The New York Yankees finally received a quality start from their ace, but Aaron Judge once again stole the show and led his squad to its sixth straight victory.
- New York Yankees: 5 (38-23)
- Los Angeles Angels: 3 (33-34)
- American League, FINAL, Box Score
- Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Masahiro Tanaka finally looked like the ace of the New York Yankees again, but after some sloppy baseball in the seventh inning by his defense to blow what would have been his first win since May 8, Aaron Judge put the team on his back.
Up by a score of 3-1 with Tanaka cruising in the seventh inning, third baseman Chase Headley allowed Eric Young Jr. to reach base on a fielding error and after a stolen base, the speedster scored on a single by Danny Espinosa to make it 3-2.
New York officially diminished all chances of their ace earning a confidence-boosting win after Tyler Clippard served up a double to Cameron Maybin to knot the game up at three apiece. Then, in the very next inning, the league-leader in homers stepped up to the plate with Aaron Hicks on second.
Facing reliever Bud Norris, Judge put a charge into a 91 mph cutter from the righty and, like most of his homers, mashed it to oblivion. Although it wasn’t a 495-foot shot, the rookie’s 22nd home run of 2017 traveled 438 feet to right field and gave the Yankees a 5-3 lead.
Then, Dellin Betances, who hadn’t had a save opportunity since May 27, made sure that lead wouldn’t be relinquished as he slammed the door shut on the Yankees 38th win of the season by retiring Andrelton Simmons, Young, Martin Maldonado and Danny Espinosa in order.
The reactions from @JamesKaprielian and @AaronHicks31 are fantastic. https://t.co/uLLIpTuRSQ pic.twitter.com/0TwfevwIWZ
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 13, 2017
Even on the road … #AllRise pic.twitter.com/HYCrVZJI8S
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 13, 2017
Make It 14:
In the top of the second inning, shortstop Didi Gregorius extended his career-high 13 game hitting streak to 14 with a line drive single to centerfield. It is also the longest hitting streak by a Yankee this season and the longest active streak in the Majors.
Walk It Out:
When Aaron Judge drew a walk in the top of the fifth against Alex Meyer, the 25-year-old extended his walk streak to seven consecutive games — the longest streak by a Yankee since Curtis Granderson drew a base on balls in seven games from June 23-29, 2012.
.@TheJudge44 has drawn a walk in seven consecutive games, the longest streak by a Yankee since Curtis Granderson from 6/23-29/2012 (7G).
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) June 13, 2017
This Day In Yankees History:
On June 12, 2008, former Yankees’ slugger Hideki Matsui became the only Yankee to hit a grand slam on his birthday after “Godzilla” drove in all four runs in an eventual 4-1 win at Oakland.
What’s Next:
The Yankees and Angels will go at it yet again on Tuesday night in game two of a three-game set in Anaheim.
CC Sabathia will make his 13th start of the season in the midst of one of the hottest stretches a starter could possibly experience. The 36-year-old has won five straight starts, each of them following a Yankees loss, and has posted a 1.11 ERA (32.1IP, 4 ER) in the same span.
First pitch is scheduled for 10:07 p.m. ET and can be viewed on the YES Network or caught on the radio at WFAN 660/101.9 FM.
