The New York Yankees proved yesterday that one at-bat could completely change the complexion of a baseball game. In the last five games, the Yankees failed to score a home run, and the Yankees often lose when not hitting home runs. After sleepwalking through the first four innings, in the fifth, Tyler Wade came to the plate and hit a two-run homer, and the Yankee team, all of a sudden, came alive. They scored another in the inning and seven more runs in the sixth for a 10-3 Yankee lead.
Deivi Garcia, the Yankees starter, went 6.2 innings, allowing three runs and striking out seven Marlins using 103 pitches. Adam Ottavino came in in relief allowed a Garcia hangover to score, making it 10-4 Yankees.
In the fifth inning, Tyler Wake woke up the Yankees, who hadn’t hit a home run in six games. He had a two-bagger into the second deck of right. Aaron Judge got on base, and Giancarlo Stanton smacked a double as Judge motored all the way home from first base. The Yankees tied the game up at three apiece.
At the sixth inning, Aaron Hicks hit a 2 run shot to right-center. DJ followed with a hit to the left field wall, and two more Yankees scored for the Yankees 7-4 lead. Luke Voit followed that up later in the inning with a 3 run long ball to right center for his 22nd home run of the season, and the Yankee 10-3 lead. In the seventh, Hicks singled, DJ LeMahieu hit his fourth hit of the night, driving in Hicks from second, and it was 11-4 the final Yankee score.
At the eight inning rookie, Miguel Yajure came out to the mound and pitched two brilliant innings, striking out four Marlin batters. Deivi Garcia got the win and, ex-Yankee Stephen Tarpley took the loss for the Miami Marlins.
Some crucial takeaways in the game include Deivi Garcia using all of his pitches at will. Sanchez walked three times in the game, showing that he is being more careful at the plate. Tyler Wade, in addition to his two-run homer, also hit the first successful Yankee sac bunt since June of 2018, driving in a run. It was encouraging to see Aaron Hicks get his timing down and also hit a two-run banger. The two clean innings by Miguel Yujure gives manager Boone another arm that he can use in the postseason. Finally, DJ LeMahieu went 4 for 5, his fourth four-hit game of the season.
Tomorrow, the New York Yankees will again face the Miami Marlins, for the last game of the regular season. The 3:05 pm game will be important for several reasons for the Yankees; it will finally be decided who the Yankees will face in the playoffs, will determine if Luke Voit is the baseball home run leader, and might cement DJ LeMahieu as the hitting champ.