Late inning offensive heroics and brilliant mound work by the New York Yankees lead to their series-tying victory this afternoon.
- New York Yankees 3 (76-65)
- Texas Rangers 1 (71-70)
- W: David Robertson (7-2, 2.20 ERA)
- L: Alex Claudio (4-2, 2.76 ERA)
- AL, Final, Box Score
- Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas
Luis Severino, David Robertson, and Aroldis Chapman combined to limit the Texas Rangers to just one hit in a much needed 3-1 victory this afternoon in Texas. Although the Yankee bats were silent for the majority of the game, the offense put together a rally in the top of the ninth to bring home a big W for the New York Yankees as they continue their push for the playoffs.
Severino was simply sensational this afternoon, tossing seven innings of one-run, one-hit baseball, fanning an eye-popping 10 Ranger batters. Robertson and Chapman came on to seal the deal as the Yankees pulled to within 3.5 games of the Boston Red Sox for first place in the AL east.
Highlights
Through the first four frames, both Andrew Cashner and Luis Severino were simply overmatching the opposition on this high sky afternoon in Arlington.
Severino did not allow a hit through the first four innings, a third inning walk was the only baserunner to reach during that time. Cashner held the Yankees scoreless through the first five, allowing just five baserunners in that span.
Although Severino didn’t allow his first hit until the bottom of the fifth, it was enough to give Texas their first lead of the day.
Severino walked Joey Gallo to lead off the fifth as the second Ranger to reach against the Yankee ace. After Severino retired the next two hitters, backup catcher Brett Nicholas lined a RBI double into right field for their first hit of the afternoon, scoring the runner from first to give Texas a 1-0 lead.
With their ace pitching possibly his best game of the season, the Yankees needed to put some offense together to get their man off the hook for the loss. In the top of the eighth, that’s exactly what they did.
Todd Frazier led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch, which spelled the end of the afternoon for Cashner. Left hander Alex Claudio came on and immediately served up a single to pinch hitter Matt Holliday, advancing Frazier to third in the process. Two batters later, Chase Headley hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Frazier from third to pull the Yankees even at one apiece.
After David Robertson pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth, the Yankees completed their comeback efforts and pushed two huge runs across in the top of the ninth.
Stalin Castro led off the frame with single to right, replaced at first when Aaron Judge grounded into a force out to third. Jacoby Ellsbury drilled a single to right, advancing Judge to third. Claudio was then pulled for Ricardo Rodriguez, who promptly drilled Todd Frazier for his second HBP this afternoon, loading the bases with still just the one out.
Pinch-hit, go-ahead RBI single for @T1721Austin and we ? have ? the ? lead! pic.twitter.com/UE5oEeo1FK
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 9, 2017
Rodriguez then served up a line drive single to Tyler Austin that scored Judge from third to put the Bombers up 2-1. And then Chase Headley walked to force in Ellsbury from third to push their lead out to two.
Aroldis Chapman came on in the ninth and proceeded to retire the side in order to lock down the series tying victory for the Pinstripers.
What’s Next
New York sends Jordan Montgomery (7-7, 4.14 ERA) to the mound for the all important rubber game of the series. Montgomery last threw on Tuesday, tossing four innings of three run ball in a game that the Yankees would rally from behind and come back and win.
Texas counters with veteran right hander A.J. Griffin (6-5, 5.09 ERA), who is hoping to receive more of the run support from Friday’s matchup as opposed to today’s showing from this fickle Rangers offense.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET and can be seen on the YES Network and heard on WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM.
