 4-2 lead!
OH. MY. GOD. GLEYBER. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/csnUE9LaRe
— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) June 15, 2018
.@TorresGleyber leads all Major League hitters with five three-run homers this season.
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) June 15, 2018
The Yanks turned to Chad Green in the seventh, with the score now 4-3, who allowed one hit in a scoreless inning. He was helped out by Gary Sanchez, who I feel compelled to remind you is good at defense.
Gary is a catcher. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/N4yAYONzDa
— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) June 15, 2018
Dellin Betances worked a scoreless eighth. He 22 pitches in the inning. I wouldn’t expect to see him in Friday night’s game.
Betances walked one and struck out two in the inning. I shouldn’t have to keep pointing out how good he has been, but I will anyway: he’s been really good.
Dellin Betances Last 9 Games:
9 IP
0 Runs
1 Hit
15 K
6 BB— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) June 15, 2018
There are still a few more walks than you’d like to see, but nobody is perfect, and they haven’t hurt Dellin in a really long time. He’s all the way back in the trust tree, if you ask me.
Chapman worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning with 2 strikeouts and the Yankees won the game.
Featured Image via Flickr/Ken Lund
