Nestor Cortes wasn’t as Nasty as he usually has been this year, making one mistake, and neither was Michael King, but Clay Holmes continued to be absolutely filthy on the mound.
In the bottom of the second inning, Giancarlo Stanton singled and was forced out at second by Josh Donaldson. Singles by Gleyber Torres and Isiah Kiner-Falefa scored Donaldson, and after a groundout by Kyle Higashioka put runners on second and third, Aaron Hicks walked to load the bases. LeMahieu then hit a grand slam, his third HR of the season, to put the Yanks up 5-0.
Cortes, who was solid otherwise, gave up a 3-run HR to Jose Abreu in the top of the third that cut the Yanks’ lead to 5-3.
The Yanks got a run back in the bottom of the third. With one out, Anthony Rizzo walked and Stanton singled Rizzo to third. A forceout by Donaldson scored Rizzo.
King replaced Cortes for the top of the sixth but wasn’t the lights-out King we have seen this season, giving up two runs. Now it was 6-5 Yankees.
The Yanks got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Higashioka walked and moved to second on a groundout. LeMahieu walked, and an infield single by Aaron Judge loaded the bases. Rizzo hit a SF to make it 7-5.
Over his last 19 appearances covering 21 innings, Clay Holmes has not given up a run, and Holmes closed out this affair.
Good to see the Loaisiga of last year. The Yanks will need him to get back to last year’s form, especially with Chad Green out. Green was placed on the 15-day IL (expect much longer than that) and Ron Marinaccio was brought back to replace him.
LeMahieu 4 RBI; grand slam. HR #3
Stanton 3 hits.
Cortes (W, 3-1) 5 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 0 W, 7 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 1.80
King (H, 6) 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.03
Loaisiga (H, 6) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 5.06
Castro (H, 5) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K 2.77
Holmes (S, 4) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 0.42
The Sommer Frieze 
