Volpe’s 1st Hit! But Yanks Lose as Stanton Grounds Into Bases Loaded DP to End It. SF 7 NY 5

April 2, 2023 paperbacklou 2023 0

The Yankees loaded the bases while plating a run in the 9th against San Francisco’s ace reliever Camilo Doval — making it a 7-5 game with the tying run on 2nd. But Giancarlo Stanton hit sharply into a ballgame-ending double play.

All of it while a massive, heavy-bolt lightning, black-skied thunderstorm with torrential rain was hitting the NYC area — adding an ominous background for those at the game as they could see the storm coming with light rain falling, while many watching at home in the NYC area were getting blasted by it.

It was an ominous day for the Yankee pitching staff as well, as starter Clarke Schmidt, and last year’s two most important relievers — Michael King and Clay Holmes — all got bolted by the Giants.

“I could have put us in a better position to win the game in 2 at bats tonite,” said Giancarlo Stanton afterwards. “I didn’t get it done. And that’s unacceptable in that situation.”

Stanton did hit a homer earlier in the game for a run, and when asked if he needed to be more selective in the 9th inning at bat that resulted in the double play, said, “I hit the ball hard; it was a 2-0 pitch — a fastball I hit hard. I just needed to make sure it was in the air. That’s a ball that if it was in the hole you say good job, but at the same time it wasn’t. I just have to make sure I get it done whatever way possible.”

The good news: Aaron Judge continued his torrid early-season hitting with 3 hits, and made a spectacular diving catch in centerfield — and Anthony Volpe got his first major league hit — and added a second one later on.

Josh Donaldson also homered for the Bombers.

1. Judge 3 Hits — All Contribute to Runs

Aaron Judge — batting 2nd behind DJ LeMahieu — led off the scoring by getting the first of his 3 hits in the 1st off Giants’ starter Alex Cobb. Judge came around to score on a Giancarlo Stanton groundout.

Judge had a single in the 5th, which contributed to a run-scoring rally that tied the game 3-3 at the time.

And Judge got a single in the 9th inning rally that plated a run.

In the top of the 2nd, Judge made a spectacular diving catch in centerfield.

2. Volpe’s 1st Major League Hit

With the Yanks up 1-0 in the 2nd and 2 out, Anthony Volpe slashed a single past the shortstop into left for his first major league hit.

He promptly stole 2nd base, but was left stranded there as LeMahieu struck out to end the inning.

3. Stanton Golfs One

Giancarlo Stanton made it 2-0 Yanks by GOLFING a pitch into the opposite-field seats in right in the 2nd inning. “He just hit a 2 iron and it SAILED into the seats” exclaimed John Sterling on the radio broadcast.

4. Schmidt Ripped

Clarke Schmidt looked good thru 3 innings, but got banged up in the 4th — his second time through the Giants lineup. The Giants were swinging and missing at high fastballs early, then laid off those pitches and Schmidt had to come down in the zone — and once he did — they pounced.

Joc Pederson led off the 4th with a homer, and Brandon Crawford hit a 2-run bomb later in the inning to give San Francisco a 3-2 lead. Schmidt was lifted after the homer at 76 pitches and Wandy Peralta came in to get the final 2 outs.

“I was getting a swing and miss earlier in the game, I feel like they made some adjustments in terms of their approach,” said Schmidt afterwards. “Early on they were not able to get to the heater up in the zone, and then they started selling out towards it, cutting off the lower half, and then being able to hit the breaking balls in the zone. Sometimes those in-game adjustments are tough, and that’s part of learning and being able to see those changes is part of developing and growing. So that’s definitely something I’m going to take forward.”

5. Rizzo Ties It

In the 5th, DJ LeMahieu led off with a double against reliever Jakob Junis, Aaron Judge singled, and Anthony Rizzo tied the game with an RBI double to right.

But with 2nd and 3rd nobody out, Stanton hit a grounder right back to 3rd, Josh Donaldson struck out, and Gleyber Torres grounded out.

6. King Gives Up the Lead

Peralta and Michael King combined on a shutout 5th but King got in trouble in the 6th — allowing a leadoff single and then a double. With 2nd and 3rd nobody out, he went 0-2 on Blake Sabol — but hit him on the toe with a pitch.

With bases loaded, nobody out in a 3-3 game — King struck out the next batter so you had hope he could get out of it.

But LaMonte Wade Jr.checked his swing at a pitch and accidentally hit the ball — and batted it out in front of the catcher. Jose Trevino jumped out to get it but couldn’t get back in time to tag the incoming runner. 4-3 Giants.

King then struck out Michael Conforto and again looked like he could get out of it without much damage. But Thairo Estrada hit a liner that Anthony Volpe dove for at shortstop but just missed getting — he knocked it down and it was 5-3 Giants.

King struck out the final batter — but the damage was done.

7. Donaldson Bomb

Josh Donaldson got the Yanks back to within 5-4 with a homer to left in the 8th.

8. Holmes Gets Ripped in the 9th

But Clay Holmes could not hold it at a 5-4 deficit — as he got lit up in the 9th. A 1-out single then an RBI double by Mike Yazstremski (Carl’s 31-yr-old grandson) made it 6-4, and a 2-out RBI single by Crawford made it 7-4 Giants.

9. Rally in 9th Falls Short

And then came the 9th — with the Yanks down 7-4 against San Fran’s ace reliever Camilo Doval. Doval didn’t have it — he went 2-0 on Aaron Hicks leading off before striking him out — and then allowed a single to Anthony Volpe (his 2nd major league hit), a walk to LeMahieu, and an RBI single to Aaron Judge for a 7-5 game.

Anthony Rizzo walked to load the bases — as the black-sky storm approached. With a light rain falling Giancarlo Stanton grounded into a double play for the old ballgame.

Etcetra

  • Some Yankee fans on Twitter were surprised to see Albert Abreu come out for the 7th inning — surprised he was back with the big club having made the team in Spring training. When last seen the Yanks had re-acquired Abreu last summer and used him as a regular reliever in July and August. Abreu’s sub-par performances were a key contributor to a massive late July-August losing streak by the 2022 Yanks. But the Yanks apparently still love his arm — and he produced — throwing a scoreless 7th and 8th.
Abreu’s August and late July with 2022 Yanks
  • Other Yank fans on Twitter who knew Abreu was on the roster were surprised when the Yanks reached into their bag and brought out Jimmy Cordero to relieve Holmes in the 9th. Cordero retired the only batter he faced. He is a 31-year old, 6’4 righty journeyman who has pitched for Washington, Toronto, and the White Sox.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401471050

 

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