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Torres HR in 9th, Yanks top Indians 7-4; 15 wins in 16 games
NEW YORK » Gleyber Torres became the youngest Yankees player to hit a walkoff homer, a three-run shot in the ninth inning that gave New York a 7-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday for its 15th victory in 16 games.
At 21 years and 144 days, Torres bettered Mickey Mantle, who was 21 years and 185 days when he hit three-run, ninth-inning drive off Boston’s Ellis Kinder in a 6-3 win on April 23, 1953.
Domingo German pitched six hitless innings in his first major league start for the Yankees, who nonetheless fell behind 4-0 when Cleveland broke through against relievers Dellin Betances and Jonathan Holder. Yonder Alonso’s leadoff single against Betances in the eighth was the first hit for the Indians.
But after managing only one hit themselves against a stellar Mike Clevinger, the streaking Yankees fought right back to win their sixth straight and finish off a three-game sweep. New York also took the final three games of last year’s playoff series between the teams.
Clevinger went 7 1/3 innings in his first start against the Yankees, setting career highs with 10 strikeouts and 116 pitches. He issued two of his four walks in the eighth as New York rallied.
Short in the bullpen, Cleveland manager Terry Francona called on closer Cody Allen, looking for a five-out save. Allen gave up a two-out RBI single to Brett Gardner and a tworun double to Aaron Judge before retiring Gary Sanchez with two on.
Aaron Hicks and Neil Walker, who began the day batting .182, opened the ninth with consecutive doubles to tie it, chasing Allen (2-1). One out later, pinchhitter Giancarlo Stanton was intentionally walked and Torres drove a full-count pitch from Dan Otero over the center-field fence.
Torres, who connected for his first big league homer Friday night, raised one arm and turned back toward the New York dugout after rounding first base. He was mobbed and doused by excited teammates at home plate.
Chasen Shreve (2-0) struck out two in a perfect ninth for the win.
The 15-1 stretch matches the Yankees’ best 16-game run since 1980.
After winning their ninth consecutive home game, next up is a Yankee Stadium showdown with the rival Red Sox for first place in the AL East. A threegame series between the top two teams in the majors begins Tuesday night.
Tyler Naquin’s RBI single and Francisco Lindor’s RBI double keyed Cleveland’s four-run burst in the eighth. The Indians also scored on Gary Sanchez’s sixth passed ball of the season and Jason Kipnis’ sacrifice fly.
Until the eighth, Hicks’ leadoff single in the fifth against Clevinger was the only hit in a scoreless game.
German was removed after 84 pitches, 23 more than his previous high this season, in relief Tuesday at Houston. The 25-year-old rookie, who stepped into the rotation for injured Jordan Montgomery, struck out nine and walked two.
Betances worked a 1-2-3 seventh before giving up three straight singles starting the eighth.
German became the sixth pitcher to start for the Yankees this season, leaving Houston, Colorado and the Chicago Cubs as the only teams to use only five.