The Yankees hit parade returned on Saturday, as they rode a pair of home runs and a 3-run triple to an 8-4 victory over Detroit. It marked the third time in New York’s first five games that they’ve scored at least that many runs, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished by the team since 2003. Alex Rodriguez got the ball rolling with a solo shot in the first inning off Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey, and Jacoby Ellsbury chased him from the game with a triple three innings later. Carlos Beltran would add a 2-run shot of his own in the seventh.
On the pitching side, CC Sabathia was a pleasant surprise in what looked to be a brutal matchup for him. Making his first start of the year, as well as his big league return after leaving the team late last year to deal with alcohol addiction, Sabathia twirled three perfect innings to start the game. He lost his touch a bit in the fourth and fifth innings, walking four batters and giving up a 2-run single to catcher James McCann, but rebounded with a perfect sixth. Sabathia rode his changeup hard and never topped 90 mph, but was nonetheless able to become the first Yankee starter to make it through six innings this season.
The Play: Ellsbury’s 3-run triple in the fourth (+.121 WPA)
The Yankees put together a rally in the top of the fourth with a walk and pair of singles by Brian McCann, Beltran and Starlin Castro. After Didi Gregorius plated McCann with a sacrifice fly to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead, Ronald Torreyes extended the inning with another single. With two outs and the bases loaded, Ellsbury promptly turned around a 90 mph fastball that split the outfielders in the right-center field gap. The rope cleared the bases for a triple and gave the Yankees a 6-0 lead.
Top Performers:
Yankees- Carlos Beltran (2 for 4, 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)
Tigers- Ian Kinsler (1 for 4, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI)
Notes
-Starlin Castro notched his 1,000th career hit with a bloop to right field in the 7th inning. His 2-for-3 day caps off a blistering opening week for the 26-year-old in which he’s batted .474/.500/.895.
-All nine Yankee starters reached base in the game, with only Mark Teixeira failing to do so via a hit. Torreyes went 3 for 4 subbing in for Chase Headley, and is now 4 for 5 with a triple so far this season. McCann, Beltran, Castro and Brett Gardner were the other Yankees to pick up a multi-hit day. McCann has reached base in nine of his first 15 plate appearances in 2016, and Gardner in nine of 19.
-According to Sweeny Murti of WFAN, the Yankees are expected to sign 1B/OF Nick Swisher to a minor league deal. Swisher was a fan favorite when he played for New York from 2009-2012, though he’s seen sharp declines in both health and production in the years since, culminating in the Braves releasing him this spring. He’s expected to begin working out in Tampa before being assigned to Triple-A Scranton.
The Quote
“It definitely feels good…just to be able to pitch in a big league game, on a big league mound. Put the third deck on and everyone knows you’re in a big league stadium…My wife, my mom, they were there every step of the way. They were that rock for me during that tough time, so it’ll be good to see them tonight and go to dinner.” -CC Sabathia on his return
The Highlight: A-Rod’s first homer of the season
A-Rod got the Yankees on the board early with his first home run of the 2016 season and 688th of his career. The bomb to left-center left his bat at 112 mph and traveled 423 feet.
Next Up
The Yankees will finish out the series with Detroit in a rubber game tomorrow night on Sunday Night Baseball. Masahiro Tanaka will make his second start of the season against the Tigers after taking a tough-luck no decision on Opening Day. He’ll meet Justin Verlander, who tossed six innings and allowed three runs to Miami in his first start. First pitch is slated for 8:10 pm on ESPN, weather permitting.
Lead photo: Rick Osentoski / USA Today Sports