The Yankees left New York for a six-game long road trip beginning August 19th, and despite some bumps along the way, it’s undoubtedly been a successful two series. In part thanks to Wednesday’s 5-0 win, the Yankees have gone 4-2 while on the West Coast.
While the two losses were ugly and, at times, painful, Wednesday’s afternoon game was a huge success. The Yankees played a very solid and clean game, receiving contributions from all over. But, of course, the headline will be dominated by Masahiro Tanaka and Gary Sanchez, both of whom have been substantial contributors over the past few weeks.
Tanaka continued on an outstanding four game run in which he’s allowed just five runs and struck out 30 compared to just one walk. Clearly the Yankees’ ace, Tanaka turned in seven shutout innings, allowing just seven baserunners on six hits and a walk. He struck out five and threw 106 pitches.
On offense, Gary Sanchez once again stole the show with a mammoth 420 foot home run, his ninth of the season. He was also intentionally walked twice, because the Mariners are absolutely terrified of him, understandably so. Another rookie, Tyler Austin, chipped in a run with a RBI single to score, you guessed it, yet another rookie: Aaron Judge. Brett Gardner also brought in Aaron Hicks with a sacrifice fly, and Mark Teixeira’s single scored Gardner to make it 5-0. The final run came way of a Starlin Castro sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning.
I…uh…well, profanity isn’t really allowed on this website, so I’ll just settle for: WOW. Sanchez has played in 19 games this season, and has a solid nine home runs. He’s had one of the best starts to a career in recent memory, and is showing no signs of slowing down. This bomb traveled 420 feet, which is just mediocre for The Kraken’s standards.
Top Performers
Yankees: Gary Sanchez (2-3, HR, 2B, R, RBI, 2 IBB)
Mariners: Robinson Cano (2-4)
The Highlight: Tyler Austin drives in a run
I’m tempted to just post Gary Sanchez’s home run yet again, but I’ll have to settle for contributions from another Baby Bomber. Austin has had a rough go of things since a home run to open his big league career, but he delivered an important RBI single in the second inning of this one.
Up Next
The Yankees have a day off to travel back to the friendly confines of Yankees Stadium, where they’ll begin what may be the most important series of 2016 thus far. They’ll face the Orioles, who currently occupy the second Wild Card spot, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Source: Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports
Big weekend in Baltimore hope they are ready
Buck. Hates the Yankees
We will see what we are made of starting Friday nite