Thursday night’s game started off slowly for the Yankees who, thanks to starter Ivan Nova, found themselves in a 2-0 hole in the third inning. With the way Indians’ starter Trevor Bauer was pitching to start the game, it looked like it was going to be another one those frustratingly quiet nights at the plate for the offense. Instead, they came alive in the fifth and sixth innings respectively and the bullpen was able to lock up the win.
Didi Gregorius got things started for the Yankees with a solo shot in the top of the fifth which was followed by back-to-back singles by Chase Headley and Rob Refsnyder. After Jacoby Ellsbury popped out to short, Brett Gardner delivered with an RBI single to score Headley and tie the game.
In the sixth, Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius hit back-to-back singles which were followed by a single by Headley that brought Castro home. Castro was originally called out, but after a review was declared safe and the Yankees scored the go-ahead run. Refsnyder added another run on a sacrifice fly and Bauer’s night was over. TJ House was brought in to relieve and Ellsbury greeted him rather rudely with an RBI single of his own to put the Yankees up 5-2. House got his revenge by picking off Ellsbury to end the inning.
Nova had a tough sixth inning. He gave up back-to-back doubles to Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis, then threw a wild pitch to score Santana from third to make it 5-3 Yankees. Kipnis advanced to third. Lindor, who was at the plate for the wild pitch, grounded out to first and Nova’s night was over. Joe Girardi wasn’t taking any chances.
Dellin Betances came in and got two ground outs to end the inning. Kipnis scored on the first one to cut the Yankee lead to 5-4. He also pitched the seventh and gave up a single, but also struck out two batters. Andrew Miller pitched a clean eighth inning and set the Indians down in order.
The Yankees had a chance for an insurance run in the top of the ninth, but Mark Teixeira struck out swinging to end the inning with a runner on third.
Aroldis Chapman came in to pitch the ninth and made things interesting. He walked Mike Napoli to start the inning, got Jose Ramirez to strike out swinging, gave up a single to Juan Uribe, got Rajai Davis to line out to left, and then helped his own cause on a close play that was, once again like Headley’s RBI single, aided by replay. He had to cover first on the play and the ump called Taylor Naquin safe, but the Yankees challenged and it was more than clear that Naquin was out and the Yankees won.
The highlight: Didi hits his career high 10th home run
The play: Headley’s single scores Castro .207
Top Performers
Yankees – Gregorius 2-4, HR
Indians – Naquin 2-4, HR
Notes
—Alex Rodriguez sat again. Joe Girardi told reporters he preferred Carlos Beltran against righties.
—Game two of the series will see Chad Green making his second start of the season. He will be facing Corey Kluber who was just named to the American League All-Star team. He’ll be replacing Marco Estrada of the Blue Jays who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore lower back.
Photo Credit: David Richard / USA TODAY Sports