Aaron Judge got his first walk-off in the Major Leagues — a bases-loaded, walk-off walk — to send the Yanks to the 5-4 win over the White Sox and sweep of the 3-game series against the Central Leading team.
The bottom-of-the-9th rally bailed out the Yankee bullpen, which blew 3-0, 4-2, and 4-3 leads. With the win — on a 90-degree Hot, sunny, beautiful, beach-day Summer-feel Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium — the Yankees moved to 28-19, a half game behind Boston and Tampa (who are tied for 1st).
Details:
1. Taillon Fantastic
The good news on the day, besides the win, was the way Jamesson Taillon pitched — which was fantastically. He threw 5 shutout innings.
“I thought the fastball was good today,” said Taillon afterwards. “Breaking balls were a little better than last time out; I thought the command was better; I thought we did a few more things around the zone; weren’t too one-dimensional. Other than that just competed; made pitches when we had to; didn’t let innings build.”
Aaron Boone saw extra late life on Taillon’s fastball.
It was huge because Taillon was the only pitcher in the Yankee starting staff that hasn’t been pitching well.
“I didn’t feel any pressure but I was aware of what they had done in terms of the rotation,” said Taillon. “If anything it lets me know everything we’re doing and everything we’re working on — the way we’re throwing our bullpens, the way were lifting; the conversations we’re having — is right — and almost left me feeling a little more comfort .. that what I’m doing is on the right track.”
Jameson Taillon: “I know I’m on the right track.”#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/BY0ifElkCz
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 23, 2021
Taillon finished with 5 shutout innings, 2 hits allowed, and 4 strikeouts.
2. Yankees Build 3-0 Lead
The Yankees got 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st off Dallas Keuchel. Luke Voit reached on an error by Keuchel, Aaron Judge singled, and Gleyber Torres lined a 2-out single to center for 2 runs.
Gleyber stays scorchin' 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZcSVf3ZXPh
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 23, 2021
The Yanks worked Keuchel’s pitch count (he was at 52 after 2 innings) and got another run off him in the 5th — DJ LeMahieu led off with a single, Luke Voit walked, Aaron Judge walked and Keuchel was gone — replaced by Evan Marshall who got Gio Urshella to ground into a double play but the Yanks had their 3rd run and a 3-0 lead.
3. Bullpen Makes It Close But Yanks Get Insurance Run
Wandy Peralta allowed a 2-run homer to Jose Abreu in the 6th to make it 3-2 NY.
But the Yanks came right back with an insurance run in the bottom of the 6th on a Gary Sanchez walk, Clint Frazier single, and Brett Gardner grounder to the pitcher Jose Ruiz, that Tim Anderson threw the ball away on trying to turn the DP.
4. The Bullpen Finally Blows Taillon’s Win
Chad Green however allowed a homer to catcher Yasmani Grandal in the 7th, just clearing the wall in right.
And after Jonathan Loaisiga pitched a shutout 8th, getting a big double play ball, Aroldis Chapman came in and coughed up a game-tying homer to Andrew Vaughn in the 9th.
That meant 3 of the Yankee 4 relievers (Peralta, Green, and Chapman) failed to do their job.
5. The Walk-Off Walk
In the bottom of the 9th, Clint Frazier led off with a single against Chicago’s Aaron Bummer, and then stole 2nd on a 1-2 pitch to Brett Gardner that Gardner struck out on.
The stolen base was HUGE because with the winning run on 2nd, Chicago elected to intentionally walk DJ LeMahieu.
Bummer threw 3 straight balls to Tyler Wade, then a strike looking, and then on a 3-1 pitch Wade hit a dribbler and beat it out for a single to load the bases with 1 out.
Aaron Judge then stepped up, and the White Sox brought in Liam Hendriks. Judge and swung and missed for a strike, then took 4 straight balls for the bases-loaded walk-off walk, and the old ballgame.
#AllRise for @TheJudge44's 1st career walk-off 👨⚖️ pic.twitter.com/Iqlbs8Px7m
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 23, 2021
Etcetera
Gleyber Torres went 3-4 to raise his average to .282.
Clint Frazier went 3-4 and stole 2 bases. He is batting .171.
Aaron Judge went 1-3 and is at .308.
Tyler Wade went 1-1 and is at .300.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401227742
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