New York Yankees: 1 winner and 1 big loser in crazy victory over the O’s

The New York Yankees took on the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night in the final game of the two-game series. Coming off a great offensive performance in their previous game against the Orioles, the Yankees continued to rake and won the game with some 9th inning magic by a score of 8-6.

The Yankees scored five runs in the first inning as Giancarlo Stanton drove in a run with a single to left and Luke Voit smashed his first career grand slam. New York didn’t lose a step from their previous game on offense. However, JA Happ didn’t look his greatest. 

Let’s take a look at the winners and losers from the Yankees’ five-inning win over the Orioles:

LOSER: LHP J.A. Happ

J.A. Happ got his first start in 2020 last night and already started looking more and more like his 2019 self. In 2019, he had the second-highest HR/9 in the MLB and didn’t seem to improve that stat at all. In the first, he gave up a 2-run shot to Hanser Alberto and shortened New York’s lead to only three. Then in the second, he gave up another 2-run shot. This one by Rio Ruiz. Now, you could blame his performance on the fact that he hasn’t had enough time to prepare. He looked tired right after giving up the first home run to Alberto and got lucky on a couple of missed pitches. Not the greatest start to the season for the 37-year old veteran. 

WINNER: Luke Voit/Giancarlo Stanton/Aaron Judge

Luke Voit was back in the lineup after having the day off on Wednesday against Baltimore and made his presence known. After John Means struggled in the first, Voit found himself up with one out and the bases loaded. Then, YES Network made the point that Voit has never hit a grand slam in his career, and just like that he crushed a ball to left-center field and began his trot around the bases. He got his pitch and didn’t miss it, putting the Yanks up 5-0.

Voit has hit a home run in his last two games. He has started battling in at-bats and seeing the ball better. We will most likely see him face the Red Sox in the Yankees’ home opener tomorrow night.

In some ways, Stanton was even better. No, he didn’t hit a grand slam and he didn’t have four RBI’s but he did go 3-3. Stanton hit two singles and a double last night and continues to dominate left-handed pitchers. He is 8-15 on the year and is starting to gain Yankee fans’ trust again. There is still progress to be made as he needs to start shifting into the field but he is definitely having a better start than expected in 2020. 

After the game resumed from the rain delay, the Yankees still controlled things. They were winning 5-4 going into the bottom of the sixth. Then, Jonathan Loaisiga gave up a 2-run shot to Pedro Severino in the 8th. After that, Aaron Judge found himself up with a man on first and second in the top of the 9th. He got a high fastball from Sulser and smashed a 413-foot blast to left field putting New York back on top. It was a perfect finish to a wild game

With this win, the Yankees advance to 4-1 on the year. They will start their home season opener tonight against the Red Sox. Boston has struggled in 2020 so far. However, they have won their last two against the Mets and things are looking up. The Yankees will look to continue their hot streak tonight as they open things up in the Bronx!