New York Tops Seattle To Win Opener As Thairo Estrada Hits First Home Run
There is a first time for everything and in the opener of the four games series as New York was taking on Seattle a player hit his first home run.
Thairo Estrada's eyes danced as he tracked the flight of his first Major League home run into the right-field seats on Monday evening, then he was delighted by a humorously indifferent reception from his teammates as he descended the dugout steps. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
Estrada's second-inning blast off fellow Venezuelan countryman Félix Hernández, but the rookie knew that he had created big news back home. Estrada also contributed a dazzling defensive play as the Yankees continued their roll with a 7-3 victory over the Mariners. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
"When I hit the ball, I knew I hit it well," Estrada said through an interpreter. "I knew it had a chance, then you finally see the ball go over. You get very excited about that. Especially facing someone like Félix, the kind of player he's been, it feels amazing. It's kind of like a dream." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
Luke Voit and Brett Gardner also hit early home runs as the Yankees staked CC Sabathia to a seven-run cushion in a matchup of former American League Cy Young Award winners. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
One start after becoming the 17th member of the illustrious 3,000-strikeouts club, Sabathia completed five innings to pick up career victory No. 248, and the Yankees won for the 12th time in their last 16 games. They are also 14-5 in their last 19, fully embracing their so-called "next man up" mentality. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
"We've obviously faced our share of adversity and these guys have answered the bell every day," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "I'm just happy to see guys continue to step up, continue to contribute to us winning ballgames, whoever it is." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
Voit sparked New York's offense with his 10th homer, a two-run shot in the first inning. The Bombers added four more runs in the second, as Gardner slugged his sixth and the 23-year-old Estrada jumped on the first pitch he saw for a two-run blast. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
Though Estrada and Hernández both hail from Valencia, Venezuela's third-largest city, Monday marked their first time crossing paths. Estrada was 9 years old when Hernández made his Major League debut with the 2005 Mariners, and Estrada said he recalls watching many of Hernández's starts on TV. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
"It's my first game playing here at Yankee Stadium, and facing Félix -- it means a lot," Estrada said. "It's a great opportunity for me. I'm sure I'm going to go back to my phone and I'm going to find many messages." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
Estrada said he initially thought it was "strange" that his teammates hadn't congratulated him, but then Gardner broke the ice with a handshake, prompting a succession of hugs and back slaps. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
"That always tells you we care a lot about a guy," Sabathia said. "That was fun." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
DJ LeMahieu and Gio Urshela added run-scoring singles behind Sabathia, who limited Seattle to three runs and five hits over five frames. The first three innings were breezy for Sabathia, but Domingo Santana hit a two-run shot in the fourth inning and Dee Gordon homered in a laborious fifth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
"I was just trying to make a pitch," Sabathia said. "I had kind of a rough inning there." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
Boone said that coaxing Sabathia to qualify for a victory was "not really" part of his thought process, but it seemed that way as Sabathia needed 32 pitches to navigate the meat of Seattle's order. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
A four-pitch walk to Santana loaded the bases and brought the potential tying run to the plate, but Sabathia got Jay Bruce to chop a broken-bat grounder to Voit at first base, ending the inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
"I felt like he was still throwing the ball OK," Boone said. "His pitch count was getting up, especially in that inning. That was a concern and a debate that we were having. Once he got through and it was Bruce, I just felt like he was throwing the ball well enough and we could win the matchup. He got it done." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
Sabathia walked three and struck out five in a 99-pitch effort. His 248 victories surpassed Bartolo Colon and Jack Quinn (247) on the all-time list, tying Amos Rusie for 47th place all-time. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
"I felt good today, not worried about anything, just trying to get outs," Sabathia said. "That mentally felt good, not having that weight of trying to get strikeouts." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
Jonathan Holder was ineffective in the sixth, allowing three of four men to reach base, but Adam Ottavino pinned the runners. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
Mitch Haniger flied out to left field and Tim Beckham chopped a slow roller up the middle, which Estrada charged and fired to first base, finishing with his chest skidding across the infield grass. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
"I was mentally prepared right before that pitch," Estrada said. "Once he hit the ball, I said to myself, 'This is my ground ball to get.' I went and got it, made the play and was excited to make the play and end the inning." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
New York's bullpen combined for four innings of scoreless, two-hit relief, striking out six with one walk. Ottavino recorded four outs and Zack Britton pitched 1 1/3 perfect frames before Luis Cessa polished it off in the ninth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
"That's how they envisioned us, being able to go out there and be efficient, being able to go multiple innings whenever they need it," Britton said. "Now it's about being consistent and going out there to do it again and again." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/thairo-estrada-hits-first-career-hr-for-yankees
With the win, New York who is a member of the American League East improves to 20-14 on the regular season while Seattle who is a member of the American League West drops to 19-18 on the regular season.
New York and Seattle will return to the diamond to play game two of their four game series on Tuesday night.