Holliday homers in return to lineup, Yanks beat Sox
NEW YORK » Matt Holliday once again became a bruising designated hitter against his former designated sitter.
Holliday made a smashing return to the Yankees’ lineup after being sidelined a month, launching a three-run homer that led Masahiro Tanaka and New York over the AL Eastleading Boston Red Sox 5-1 Saturday.
“We’ve missed that,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
The Yankees, already holding the top spot in the wildcard race, pulled within 4½ games of Boston. The rivals close their season series Sunday night.
Holliday has hit two big home runs against the Red Sox this season. His link to Boston manager John Farrell goes back a lot farther.
When Holliday was 3 or 4 years old, his dad was the pitching coach at Oklahoma State — the school where Farrell pitched. And occasionally, Farrell babysat for the future big league slugger.
“I’ve known him a long time,” Holliday said.
Holliday hadn’t played in the majors since going on the disabled list in early August with a back injury. He was activated from his second DL stint this year on Friday, but sat out a 4-1 loss.
Holliday was greeted with “Welcome Back” by the public address announcer when the lineups were introduced, drawing a rippling of applause. Later, he revved up the sellout crowd of 46,536 on a holiday weekend.
“I’m just glad to be part of the team, back on the field,” Holliday said. “I mean, these are big games. I want to be part of it.”
It was 1-all in the sixth inning when Holliday hit a drive to left off Drew Pomeranz (145) estimated at 443 feet. Holliday pointed toward the Yankees dugout on his way toward first base after his 17th home run — his previous homer was July 15, a tying shot in the ninth off Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel at Fenway Park in a game New York won in the 16th.
Chase Headley also homered, getting three hits as the Yankees ended Pomeranz’s career-best eight-game winning streak.
Tanaka (11-10) gave up five hits and one run , which scored on his wild pitch. He left after a leadoff single in the eighth, and tipped his cap as he walked off to a standing ovation.
The Yankees have won two of three in the series so far, holding Boston to 0 for 15 with runners in scoring position.
Jacoby Ellsbury tripled and scored on a single by Gary Sanchez in the Yankees seventh. Ellsbury entered after center fielder Aaron Hicks exited with tightness in his left oblique. ASTROS 12, METS 8 HOUSTON » George Springer hit his career-best 30th home run and J.D Davis also went deep to lead Houston over the Mets and Matt Harvey 12-8 Saturday in the Astros’ first game at Minute Maid Park since Hurricane Harvey devastated the area.
A crowd of 30,319 attended the doubleheader opener. The Astros had moved a home series against rival Texas to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The AL West leaders, who lost two of three to the Rangers, then postponed Friday’s game by a day, allowing players time to work in the community.
Harvey (4-4) was pounded for seven runs and eight hits in a career-low two innings as Houston romped to a 7-0 lead. Harvey had not pitched for the Mets since June 14 because of a stress injury to the scapula bone in his right shoulder.