DJ LeMahieu got 3 hits, including a CLUTCH, 2-out RBI double in the top of the 8th, and Oswald Peraza hit a 2-run bomb in the 9th for insurance as the Yanks took 3 of 4 from the Red Sox at Fenway, winning the 2nd game of a day-night doubleheader, 8-5.
Earlier, Oswaldo Cabrera‘s hustle to beat out a throw to 2nd, and DJ LeMahieu’s hustle to beat out the ensuant throw to 1st opened up the door for an Aaron Judge Grand Slam that put NY on top 5-2 in the 2nd. LeMahieu was initially called out at 1st, but the Yanks won a challenge, scoring a run and keeping the inning going for Judge.
But sloppy Yankee defense, including 2 errors by Anthony Volpe — allowed Boston to get back in the game — they tied it 5-5 in the 7th, erasing a win for Clarke Schmidt who pitched well. And then the big hit by LeMahieu.
“It was good to see him really get into a ball,” said manager Aaron Boone about Peraza’s homer. “He’s capable of that. He’s capable of driving the ball; hitting the ball with authority on a line. He’s strong; he’s got bat speed.”
The split of the doubleheader gave the Yanks 3 of 4 in the series against the Red Sox, and puts them back over .500 at 74-73, in a tie with Boston for last place, 7.5 behind the Wild Card.
1. Oswaldo & DJ Hustle Lead to Judge’s Grand Slam
The Red Sox threw their bullpen at the Yankees, with Nick Robertson “opening” and pitching a shutout 1st.
Boston scored 2 in the bottom of the 1st off sloppy Yankee defense not supporting Clarke Schmidt — and so it was to the top of the 2nd with Boston already up 2-0 after having won the 1st game of the doubleheader 5-0.
Brennan Bernardino pitched the 2nd and the Yankee youngsters pounced: Estevan Florial led off with a single, Oswald Peraza ripped a 1-out double, and Oswaldo Cabrera walked.
Oswald and Oswaldo had hooked up for a couple of rallies in the 1st game too — getting 3 hits and 2 walks combined in the game.
Kyle Higashioka struck out, and with bases loaded and 2 out, LeMahieu hit a grounder to Pablo Reyes at 2nd, who threw to 2nd to get the force on Oswaldo Cabrera — but Cabrera beat the throw — instead of sliding into the bag he simply sprinted past it to 3rd — a new technique being taught runners, said the analysts on Fox. And so a throw was made to 1st where LeMahieu beat the throw too.
LeMahieu was called out initially to end the inning, but the Yankees challenged and won, plating a run to make it 2-1 Boston, and bringing up Judge.
“Oswaldo was safe at 2nd, making him make a throw he wasn’t ready to make, so it was really on him,” said DJ afterwards.
Judge took 2 balls way outside and low, and then got an 88-MPH slider down the middle and RIPPED it 435 feet to center for a Grand Slam and 5-2 NY lead.
https://x.com/Yankees/status/1702470526218674335?s=20
Judge broke out of a 1-16 mini slump, and went 1-2 with 3 walks on the night.
2. Schmidt Pitched Well But Little Support from D
Clarke Schmidt pitched well but was undone by his defense. In the top of the 1st, Ceddanne Rafaela led off with a single, and Rafael Devers hit an easy fly to left that should have been caught — but Giancarlo Stanton — running gingerly these days so as not to pull his hamstring again — let it drop in front of him.
Alex Verdugo then hit a double play grounder, but Anthony Volpe made a throwing error to 1st and it was only an out, as a run scored.
Schmidt then went 1-2 on Wilyer Abreu, and many felt he struck him out on the next pitch but it the ump called it ball 2. Abreu singled on the 2-2 pitch and it was Boston 2 NY 0.
Schmidt allowed a homer to Rafael Devers in the 3rd to make it 5-3.
Volpe blew the double play in the 1st, but then participated in double plays that Schmidt got in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
In the 5th, Volpe blew an inning-ending groundout with a bad throw to 1st with 2 runners on, allowing Triston Casas and a run to score to make it 5-4.
Schmidt left in the 6th — 5.1 innings, 7 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned — but it could have easily been 1 run if he had better D behind him.
3. Peralta Good
Zach McAllister relieved Schmidt in the 6th and got the final 2 outs, but allowed a leadoff single to Rafaela in the 7th and was relieved by Wandy Peralta, who allowed a single to Rafael Devers before getting 3 straight groundouts, the 2nd of which (by Casas) scored a run to tie the game 5-5.
4. LeMahieu’s Clutch RBI Double
The Yank youngsters came right back at Boston and reliever Mauricio Llovera — Volpe making up for his errors by leading off the 8th with a single, and advancing to 2nd on a 1-out single by Oswaldo Cabrera.
Kyle Higashioka lined out for the 2nd out but DJ LeMahieu came through with a CLUTCH, 2-out RBI double to left and NY was back on top 6-5.
https://x.com/Yankees/status/1702501146621808668?s=20
5. Peraza Bomb to Center in 9th
The Yanks got insurance in the top of the 9th — John Schreiber came in to pitch for Boston, and hit Estevan Florial with a pitch with 1 out. Schreiber struck out Anthony Volpe but Oswald Peraza hit a CLUTCH, 2 out BOMB to center — a 403-foot, 2-run homer for an 8-5 Yankee lead.
https://x.com/Yankees/status/1702506927324901615?s=20
6. Kahnle Great
Tommy Kahnle threw down an impressive performance. He pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th, then struck out the first 2 batters of the 9th before walking Rafael Devers. Kahnle then struck out Alex Verdugo swinging for the old ballgame.
https://x.com/Yankees/status/1702515098596553101?s=20
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401473213
Be the first to comment