Masahiro Tanaka Gets His First Win Of The Season As New York Tops Saint Louis
Friday night in New York's opening game of a three-game set with Saint Louis right-handed pitcher Masahiro Tanaka finally got his first win of the 2017 season behind the long ball from catcher Austin Romine and second baseman Starlin Castro.
With St. Louis paying its first visit to the Bronx since 2003, Tanaka bounced back from a rough start to the young season to pick up his first win, limiting the Cardinals to Matt Carpenter's two-run homer and Randal Grichuk's RBI double over 6 1/3 innings. Tanaka retired 10 straight through one stretch, striking out five and walking two. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/224272180/pair-of-homers-power-yankees-over-cardinals/
Starlin Castro answered Carpenter's first-inning blast with a two-run shot of his own, and Romine homered in the second off Cardinals starter Michael Wacha, who allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits over six innings. Wacha walked two and struck out eight as he saw a personal six-game winning streak snapped. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/224272180/pair-of-homers-power-yankees-over-cardinals/
"Definitely wasn't establishing the fastball down in the zone there early on," Wacha said. "You can't do that. It's where the hitters want to see it. They want to see it up, and that's where the mistakes happen." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/224272180/pair-of-homers-power-yankees-over-cardinals/
Jacoby Ellsbury and Chase Headley also contributed to the New York offense
In the fifth, Jacoby Ellsbury raced home for the Yankees' fourth run after initially being held at third base by coach Joe Espada on a Chase Headley double to right field. Ellsbury did not hesitate when second baseman Kolten Wong's relay throw home skipped past catcher Yadier Molina, scoring what proved to be the deciding run. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/224272180/pair-of-homers-power-yankees-over-cardinals/
"Awesome. Those are the types of things that win games," Headley said. "That ended up being the deciding run. A really good play for him to be able to score right there." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/224272180/pair-of-homers-power-yankees-over-cardinals/
"Awesome. Those are the types of things that win games," Headley said. "That ended up being the deciding run. A really good play for him to be able to score right there." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/224272180/pair-of-homers-power-yankees-over-cardinals/
St. Louis trimmed the deficit to 4-3 in the seventh as Grichuk ripped Tanaka's 103rd pitch for a RBI double to left. That placed runners at second and third with one out as the Yanks called upon right-hander Tyler Clippard. Wong flew out to Ellsbury in center and Dexter Fowler launched a 92-mph fastball deep to right, but Aaron Judge settled underneath the drive just in front of the wall. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/224272180/pair-of-homers-power-yankees-over-cardinals/
"I thought he got that ball when it came off the bat, especially to that part of the field, you see it carry pretty good sometimes," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "That would have been a big shot for us, and for him." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/224272180/pair-of-homers-power-yankees-over-cardinals/
Saint Louis came up 90 feet short in their ninth-inning push against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, who entered with a streak of 29 consecutive scoreless appearances against St. Louis. But the Cardinals did threaten against him Friday. After a two-out walk by Grichuk, Jose Martinez capped a five-pitch at-bat with a double to left. Yankees left fielderBrett Gardner was quick to get the ball into the infield, and that forced Cards third-base coach Chris Maloney to hold the potential tying run at third. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/224272180/pair-of-homers-power-yankees-over-cardinals/
New York and Saint Louis resume their three -game series Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium on Jackie Robinson day with left-hander CC Sabathia on the mound for New York. He has a record of 1-0 with a 1.64 earn run average to go along with five strikeouts. He will face Saint Louis right -hander Carlos Martinez who has a record of 0-1 with a 3.65 earn run average. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cardinals-vs-yankees/2017/04/15/490267#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=490267
First pitch is set for 1:05pm. The game will be televised on the Major League Baseball Network.