Chapman saved from wild ways
For better and for worse, Aroldis Chapman’s fastball was flying in the ninth inning Friday night — into a batter, through an empty batter’s box, off the umpire’s mask, and three other times smack dab into Gary Sanchez’s mitt for a strikeout.
By the end of the adventure, Chapman had blown the Yankees’ lead before his teammates saved him in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off 7-6 win against the Indians at the Stadium.
Chapman’s first blown save of the season was an aggravating one for the flamethrower, even as it proved not to be too costly for the team that won for the 13th time in the past 14 games.
The only hit he allowed all night came to leadoff man Yan Gomes, who slapped a single to left field. Chapman came back to strike out the next batter, Rajai Davis, on three pitches — two sliders and a 100 mph fastball — before plunking Bradley Zimmer on the arm with a 99 mph heater.
Chapman then threw two strikes to Francisco Lindor only to see his third pitch go sailing at 102 mph way outside, thrown so hard it came bouncing off the backstop and back to Chap- man in front of the plate as the runners advanced to second and third.
“He’s always amped up,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I think it was just a wild one that got away, that’s all.”
The next pitch, a 101 mph fastball that painted the corner low and outside, caught Lindor looking for the second out.
Chapman worked another 0-2 count to Jason Kipnis and was one strike away from ending the game before getting crossed up with Sanchez. The catcher thought a breaking ball was coming, except Chapman delivered a 102 mph fastball that hit off home plate umpire Tim Timmons’ mask and allowed Gomes to score the tying run from third.
“We had a little bit of miscommunication,” Chapman said through an interpreter. “It’s frustrating, especially at that moment in the game. It’s the possible end of the game right there, what you definitely don’t want to have is confusion at that moment.”
Sanchez went out for a mound visit and then returned to catch strike three, leaving the go-ahead run at third and allowing the Yankees to win it minutes later.