Home runs by Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks led the New York Yankees to a 4-2 victory over the New York Mets Monday night.
- New York Yankees (62-55): 4
- New York Mets (53-63): 2
- Interleague, FINAL, Box Score
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
In what was destined to be a hit parade, both New York offenses failed in some part to take advantage of the mediocre starting pitchers on the mound. But both Rafael Montero and Luis Cessa held their own. The Mets relievers are the ones responsible for this defeat.
Montero and Cessa were for the most part, effective through the first two frames. Montero held up in the third, but Cessa faltered. Curtis Granderson hit the first of what would be back-to-back homers from Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes.
https://twitter.com/EliteSportsNY/status/897245780175712256
If one is good…two is better. #LGM ?? pic.twitter.com/2nDWycaIAo
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 15, 2017
Thanks to Granderson’s 18th home run and Cespedes’ 15th, the Mets jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
The Yanks failed to respond in the third but woke up in the fourth. Montero loaded the bases with just one out for Gary Sanchez. After a 10-pitch at-bat, Sanchez lofted a fly ball to left field. The Bombers decided to test the Cespedes’ arm and it worked in their favor, as the sac fly scored Aaron Hicks, cutting the Mets lead to 2-1.
But all at the stadium would rise in the bottom of the sixth inning. Montero served up an outside fastball that Aaron Judge sent into the right-center field seats to tie the game at 2. Judge’s blast was his 36th of the season.
Allllllll Riseeeeeee!
HR No. 36 for The Judge is an oppo ? and we're tied at 2! pic.twitter.com/nI39mBoKmN
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 15, 2017
Both offenses would go down quietly till the bottom of the eighth inning. The other Aaron, Mr. Hicks (who has saved the team lately), obliterated a fastball way into the right field seats. The impact Hicks has had since his return to the Bombers cannot be exaggerated as his 12th homer of the year gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
Not tied anymore!
A-A-Ron DEEP to right and we're on top 3-2! pic.twitter.com/MGeoZBkAVp
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 15, 2017
The Yankees added another run on thanks to a bomb to right field from Sanchez, his 20th of the season. His solo shot gave the Yankees a 4-2 lead.
https://twitter.com/TheRenderMLB_/status/897279459035885569
Dellin Betances would close the door in the ninth and the Yankees took Game 1 of this four-game set.
CASTRO AND BIRD START REHAB
Starlin Castro and Greg Bird will start their rehab assignments this week. The Yankees desperately need some more offensive production inserted into their lineup as we come down the home stretch. Both of those players are capable of doing just that.
AARON HICKS IS ON FIRE
Hicks has added the spark that the Yankees have been looking for. It went unnoticed how badly the Yanks missed Hicks. So much for that Hicks-Clint Frazier debate.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Yankees will throw out Sonny Gray against Mets ace Jacob deGrom Tuesday night.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET and will be telecasted on the YES Network and broadcasted on WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM.
