Luis Severino pitched 5 dominant innings — striking out Vladimir Guerrero 3 times — and Michael King pulled a Houdini act in the 9th after Aroldis Chapman had walked the bases loaded with nobody out — to give the Yanks the Huge 3-0 win — tying the series 2-2 and tying the Blue Jays in the standings at 4-3. On a rain delayed Thursday night game in the Bronx.
In between, the rest of the Yankees pen was terrific, and the Yanks used small-ball baseball to score their runs — with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Jose Trevino at the heart of it, and bombers Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, and Giancarlo Stanton getting a small-ball insurance run.
Guerrero Jr would strike out a 4th time against Clay Holmes, getting an 0-4 with 4 strikeouts Golden Sombrero on the evening.
It was Michael King‘s first major league save. “It was cool,” said King afterwards. “I wasn’t really thinking about it in the moment, but after Rizzo gave me the ball I thought it was pretty cool.”
1. Severino Spectacular
Luis Severino pitched 5 dominant innings of shutout ball, striking out 6, including Guerrero — who had hit 3 homers the night before — 3 times. He got Guerrero the final time for the final out of the 5th — and ROARED as he left the mound.
Sevyweight Champ.@LuisSeverino94 💪 pic.twitter.com/zE0D8ixgOm
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 15, 2022
“Every time they give me the ball, I want to compete,” said Severino afterwards. “That’s the main thing — try to help my team; not only for me but for the fans. I’ve been away for a long time; I want to go out there and compete and show the fans I still have it.”
2. Yanks Small-Ball a Lead
Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled off Kevin Gausman in the 3rd, went to 2nd on a balk (Gausman possibly rattled with the fleet footed Falefa on 1st), and with 1 out, scored on a single by Trevino.
Okay, Jose! 👏@HipHipJose5 pic.twitter.com/nUTove228Q
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 15, 2022
In the 5th, Kiner-Falefa hit a 2-out double off Gausman, and scored on a Trevino single.
Later Kiner-Falefa got a 3rd hit on a push bunt between 1st and the pitcher, which excited Yankee Twitter as much as anything on the evening at the time.
3. Yankee Pen Terrific
The Yankee pen came in and was terrific. Lucas Luetge was filthy in the 6th.
Clay Holmes dismantles Vlad Jr. 😯 pic.twitter.com/MNk2H2U5GS
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 15, 2022
Luetge’s filthy stuff electrified the fans — especially this fellow behind home plate:
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 15, 2022
Miguel Castro got the first 2 batters in the 7th before hitting Gary Springer on a 1-2 pitch, but Clay Holmes came in to get Bo Bichette on an inning-ending groundout.
Chad Green relieved Holmes with 1 on in the 8th, and allowed an infield single but then got Alejandro Kirk to ground into a Huge double play to end the inning.
4. Yank Sluggers Small Ball Insurance Run
To the bottom of the 8th the game went — 2-0 NY. Yankee Twitter was imploring NY to get an insurance run and they did — Aaron Judge leading off with a booming double off the wall in dead center, then Anthony Rizzo grounding out to 1st, and Giancarlo Stanton grounding out to short to score the run.
Giancarlo drives in Judge for an 8th inning insurance runpic.twitter.com/nrdlpergLQ
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 15, 2022
5. Chapman Walks Bases Loaded; King Houdini Act
And so it was to the 9th — Yanks feeling good up 3-0. But there was the bad Aroldis Chapman ruining everyone’s night — walking Cavan Biggio, walking Javier Espinal, and walking pinch hitter Matt Chapman to load the bases, with nobody out, and bring up the top of the order.
Last year, Manager Aaron Boone would have kept Chappy in (remember the 2 triple plays?). This year, Boone reached for Michael King who barely had time to warm up.
King came in and struck out Gary Springer, and got Bo Bichette to hit a soft liner to 2nd the DJ LeMahieu snared and threw to 1st to catch Chapman for the double play and ballgame!
A DOUBLE PLAY TO END IT IN THE BRONXpic.twitter.com/UVPx056nT9
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 15, 2022
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