THE BRONX, NY — Play Frank. The Yankees (49-38) won the first game of the three-game series against the Twins. It was a clean game for the Yankees with good starting pitching, good defense, and solid offense. Not to mention the Yankees bullpen clutching up.
The Pitching
Gerrit Cole had a much better outing today than he’s had in a bit. He pitched five innings (abbreviated by a 53-minute rain delay), struck out seven, and did not issue a walk. He allowed two runs, one on a solo home run by Kody Clemens, who was 2-2 against Cole in the game, and an RBI single after the rain delay. Cole fought his way to stay in the game after a long fourth inning and was able to get through the fifth and earn the win today.
The bullpen was tasked with getting the final 12 outs, and they did without allowing a run. Three of the four relievers used (Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn, and David Bednar) worked 1-2-3 innings, while Fernando Cruz labored, throwing 31 pitches, but got out of it unscathed. It was efforts from those relievers that were lacking in the big moments over the losing streak, and today they bared down to get the biggest outs they needed.
“We were in a rut,” Cole said. “We needed this win.”
“I was just going to kind of listen to him and the pitching guys with what they felt, so he felt sound with it.” Boone said of leaving Cole in the game past the fourth inning after the rain delay. “I know he threw a couple times down there, and then I was going to pull him after four, and he was like not having it.
“So which was great; pumped to see him go back up there out there and go have to go through the top of the order again, after probably a 50-minute rain delay, and he probably was on the mound for, you know, over an hour, so just a really big effort by him. I thought he threw the ball really well.”
Cole had a different recollection of the events in the dugout that transpired following the fourth inning but has the same result.
“He was definitely gonna take me out, and I definitely wasn’t coming out,” he said. “I said, ‘I would like to stay in, please.'” Cole also added that the please “was implied.”
During a prolonged losing streak, it’s efforts like the one Cole gave the Yankees today is what helps the team break out of the slump.
The Offense
Trent Grisham returned from the IL today and gave the Yankees instant offense. He worked a seven-pitch at-bat against Mike Parades and took a changeup to the second deck for his first leadoff home run of the season. The Yankees needed that spark, and Grisham provided that.
“Right out the gate, kind of a classic Grish at-bat with seven or eight pitches, and eventually rides a changeup out of the ballpark to give us a lead.” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “So, and then, threw another hit out there too. Probably made a good play on a ball, well hit over the shoulder from right to left center.”
The Yankees’ offense swung the bats well all night, and though they scored five runs for the first time in two weeks, it still felt like they were a bit unlucky. Grisham singled off the first base bag with two outs in the fourth inning. Ben Rice took advantage, hitting his 24th home run of the season to give the Yankees a lead they would never relinquish.
Rice only had one hit tonight, but he swung the bat well and looked more comfortable at the plate. Rice has now hit safely in three straight games with homers in two of those three games.
The Yankees also used some small ball for success today. Ryan McMahon, fresh off the IL, lined a double to lead off the seventh inning. Jose Caballero then drove him home on a single. Then, it was small-ball time. A stolen base and a sacrifice bunt put the team in a great spot to add another run. A sac fly by Trent Grisham and a savvy slide by Caballero gave the Yankees their fifth run. It shows us that the Yankees can win in more ways than just on the long ball.
“Yeah, really good.” Boone said of the at-bats in the seventh. “Mac gets it going, obviously with the double, and then Cabbie gets enough of one up the middle. Welsy, really good drag bunt there; the pitcher made a pretty good play on him, almost beat it out too. And then, and then Grish got enough of one to have Cabayears score, so a little tack-on there was big, and so, yeah, some just, you know, some gritty winning things that happened there, and it’s good to get back in the win column in a good way.”
Tomorrow, the Yankees will send Brandon Beck (in place of Carlos Rodon, who was placed on the IL) out for his second career outing, his first career start, against Zebby Matthews for the Twins. First pitch will be at 1:35pm on YES for some 4th of July baseball.
