GRAB SLAM IS
Jordan Montgomery was in trouble immediately on Tuesday night, loading the bases before recording an out against the Rays.
But returning outfielder Aaron Hicks made a spectacular defensive play to get the Yankees out of the first inning with only one run scoring, and Montgomery went on to pitch six strong innings in a sharp 6-1 victory over Tampa Bay at the Stadium.
Hicks also walked three times in his first appearance since Sept. 2 due to a strained oblique, and Starlin Castro homered as the Yanks (88-69) clinched home-field advantage in next Tuesday’s AL wild-card game. They also gained a game in the standings on Boston for the second straight day, closing to within three of the AL East leaders with five games remaining.
“We will still play to win this division,” Joe Girardi said. “We got back the two that we lost in Toronto. There are five left, and there’s still a chance, but we still have to play really well.”
Montgomery, who is lined up to start the regular-season finale on Sunday, allowed one run on six hits to improve to 9-7.
It didn’t take long for Hicks to make an impact in his first game off the DL, robbing Wilson Ramos of a grand slam reaching over the wall to make a leaping catch in right-center in the first inning.
Six consecutive Yankees reached base before an out was recorded in a four-run second inning to chase Tampa starter Blake Snell, including bases-loaded walks by Hicks and Aaron Judge.
In addition to his defensive gem, Hicks walked three times and stole a base before Brett Gardner replaced him in center in the seventh.
STAT oF THE DAY
The Yankees improved to 48-28 at the Stadium this season, the best home winning percentage (.632) in the American League
UNSUNG HERo
Ronald Torreyes, spelling Didi Gregorius at shortstop, rapped a single and a double (with a walk) for five hits over his past two games.
Snell recorded only three outs in his shortest outing of the year, allowing four runs in the second without retiring a batter.
YANKEES VS. RAYS
Tonight, 7:05 vs. Tampa Bay, Luis Severino (13-6, 3.03) vs. Matt Andriese (5-4, 4.44), Ch. 11