Need a game-winning homer?
Who you gonna call? https://t.co/6GEj1Crb6O pic.twitter.com/uKtFQSJxyi
— MLB (@MLB) June 7, 2016
The tide turned in a hurry as the New York Yankees rode three home runs in the final two innings to a win over the Halos.
- Los Angles Angels: 2 (26-31)
- New York Yankees: 5 (27-30)
- American League, FINAL, Box Score
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Matt Shoemaker was straight cruising. Six and two-thirds innings into a masterpiece, he was in complete control and had held the New York Yankees scoreless.
Brian McCann had missed a home run by about 10 feet down the right field line and it appeared as if it was simply not the Yankees’ night. On the very next pitch, McCann unloaded on one deep into the second deck to cut the lead in half. Following the act was Starlin Castro, hitting an absolute bomb; a moonshot deep into the left field night to make it back-to-back and tie the ballgame.
Back-to-back homers got the comeback started!
McCann: https://t.co/weLr71YSLy
Castro: https://t.co/Zn7AFFpPgQ pic.twitter.com/MwJA5IxunX— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 7, 2016
The two long balls let Masahiro Tanaka off the hook, and deservingly so. The right-hander surrendered only six hits and two earned runs over seven strong innings, lowering his ERA to 2.76.
After Andrew Miller held down the fort, striking out the side in the top of the eighth, Carlos Beltran provided the exclamation point in the bottom half. Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner singled to put runners on the corners and push Shoemaker from the game, allowing Beltran to feast on a Jose Alvarez offering.
Batting from the right side, the 39-year-old went oppo-taco into the seats in right for his 14th homer of the year, a three-run go-ahead shot to put the Yanks up 5-2.
KISS IT GOODBYE!!!@carlosbeltran15 slugs one to right and the #Yankees take the lead!! We've got a 5-2 ballgame! pic.twitter.com/sgs8CeqSGJ
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 7, 2016
That was the Yankees' first three-run homer since Mark Teixeira hit one back on April 7th.
— Jeff Quagliata (@yestoresearch) June 7, 2016
The three run advantage was more than enough for Aroldis Chapman, who rebounded from Sunday’s miscues to work a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 10th save.
#Yankees come back to take the game!!
Final from the Bronx: #Yankees 5, Angels 2. #StartSpreadingTheNews pic.twitter.com/qys8Tii0da
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 7, 2016
Power + Pitching = Success
The formula of power and pitching will work for most teams, but it will particularly work for the Bronx Bombers. Combine a late power outburst with a stellar Masahiro Tanaka and a brilliant bullpen, you have an outstanding win.
That is exactly what this win was for the Yankees and the equation very well be provide a surplus of victories down the road. They have the personnel, and now it is time for them to produce and produce cohesively.
Beltran Continues To Amaze
At 39 years of age in a contract year, Carlos Beltran is showing he can still get the job done at an extremely high level. The Yankees’ hottest hitter all year and most clutch hitter of the past two years, Beltran provided the difference yet again.
Carlos Beltran is on pace for 40 homers and 102 RBI. Pretty solid stats for a 39-year old. His 3-run HR was decisive for Yankees tonight.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) June 7, 2016
With his latest three-run jack, the switch-hitter is hitting .272 with 14 homers and 36 RBIs. That not only makes him the most productive hitter on the Yankees, but it makes him one of the more effective players in all of baseball.
What’s next?
The Yanks and Halos will face off in the second of four from Yankee Stadium tomorrow night. Michael Pineda (2-6, 6.41 ERA) will be on the bump for New York opposing David Huff (0-0, -.– ERA).
Pineda was stellar last time out in Detroit, staving off a potential demotion by allowing one earned run and striking out eight in five and two-thirds strong innings. The big right-hander will look to start an uptrend after a miserable first two months to his season.
Making his season debut for the Angels will be David Huff. The southpaw has bounced around his entire major league career, including some time in the Bronx in 2013 and 2014. He was a combined 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA with Triple-A affiliates for the Royals and Angels before being summoned to make the spot start.
First pitch will commence at 7:05 pm ET for the second leg of a seven game home stand. The game can be seen on WPIX and heard on 660 WFAN/101.9 FM. YES will have pre and postgame coverage of the action.
BACK-TO-BACK!!
Starlin Castro follows up with a solo shot and we have a tie game!!! #LetsGoYankees pic.twitter.com/qgwyKR5Vvy
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 7, 2016