Volpe 4 Hits, Luis Gil Pitching Vault Yanks to 5-0 Start. NY 5 Arizona 2

April 2, 2024 paperbacklou 2024 0

Anthony Volpe went 4-4 and Luis Gil threw down a great start with his fastball clocking 100 MPH at times, as NY beat the defending National League champ Diamondbacks in Arizona to go 5-0 on the season.

Gil was Great but was pulled after 4 2/3 innings and didn’t get the win as manager Aaron Boone said afterwards he was at his pitch count and NY doesn’t want to mess with his recovery process.

“Luis got us off to a really good start,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards. “Had to use quite a pitches there but I thought he threw the ball really well. And then Weaver kind of being that bridge, to get it to the back there. Made some big pitches when he needed to too. Coming off the high of an opening day series against a big opponent and coming in here and playing a really good team — it was nice to make a big inning hold up for us.”

NY improves to 5-0. Arizona drops to 3-2.

1. Yanks Threaten in 1st; Smash Thru in 2nd

The Yanks got right to work against Arizona starter Ryan Nelson, the 26-yr-old 6’3 starter out of Henderson, NY.

NY extended the top of the 1st inning about as much as you can extend an inning without scoring — Juan Soto worked a 1-out walk, Aaron Judge singled, and Giancarlo Stanton worked a 2-out walk to load the bases. Alex Verdugo worked the count to 3-2 with bases loaded, 2 outs before fouling out to 3rd.

The Yanks didn’t score but got right back to work against Nelson in the top of the 2nd — Anthony Volpe led off with a double, and then after Austin Wells flied out, Oswaldo Cabrera singled him home to make it 1-0 NY.

Gleyber Torres smoked a double to left scoring Cabrera and it was 2-0 NY.

2. NY Makes It 5-0 in 3rd

NY continued to pressure Ryan Nelson in the top of the 3rd — Anthony Rizzo led off with a walk, and after Stanton struck out, Alex Verdugo walked bringing up Anthony Volpe for the second time.

Volpe ripped a single to center for a 3-0 Yankee lead.

Austin Wells then hit a sac fly to left, scoring a run, the throw home going awry — with Ryan Nelson retrieving it and airmailing a throw to 3rd that allowed Alex Verdugo to come home too. NY 5 Arizona 0.

That knocked Ryan Nelson out, he was relieved by Kyle Nelson.

3. Gil Great

Meanwhile Luis Gil was Great. He smoked through the Diamondback lineup using a 98 MPH four-seam fastball and 86 MPH slider, with an 88 MPH changeup. His fastball hit 100 MPH at times.

He got into some trouble in the 3rd — a leadoff single by Jake McCarthy, then a walk and a wild pitch put 2nd and 3rd nobody out. Ketel Marte hit a sac fly for an Arizona run, making it 5-1 NY. But Gil got tough — getting Corbin Carrol to ground out and striking out Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

He left after 4 2/3 innings, with 1 hit allowed, 1 run, 6 strikeouts, and 3 walks.

“He was at his count and Luis is certainly not someone I’m going to mess with, coming back as we build him up,” said Boone afterwards. “I hated the fact that it was 4 2/3 and he was in a good spot to get the win, but his health and getting him built properly is more important — but he did a great job setting the tone.”

4. Weaver the Bridge

Gil got the first 2 outs of the 5th but was at 86 pitches and Boone relieved him for Luke Weaver. Weaver got the final out of the 5th and pitched a shutout 6th.

Weaver got into trouble and then mostly out of it in the 8th. Carrol hit a leadoff triple, and McCarthy got on due to an error by Rizzo at 1st. Weaver then hit a batter to load the bases with nobody out.

But Weaver didn’t break. Marte hit a sac fly to right to make it a 5-2 game, and then Weaver got Carroll to foul out to 3rd, and Guriel Jr to line out.

Weaver gets the win to go 2-0.

5. Burdi & Gonzalez Wrap Up

Nick Burdi pitched a shutout 8th for the hold, and lefty Victor Gonzalez pitched a shutout 9th for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401568532

 

 

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