CLEAN SPLIT
Bombers tumble to Phillies in opener . . . ...but take nightcap in their first 7-inning DH
Aaron Judge breaks bat in 11-7 Game 1 loss to Phillies Wednesday night, but Yanks come back for 3-1 victory in Game 2 of COVID-shortened DH.
PHILADELPHIA — If the Yankees learned anything Wednesday, it is that time is running out. After coming up short in a seventh-inning rally in the day game, they were able to convert another rally into a win in the nightcap. Mike Tauchman doubled and Gio Urshela singled in the top of the seventh, scoring the go-ahead runs and sparking a late-game rally in the Yankees 3-1 win over the Phillies, salvaging a split of the doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park Wednesday night.
“I thought the first one was too short. And then this one was just right,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of playing the seven-inning games.
After a week of delays because of the coronavirus outbreak with the Marlins, who were the last team to play here and then because of Hurricane Isaias, the Yankees (9-2) will face the Phillies (2-4) for the final time Thursday night. They lead the four-game series 2-1.
With the coronavirus pandemic-shortened, 60-game season, MLB has decided that doubleheader games would only be seven innings to try and limit the time the players are at the ballpark and also prevent injuries in this sprint of a season. The rule has been in place for a few years in the minor leagues, but Wednesday it was the first time for the Yankees.
After the nightcap, Tauchman said he liked it.
“I wouldn't be opposed to seven-inning doubleheader every single Sunday and every single Monday off going forward, and I'm just saying,” Tauchman said with a chuckle “Maybe there's a little bit more pressure to to execute with less times at the plate, you've got to get your runs when you can.”
The Yankees had been stopped in the afternoon game, the Phillies taking advantage of J.A. Happ's struggles and the Bombers' bad defense for an 11-7 win.
Aaron Judge had hit a threerun homer in the bottom of the seventh, but the comeback fell short in the shortened game. And clearly they learned a little something about it from the afternoon loss.
And clearly they learned a little something about it from the afternoon loss.
There was little the Yankees could do in the nightcap, until they finally got rid of Aaron Nola in the top of the seventh and took advantage. Giancarlo Stanton, who did not play in the first game, singled off Phillies righthander Tommy Hunter to lead off the inning. Luke Voit singled him over and Tauchman's double scored him. After Gary Sanchez was hit by a pitch, Urshela singled in Tyler Wade, pinch running for Voit.
It was no coincidence that the Yankees offense broke out
just as soon as the Phillies pulled right-hander Nola. He struck out a dozen Yankees Wednesday night, tying his career high. It was the third time this season the Yankees struck out at least 12 times. He allowed one run, three hits and did not walk a batter.
Voit got one of Nola's few mistakes Wednesday and made him pay.
“I faced before in the minor leagues,” Voit said. “I know he's a guy that will try to steal a strike with a curveball. And that's something I was looking for that first at-bat, and, you know, I got it. That's just me trying to do my homework.”
The first baseman, who was not in the lineup in the afternoon game, crushed a firstpitch knuckle curveball that hung. He lined his fourth home run of the year deep into the left-field stands.
That extended the Yankees streak to a record 11 games with a home run to start the season, surpassing the record set in 1999 in the first 10 games. The Yankees have 23 homers in their first 11 games and 43 of their 59 runs scored this season have come from the long ball.
Zack Britton picked up his major-league fifth save of the season with a scoreless seventh. Even he had to adjust to be ready in the seventh.
“I'm just trying to make sure I'm planning ahead a little bit obviously looking in the lineup a little sooner, if I am going in, if it's a save situation type of thing, but I don't mind it,” Britton said. “It seemed like the game was just as long as a nine inning but you know, I think. Overall, it just makes sense. You know what we're going through with this season.”