Home NYC Teams New York Yankees

New York Yankees Reaction: Offense Breaks Out, Miller & Chapman Hold On (Highlights)

In a much needed offensive breakout, the New York Yankees lineup plated seven runs to eek out the middle game in Baltimore.

  • New York Yankees: 8 (26-29)
  • Baltimore Orioles: 6 (31-23)
  • American League, FINAL, Box Score
  • Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD

Having lost seven of their last 10 including a stinging series opening loss last night, the New York Yankees were in desperate need of a breakout offensive performance. Eight runs, 16 hits, and a “moving the chain” factor was able to provide the spark.

A true collective effort from the offense is what was put on display. Every starter penciled into the Yankee lineup by Joe Girardi collected at least one hit, and the attack was highlighted by an important four-run fourth inning.

Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner, Alex Rodriguez, and Starlin Castro each had multi-hit games as the Yanks pushed Baltimore starter Tyler Wilson from the game after four ineffective innings. The 26-year-old right-hander surrendered seven hits and five earned runs in the loss.

Both Castro and Austin Romine drove in a pair of runs to back Ivan Nova, who was brilliant for six innings before completely running out of gas near the tail end of his outing. The tail end is what nearly burned the Yanks.

Nova allowed a solo shot Mark Trumbo and a two-run shot to Pedro Alvarez in the seventh inning, and then proceeded to put two men aboard to force Joe Girardi to pull him. However, the hook did not do the trick. Adam Jones nailed a three-run shot off reliever Nick Goody and, just like that, it was a 7-6 ballgame.

That was when Andrew Miller was called upon to restore order, and did so tremendously. The tall left-hander struck out two over two frames, stifling Baltimore’s lineup and bridging the gap to Aroldis Chapman.

Alex Rodriguez‘s RBI single in the top of the ninth provided more than enough leeway for the flamethrower, who shut the door for his ninth save in as many tries.

The Catalysts

The Yankees have longed for this. Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner each went 2-5 to set the table for the potent offensive showing.

A key play in the game transpired directly because of the tandem. With two outs, Gardner at first, and Ellsbury at third in the sixth, the two pulled off a double steal that saw Ellsbury race home with the Yankees’ seventh run of the game.

The play demonstrated the potential of what they can create at the top of the Yankee lineup. All the Yankees can hope for is that their production at the top of the order is a constant and not a spur of the moment factor.

Injury Update

When the Yankees placed Mark Teixeira on the DL earlier in the day with a relatively substantial knee injury, the first base vacancy left behind was a major question. Rob Refsnyder, who took over for Tex yesterday, got the start tonight. Chris Parmelee, who got the nod from Triple-A Scranton, took over to shore up the defense at first late in the game.

In addition, Brian McCann and his hyperextended elbow was forced into action due to a freak Austin Romine injury in warmups prior to the bottom of the ninth. Aroldis Chapman fired a breaking ball in the dirt which skipped up to nail Romine’s thumb, which became exposed as he reached down to grab the pitch. Fortunately for the hot hitting backup catcher, his x-rays came back negative.

What’s next?

The Yankees and Orioles will wrap up this three-game set tomorrow afternoon from Baltimore.

CC Sabathia (3-4, 2.85 ERA) will take the ball for New York opposing Kevin Gausman (0-3, 3.78 ERA) in the rubber game. The big left-hander is coming off a superb month of May in which he pitched to a 1.04 ERA. He was charged with a tough luck loss his last time out in Toronto, allowing only five hits and two earned runs over six strong innings.

Gausman was tagged for five earned runs in six innings in a loss to Boston his last time out. He has yet to earn a win in 2016 but has been a stellar, power arm. The right-hander has struck out 45 batters in 47 2/3 innings spanning eight starts.

First pitch will commence at 1:35 pm ET from Camden Yards. The game can be seen on YES and MLB Network (out-of-market only) and heard on 660 WFAN/101.9 FM.

NEXT: Mark Teixeira Headed To DL