
For one thing, for the first time in franchise history, the Yankees have turned TWO triple plays in the same season. This one was the first 1-3-6-2-5-6 triple play in MLB history.
On top of that, Gio Urshela and Aaron Judge each made great defensive plays, and for the third straight game, a pinch-hitter that manager Aaron Boone sent up to the plate came through big time.
In the bottom of the first, Yankees’ starter Michael King (who is better in relief than as a starter) walked Marcus Semien, the leadoff hitter, then gave up a single to Bo Bichette. A WP moved the runners to second and third. Then came the unique triple play. Vlad Guerrero, Jr. bounced one back to King, who threw to first to get Guerrero. Out #1, Bichette was trapped between second and third, and Yankees’ 1B D.J. LeMahieu threw to SS Gleyber Torres. Semien, also trapped, broke for home. Torres threw to C Gary Sanchez, who ran Semien back to third before flipping to 3B Gio Urshela, who tagged Semien out. Out #2. Urshela then spun around and threw to Torres, who tagged out Bichette, who tried to move up when the Yankees tagged Semien out. Out #3. Got that? Any way, a triple play, the Yanks’ second of this season, and the first one ever that went 1-3-6-2-5-6.
The Yanks then scored right away in the top of the second. Urshela doubled, and Brett Gardner singled him to third. Miguel Andujar hit into a fielder’s choice, and reached on an error, Urshela scoring. Yanks up 1-0. Gardner was then caught at the plate on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Tyler Wade, and although the Yanks did load the bases back up, they didn’t score anymore that inning.
In the top of the third, Giancarlo Stanton singled and one out later, Urshela homered (8) to make it 3-0.
Toronto scored twice in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Yanks’ lead to 3-2. In this inning, Gleyber Torres tweaked his back and had to be removed for a pinch-hitter in the top of the fourth. He appears OK and day-to-day, though.
In the bottom of the fourth, Gio Urshela made an excellent defensive play for the last out of the inning.
Toronto tied it in the fifth, and went ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth. It could have been even worse. Shortly after going ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Blue Jays’ RF Cavan Biggio hit a deep drive to right that appeared to be a 2-run HR that would have given Toronto a 6-3 lead except that Aaron Judge jumped, extended his arm over the wall, and robbed Biggio of that possible HR to keep the score at 4-3.
The Yanks came right back with four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Rougned Odor, who replaced Torres earlier, led off the inning with a single, and Stanton homered (13) to put the Yankees up 5-4. Sanchez and Urshela both singled, then Gardner bunted them over. After an out that didn’t advance the runners, Chris Gittens pinch-hit for Tyler Wade and laced a two-run single to make it 7-4.
In the top of the ninth, Sanchez singled. Urshela struck out after just missing a 2-run HR. The ball was just foul. Gardner walked and both runners then moved up on a WP. After a walk to Andujar loaded the bases, Gittens hit a sac fly to make it 8-4, which wound up as the final score.
Stanton 2 hits. 2 RBI. A 2-run HR (13).
Urshela 3 hits. Double, 2-run HR (8). Excellent defensive play.
Judge robbed a batter of a 2-run HR.
Gittens 1 for 1, 3 RBI
King 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1 WP 4.08
Luetge 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.00
Green (W, 1-4) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.62
Loaisiga (H, 9) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1.70
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 HBP. 0.00
Earlier in the day, the Yanks traded Mike Ford to Tampa Bay for $100K and a player to be named later.
Minor league Notes.
AAA: SWB (26-11) won 4-2. SS Hoy Jun Park 1-2, 2 walks (.372 at AAA). RF Socrates Brito 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR. DH Kellin Deglan solo HR.
AA: Somerset (25-13) won 9-3. Starter Ken Waldichuk 4 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 5 W, 7 K. Gave up 2 HR. Waldichuk had pitched 30 2/3 scoreless innings for High A Hudson Valley before a callup. This was his first start at AA. He hurt himself with 4 walks in the first inning. Two pitchers 4 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings of relief (Nick Green and Ron Marinaccio). CF Michael Beltre 2 hits, RBI on a solo HR. 3B Oswaldo Cabrera 3 hits, 2 RBI, 2 solo HR. 2B Diego Castillo 3 hits, 2 RBI. C Donny Sands 4 RBI, a 3-run HR.
High A: Hudson Valley (22-15) won 3-2. SS Josh Smith 2 hits. DH Anthony Seigler 2 hits. LF Elijah Dunham 3 hits.
Starter Shawn Semple 6 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 11 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Low A: Tampa rained out.