Tribe’s golden glove work snags victory
CLEVELAND — These aren’t the ‘27 Yankees. These are the Yankees who keep giving the Indians more than 27 outs.
For the second straight night, New York submitted a sloppy showing in the field. The Indians, on the other hand, dazzled defensively, and cruised to a 7-2 victory over the Yankees.
Giovanny Urshela earned two standing ovations for his glove work at third base. In the fifth, he made a leaping snag of a Clint Frazier
chopper and, with his momentum carrying him into foul territory, left his feet to throw out Ronald Torreyes at the plate.
“I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that’s potentially a game-saver,” Tribe manager Terry Francona said.
One inning later, Urshela made a diving stop on a Matt Holliday grounder toward shortstop. On both occasions, the crowd displayed its appreciation.
In fact, those in the stands did plenty of defense-induced applauding.
The Yankees’ Aaron Judge bounced a throw from right field into the fifth row of seats behind the Indians’ dugout as Brandon Guyer advanced from first to third on a Michael Brantley third-inning single. Guyer was awarded home and Brantley moved to third on the errant heave.
The Yankees also recorded a passed ball and a pair of wild pitches. The wild pitches permitted Brantley to scoot from first to second and from third to home in the fifth. Austin Jackson scored on a passed ball in the second.
Jackson continued his torrid stretch with an RBI double in the second. Carlos Santana dashed to the plate from first. Brantley finished the game with a pair of RBI singles.
Trevor Bauer (10-8) didn’t need much backing. He limited the Yankees to one run on seven hits and two walks over seven innings. New York made him sweat only in the fifth. Todd Frazier smacked a low curveball to the opposite field for a solo homer. Urshela came to Bauer’s aid with his nifty snag and strong throw to the plate to nab Torreyes on Clint Frazier’s chopper. Bauer walked Judge to load the bases, but Gary Sanchez whiffed on a curve in the dirt to preserve the Indians’ lead.
“That was fun,” Urshela said. “But I didn’t get that excited in that moment. I got more excited when we made the last out in that innings.”