GRAND NIGHT FOR GARDY!
Gardner slams Sox as Yankees sweep
When the Yankees decided to buy out his contract last fall, Brett Gardner just wanted to find a way back. He’d never played with another team and didn’t want to try. So the 35-year-old agreed to a oneyear deal for less money to play what the Yankees expected to be a lesser role this season.
But in a young season that has been shaped by injuries, Gardner has been forced into a bigger role. Wednesday, he played a huge part in what could be a defining victory for the Yankees. His seventh-inning grand slam gave the Bombers a come-from- behind 5-3 win over the Red Sox at the Stadium.
“It was a big feeling,” Gardner said. “Obviously the season really hasn’t gotten off to the start that I would have liked or envisioned for myself and for the team. (But) to be able to come through in a big spot like that, in a big game for the middle of April, it felt good.”
The grand slam rallied the Yankees (8-9) from two runs down to their second straight win. They took the two-game series from the struggling Red Sox (6-13).
After Nathan Eovaldi held the Yankees to one run in six innings, Brandon Workman, who relieved Eovaldi at the start of the seventh, loaded the bases with a single and two walks. He exited having recorded just one out. Workman’s replacement, Ryan Brasier, promptly gave up the go-ahead home run to Gardner.
The shot to right field was the 100th home run of the 35-yearold’s career. It was his fourth grand slam and his first since June 30, 2017.
After he rounded the bases, one of his biggest cheerleaders was waiting for him. The 5-foot-11 Gardner had to leap, to give 6foot-7 Aaron Judge, a proper fist bump.
“Bases loaded against Boston, he was just waiting for the right time,” Judge said of Gardner getting his 100th home run. “That was a special moment, a special swing. Over the years, you guys saw it when we played Cleveland in the ALDS, he came up so many times for us in that and other series.
“It’s who you want at the plate in a big situation like that.”
Actually, Gardner went into Wednesday night’s game hitting .200/.304/.400 with three home runs and four RBI, so most people would have preferred to have Judge in that spot. The young player’s words, however, tell you how well Gardner plays that most important role of clubhouse leader and mentor to a young team.
“I think it matters. It’s an asset that we take advantage of,” Aaron Boone said. “His presence in that room means a lot and his experience that he shares with guys rubs off on other guys.”
After Tuesday night’s victory, Gardner gathered the young Yanks to remind them that despite their injuries and struggles there are still big wins to be had. Wednesday night, the Yankees let loose. They celebrated J.A. Happ overcoming a rough start — allowing two homers and three runs in the first three innings.
The strobe lights and a fog machine in the clubhouse were put on high as the Yanks relished a win over their division rivals, the team that ended their 2018 season.
“It was a nice feeling. It was good. We deserved the fog because we won a hard game out there,” said Clint Frazier, whose RBI double was the only run the Yankees scored of Nate Eovaldi. “That was a good game. Everybody played a part in it in some way and it’s huge to beat the Red Sox right now.”