Yanks Win It with “Last Licks” Rizzo Walk Off ! NY 2 Detroit 1

May 4, 2024 paperbacklou 2024 0

There is no time clock in baseball. Each team gets 9 turns of the bat and the home team gets “last licks.”

NY put their “last licks” to good use in this game at Yankee Stadium on a Friday night. The Yanks were getting shutout on 2 hits into the 9th inning, losing 1-0, when they exploded for 4 straight hits against Detroit’s ace closer Jason Foley for 2 runs and a walk-off 2-1 win!

Aaron Judge led off with a single, Alex Verdugo bunted for a single, Giancarlo Stanton ripped a double down the (opposite) right-field line for a tie game, and Anthony Rizzo singled through a drawn-in infield for the game winner.

And just like that Dennis Santana, who pitched a shutout top of 9th, was a winner, and Marcus Stroman, who pitched into the 6th allowing only 1 run, was taken off the hook for the loss.

“Good job by Aaron obviously, setting the table for us,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards. “And then just some really good at bats to take it from there.”

NY improves to 21-13. Detroit falls to 18-14.

1. Stroman Good

Marcus Stroman cruised through the first 5 innings, pitching a shutout into the 6th with the score tied 0-0.

Stroman was helped in the 1st by an excellent play by Gold Glover Anthony Volpe ranging behind 2nd base.

But in the 6th Stroman lost his command. He allowed a leadoff single to Riley Greene, struck out Mark Canha, then issued consecutive walks to Wenceel Perez and Kerry Carpenter to load the bases with 1 out.

He went 0-2 on Colt Keith, but then walked him in an 8-pitch at bat where Keith fouled off a couple of strikes. That forced in a run and it was 1-0 Detroit.

Ian Hamilton came in and struck out Spencer Torkelson and got Zach McKinstry on a ground out to keep the score 1-0 Detroit.

2. Olson Good Too

Meanwhile Detroit rookie starter Reese Olson was just as good. The 24-year-old, 6’1, 160-lb righty shut the Yankees out for 5 innings on 2 hits.

He allowed a leadoff single to Anthony Volpe in the 1st inning, but then got Juan Soto to hit into a double play. He then walked Aaron Judge, who stole 2nd base — but struck out Verdugo looking.

Olson allowed a 2-out single to Gleyber Torres in the 2nd but got the final out, and then started rolling — pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the 3rd and 4th. Olson used his 94-MPH sinker, 89-MPH changeup, and 84-MPH slider to effect, making his 94-MPH four-seam fastball play up, and an occasional 79-MPH curveball.

Austin Wells worked a 2-out walk on Olson in the 5th, but Olson got the final out to keep the score 0-0.

3. Faedo Strikes Out Yankee Side in 6th

Alex Faedo came in for Detroit and struck out the Yankee side in the 6th, using an 82-MPH slider and 89-MPH changeup to set people up, then a 95-MPH four seam fastball and slightly odd delivery for the K.

4. Gonzalez Leaves Bases Loaded with Tigers in 7th

It was great news for Yankee fans that Ian Hamilton got out of the bases-loaded jam in the 6th, as he has not been on his game recently — but the worries about Hamilton resurfaced in the 7th, when he allowed consecutive singles after getting the 1st batter.

He got Canha to fly out for the 2nd out, and was relieved by lefty Victor Gonzalez with runners on 1st and 3rd and Wenceel Perez due up — the #3 batter in the lineup and a switch hitter batting lefty.

Wenceel is a 24-year-old rookie who has been a borderline prospect for Detroit for several years, before improving his status with a solid year in AAA last year and made the MLB team this year in Spring training. He’s been a good surprise for Detroit — slashing 3-8-.286 (.375 OBP) so far.

Gonzalez walked Perez on 4 pitches to load the bases with 2 outs in the 1-0 game.

Detroit pinch hit Matt Vierling for lefty Kerry Carpenter, and Gonzalez got Vierling to ground out to shortstop. Phew. The Yanks were still in it, down 1-0.

5. Yank Pen Holds Tigers

After the gutsy performance in the 7th, Victor Gonzalez came back out and pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th, with Aaron Judge — who should have won multiple Gold Gloves as an outfielder already but has never won one — making a fine running play in centerfield for the 1st out.

Gonzalez made a fine running play himself to get the final out of the inning — beating the runner to 1st and simultaneously catching a Rizzo throw to him after Rizzo nabbed a liner down the line.

Dennis Santana pitched the 9th — allowing a 2-out walk but getting Canha to groundout to end the inning.

6. Tiger Pen Holds Yanks

Faedo came out for the 7th as well, and after allowing a leadoff walk to Verdugo, struck out Stanton.

Andrew Chafin came in and walked Anthony Rizzo to put Yanks on 1st and 2nd, 1 out — but Gleyber Torres hit into a double play to end the inning.

Anthony Volpe worked a 2-out walk against Shelby Miller in the bottom of the 8th — but Juan Soto popped out to shortstop and it was to the 9th — a 1-0 game Detroit leading.

7. NY Uses “Last Licks” for the Win

And so it was to the bottom of the 9th — the Yanks looking dead, trailing 1-0 on 2 hits — and facing Detroit ace reliever Jason Foley.

But Aaron Judge lined a single to center to lead off.

Alex Verdugo laid a perfect sacrifice, push bunt down 3rd, and beat it out as well!

Giancarlo Stanton ripped a 1-0, 97-MPH sinker down the line to opposite field right and it was a tie game 1-1 !

And Anthony Rizzo slapped a single past a drawn-in infield for the old ballgame.

The Boxcore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401568952

 

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