Clint Frazier followed up a sensational catch to save the game with 2 outs and runners on in the 8th inning — with a 2-out, walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 11th to give the Yanks the 5-3 victory over 1st-place Tampa, and end the Yanks’ 4-game losing streak. On a beautiful, warm June evening in the Bronx.
The win put the Yankees back to 5-games over .500 at 35-30, in 3rd place, 4.5 behind Tampa and 2.5 behind Boston.
Details:
1. German Matched Glasnow
Before the game Yankee fans had reached the depths of modar, with NY having lost 6 of 7 and 4 in a row including a Memorial Day loss to Tampa where NY couldn’t get hits, again. Trades were being proposed and firings of Yankee management demanded.
And it didn’t look good early for NY when Domingo German allowed a 2-run homer to Austin Meadows in the 1st to make it 2-0 Tampa. The Yanks would be up against Tampa ace Tyler Glasnow and 2 runs seemed to be insurmountable to this Yankee offense against any pitcher.
But German pitched well after that mistake — getting a 1-2-3 second inning, and an easy 3rd inning (1 hit).
2. Yank Offense Includes Miggy Homer
Meanwhile Glasnow went thru the Yankee lineup 1-2-3 in the first two innings. But in the 3rd, after 2 outs,
- Clint Frazier walked.
- DJ LeMahieu reached on an infield single, and
- Rougned Odor singled to load the bases with 2 outs.
- Aaron Judge walked to force in a run, and
- LeMahieu scored on a wild pitch by Glasnow to tie the game.
German pitched a 1-2-3 fourth and the Yanks were right back at Glasnow — in the bottom of the 4th Miguel Andujar hit a homer to opposite field right and the Yanks were on top 3-2.
What it Dú, baby? pic.twitter.com/M6JOMTiPBV
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 2, 2021
But almost immediately — leading off the top of the 5th — Kevin Kiermaier hit a homer off German and it was all tied at 3-3.
German got the next 3 outs in order.
- German finished with 5 innings, 3 hits, 3 runs (off the 2 homers), 5 strikeouts, and didn’t walk anyone.
- Glasnow went 7 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs (1 homer), 8 strikeouts, 2 walks.
3. Yank Bullpen Fantastic; Sanchez Throw Saves Day
And that was it for the scoring. The Yankee bullpen came in and pitched 6 innings of no hit, shutout ball. Repeat — no hits. Tampa finished the game with 3 hits.
Trouble in the 6th
That despite the trouble the Yanks got into in the 6th. Wandy Peralta got an out but then walked Ji-Man Choi and Austin Meadows, and was relieved by Jonathan Loaisiga who came in shaky, throwing balls.
Sanchez Throw HUGE
But Gary Sanchez picked up a ball in the dirt that got away, and rifled a throw to 1st to pick off Meadows for the 2nd out. HUGE.
Meet Gary 🦑 pic.twitter.com/RWFAgITaVV
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 2, 2021
Loaisiga Strikeout HUGE
Loaisiga then walked Yandy Diaz and went 3-0 on Joey Wendle before coming back with two 99-MPH sinkers for strikes, and striking Wendle out on a breaking ball. HUGE.
Chad Green pitched a shutout 8th, helped by Clint Frazier‘s sensational catch (below), and Aroldis Chapman pitched a shutout 9th.
Lucas Luetge and Luis Cessa were particularly impressive pitching a shutout 10th and 11th respectively, despite inheriting the leadoff runner under COVID rules.
4. Frazier’s Sensational Catch
In the 8th against Chad Green, Meadows walked with 2 out, stole 2nd, and went to 3rd on a wild pitch. Green walked Diaz and was starting to struggle, when Joey Wendle hit a little blooper into the outfield that had base hit written all over it — but Clint Frazier came in to make a sensational catch at the last second.
It's a bird… it's a plane… it's… Clint. pic.twitter.com/r2Zp0MBw4t
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 2, 2021
Statcast said there was a 95% chance of catching the ball, and some said Frazier’s route to the ball was bad; but the eye test said Frazier saved the game.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 2, 2021
5. Frazier’s Walk Off
After making the terrific throw to save the 6th, Gary Sanchez led off the 7th with a double. Aaron Boone did not pinch run for him which raised some eyebrows — and ironically, Andujar immediately hit a grounder and Sanchez made a baserunning blunder — instead of planting on 2nd he tried to go to 3rd and was easily out.
Sanchez In the Middle Of It in Extras
Those two plays foreshadowed the extra innings — Gio Urshela had a chance to get the winning run in from 3rd with 1 out in the 10th but struck out. Gleyber Torres walked to load the bases for… Gary Sanchez, who struck out on a low slider in the dirt.
And so there was Gary Sanchez on 2nd to start the 11th as the inherited COVID-rules baserunner. With Kyle Higashioka the only reserve left on the bench, Boone stayed with Sanchez on base. Miguel Andujar hit a hot grounder to short for the 1st out, not advancing Sanchez.
Gardner hit a groundout to advance Sanchez to 3rd, but it was 2 outs, runner on 3rd, when Clint Frazier stepped up against Andrew Kittredge — and went down town for the old ballgame.
A WALK-OFF, BOTTOM OF THE 11th, GAME-WINNING, TWO-RUN HOME RUN! Frazier! Clint Frazier!
Frazier Goes Downtown! pic.twitter.com/WGm0rgkNXH
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) June 2, 2021
Later, Frazier. pic.twitter.com/o29NqJlG2I
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 2, 2021
Etcetera
Aaron Judge walked 3 times; he went 0-2 to lower is average to .298 but his OBP is at .400.
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