It wasn't easy, but the Yankees finally were able to fry their fishy opponents on Monday night (8/21) with a 2-1 (12 innings) win over the lowly Miami Marlins. This win is the Yankees 4th straight, and it just might have been, "the worst good game of the year", as the Yankees gave away the game too many times, only for the Marlins to squander their opportunities, and the Yankees bullpen to miraculously save their bacon multiple times.
The pitching matchup coming into this game was Masahiro Tanaka ( Yankees ) vs Pablo Lopez ( For the Marlins) with both pitchers having something to prove to their ballclubs. For Tanaka, it was to try and prove that he is the right man for the job, should the Yankees have to play in the Wild Card game, at seasons end. As for Lopez, he was trying to prove that he has what it takes, become a solid starting pitcher for the Marlins someday. Let's pick things up, in the top of the first, as when Giancarlo Stanton strode to the plate, the Marlins faithful gave last years NL MVP, and their former franchise player, a standing ovation, as this was Stanton's homecoming game! It was the first time, that Stanton was playing in Miami since the Marlins traded Giancarlo to the Yankees last off-season. Stanton responded to the cheers, by waving to the crowd, and touching his heart acknowledging them. Then Stanton stepped into the batter's box and hit a hard single to left field, to kick off his homecoming.
The Yankees struck first in the top of the fourth, as Neil Walker, continued his hot streak, against woeful teams, with a bloop RBI single to right field to drive in Miguel Andujar from second, for a 1-0 Yankees lead! Meanwhile, as for Tanaka, he was cruising along through the first four innings of this game, by keeping the ball on the ground and even picking off a runner on base! However, in the 5th inning, the Marlins finally got to Tanaka, as Austin Dean cemented his authority on this game, as he mashed a HR into the Marlins sculpture to tie the game at1. Both starters handed this stare down battle to their bullpens, as after 6 innings, the score was still tied at1, with both starters recording 4 strikeouts over 6 innings of work.
Zach Britton worked a scoreless 7th, and Delin Betances worked, a scoreless 8th, which takes us to the 9th inning with the game still tied at1. After not being able to score in the top of the 9th, the Yankees were hoping that Chad Green could force the game into extra innings, with a clean 9th inning of work. Unfortunately for the Bombers, the inning didn't start off too well for them, as after a leadoff walk, Green allowed a single to Brian Anderson, to put runners on 1st and 3rd with 0 outs. After striking out the next batter, Green intentionally walked former Yankee Starlin Castro, to load the bases with 1 out for ( yup, you guessed it) Austin Dean.
Green, however, would win the battle, and strike out Dean, before getting the next batter to ground into a fielders choice at second, and just like that, Green was out of the inning and we go to the 10th!
After Jonothan Holder worked a scoreless 10th, and the Yankees were unable to score in the 10th, and 11th innings, AJ Cole came in for the Yankees to work the bottom of the 11th inning with the game still tied at1. AJ, immediately ran into trouble, as he allowed a walk, and a single, to put runners on first and third with 0 outs. For some reason, the Yankees seem scared to face Starlin Castro, and for the second straight time, Castro intentionally walked. This put Cole in a huge hole, base loaded with 0 outs.
AJ had to face pinch-hitter, Yadiel Rivera, who grounded into a force out at home, for the first out. Cole then went on to strike out JT Riddle for the second out, before getting Magneuris Sierra to pop out to Andujar, and bam! AJ was out of the inning just like that!
In the top of the 12th inning, Javy Guerra came into pitch for the Fish and was wild. Kyle Higashioka led off the inning with a single, which was followed by a Brett Gardner walk, and just like that, the Yankees had runners on first and second, with 0 outs for the homecoming king, Giancarlo Stanton! Unfortunately for Stanton, he struck out ending the dream moment, and there was 1 out. Aaron Hicks was up next, and after getting hit by the pitch, was shaken up walking down to first base, but remained in the game, and was okay.
This brought to the plate, the red-hot rookie Miguel Andujar, who was able to get the job done, by lofting a fly ball too left, to put the Yankees up 2-1, in the 12th!
The Yankees brought closer Aroldis Chapman into the game to try and finish off the fish, but after throwing six pitches, including walking the leadoff batter, Chapman left the game, with an apparent ankle injury.
The Yankees had two options after Chapman departed, either bring in the veteran, David Robertson to pitch, or the slumping Tommy Kahnlene, they brought in Tommy. It was later reported, after the game, that Robertson couldn't pitch due to a sore shoulder, so basically the Yankees had to go with Kahnle. Tommy got the next two outs and had a 1-2 count, on Brian Anderson, before throwing two pitches outside the strike zone, that resulted in balls.
However, the second pitch, that Tommy threw was caught by Higashioka, and with great aim, fired on target to second base to nab the runner (Isaac Galloway), at second base, and after further review, Isaac was confirmed out, and that was it, ball game over ,Yankees win 2-1!
HERO: KYLE HIGASHIOKA, ZERO: JAVY GURREA, UNSUNG HERO: MIGUEL ANDUJAR, SPECIAL MENTION: YANKEES BULLPEN, INCLUDING CHAD GREEN, AND AJ COLE.
2 FOR 6:
Giancarlo Stanton, went 2 for 6, in his homecoming game, with a single, and a double that was almost a HR.
CHAPMAN:
We don't have an update on him yet but when we do, we will let you know ASAP .
ROBERTSON:
It's nothing serious for David and he is ready to go for Tuesday's series finale.
UP NEXT:
The Yankees will go for the sweep on Tuesday night ( Which is tonight) when Lance Lynn will toe the slab for the Yankees, while Trevor Richards will go to the mound for the Marlins. Game time , is 7:10 PM.
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