What a relief: Yanks find levity, end slide
Rookie’s arm, Betances’ at-bat steal show
PHILADELPHIA — Dellin Betances stole the show from Jonathan Loaisiga with his Gary Sheffield impersonation at the plate — even as the rookie right-hander played stopper for the team with the majors’ best record.
Loaisiga took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Aaron Judge ripped his 20th home run, and the New York Yankees snapped a three-game skid with a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.
All of which meant the Yankees could laugh about Betances’ first career plate appearance.
Batting with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth, Betances wiggled his bat like Sheffield as he took a strike from Yacksel Rios before missing on two mighty swings. That drew chuckles from his teammates in the bullpen.
“I liked to watch Gary and imitate his stance,” Betances said. “I was trying to do some damage. I took some good hacks. I got my money’s worth.”
Betances said he hadn’t swung a bat in 12 years.
“I saw the ball good,” he said. “Playing catch with Aroldis Chapman helped me out.”
Said Judge: “I’m glad he didn’t get hurt.”
Loaisiga (2-0) didn’t allow a hit until Jorge Alfaro lined a single to right leading off the sixth. He struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings, throwing 86 pitches in his third start after jumping from Double-a Trenton to the majors.
The Yankees, who were swept at Tampa Bay over the weekend, haven’t lost four in a row this season and own the majors’ best record at 51-25.
Making their first appearance at Citizens Bank Park since beating the Phillies in six games in the 2009 World Series, it felt like home for the Yankees. The sellout crowd of 44,136 was filled with fans cheering for the Bronx Bombers.
Philadelphia starter Vince Velasquez (5-8) allowed two runs and three hits, striking out seven in six innings. He’s given up three runs or fewer in 11 of 16 starts.
David Robertson struck out Rhys Hoskins and retired Odubel Herrera on a grounder to leave runners at second and third after replacing Loaisiga in the sixth.
Robertson allowed Scott Kingery’s RBI single in the seventh and gave way to Betances for three outs. Chapman got the last four outs for his 23rd save in 24 tries.
Chapman entered with two runners on in the eighth, and Carlos Santana flied to deep left on his first pitch. The lefty surrendered a homer to Maikel Franco in the ninth.