Shohei Ohtani hit a 3-run homer in the 6th off Gerrit Cole to eradicate a 2-0 Yankee lead and send the Angels to victory in Aneheim.
Ohtani’s homer drove in two baserunners, one of whom had just gotten on due to an egregious error by Isiah Kiner-Falefa on an easy grounder to shortstop.
Meanwhile Angels starter Patrick Sandoval and the Angels bullpen shut down the Yankee offense.
“He’s been one of the best defenders in the league at shortstop,” said Aaron Boone of Falefa afterwards. “Shortstops, infielders — make errors. It’s a play he should make obviously; but he’s been one of the best defenders in the league out there.”
Boone’s opinion drew fire from Yankee Twitter, who felt otherwise.
NY falls to 79-52, now only 6 games ahead of Tampa, 8 ahead of Toronto, and 10 ahead of Baltimore. The Angels improve to 57-74, 27 games out.
1. Pitchers’ Duel
It was a 0-0 pitchers’ duel between Sandoval and Cole through 5 innings. In the bottom of the 1st, Cole was helped by a terrific catch in centerfield by Aaron Hicks — who appeared to rob Shohei Ohtani of a homer — or at least a double off the wall.
Some on Yankee Twitter criticized Hicks — saying he didn’t need to jump — but it was a heck of a catch.
Air Hicks ✈️ pic.twitter.com/xq1vmYIVlA
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 1, 2022
2. Yanks Pull Ahead
The Yanks finally got to Sandoval in the 5th inning, when Josh Donaldson led off with a double and went to 3rd on a wild pitch by Sandoval.
Gleyber Torres then doubled Donaldson home.
Gleyber gets us on the board 👊 pic.twitter.com/fDCL0uYRNJ
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 1, 2022
A Jose Trevino fly out moved Torres to 3rd, where he scored on a sac fly by Aaron Hicks.
3. Falefa’s Error; Ohtani’s Homer
And so it was 2-0 Yankees with Cole pitching a shutout — until the bottom of the 6th. Donaldson made a diving attempt at a shot by David Fletcher down 3rd — Fletcher safe for an infield single and Donaldson’s throw getting past Anthony Rizzo for an error (on the throw).
With a runner on 2nd, Mike Trout hit an easy grounder to Isiah Kiner-Falefa — but he booted it — so it was 1st and 2nd, 1 out.
Gerrit Cole threw a 98 MPH inside to Shohei Ohtani that he didn’t appreciate. Two pitches later Ohtani hit a 427-foot homer to center for a 3-2 Angels lead.
HE SHORE DID 🏖#GoHalos pic.twitter.com/VUAwLyquVb
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) September 1, 2022
4. Ninth Inning Rally Fizzles
The Yanks launched a rally against reliever Jimmy Herget in the 9th — Aaron Judge worked a leadoff walk, as did Giancarlo Stanton behind him. But Herget struck out Donaldson and Torres, and got Oswaldo Cabrera to groundout for the old ballgame.
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