The Yankees needed to win to maintain a one game lead in the American League East and they came back in dramatic fashion in Seattle to do just that Tuesday night. In his debut, Mariners starter Mike Montgomery provided a quality start pitching six innings of one-run ball. The Seattle bullpen held a 2-1 lead before Fernando Rodney entered in the ninth, where he’d blow his third save of the season. Rodney walked Chase Headley to start the inning, then got the next two guys out before surrendering back-to-back hits, including a game-tying double to Stephen Drew. However, the heroics from unlikely Yankees wouldn’t stop there.
Didi Gregorius, who had a major gaffe while running the bases in the sixth inning as he stumbled while running to third base and was eventually tagged out, made a nice defensive play on a ground ball to retire Nelson Cruz in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings. Gregorius also leadoff the 11th inning with an opposite field single, though he was erased on the Brian McCann double play that followed.
Even with two outs in the inning, the Yankees didn’t quit. Drew singled and then Gardner doubled to put men on second and third. The Mariners opted to bring in left-handed reliever Joe Beimel to face Garrett Jones, which brings us to the game’s top WPA play.
Top WPA Play: Jones’ game-winning home run (+.452).
It was only Jones’ second home run of the season and just his second hit against a left-handed pitcher all season, but this is why the Yankees acquired Jones in the offseason as an extra bat on the bench. His power is enough to make him valuable in a part-time role.
Key Moment: Justin Wilson made an absolutely outstanding defensive play in the 10th inning diving to snare a popped up bunt by Richie Weeks and throwing it back to first to complete the double play.
Andrew Miller came on to record his 16th save of the season. Miller was the only Yankees reliever to allow a run in this game as David Carpenter, Chasen Shreve, Jacob Lindgren, Justin Wilson and Dellin Betances had combined for 4 and 1/3 scoreless innings before the bottom of the 11th.
Up Next: The Yankees and Mariners have a quick turnaround Wednesday as their game will start at 3:40 eastern time. The Yankees will welcome back Masahiro Tanaka from the disabled list as he takes on Seattle’s young Taijuan Walker. Then New York will have an off day Thursday before heading home for a weekend series with the Angels in the Bronx.
(Photo: Joe Nicholson-USA Today Sports)