GETTING HOT
Bombers blast four homers & Allen sparks team to a
The Yankees power hitters needed a spark. Tuesday night, Greg Allen gave them a jump start. The speedy call-up outfielder used his speed to get the Bombers offense going and the big boppers took it from there. Gary Sanchez, Giancarlo Stanton, Brett Gardner and Estevan Florial homered as the Yankees beat the Phillies 6-4 at the Stadium.
The Yankees (49-44) have won three straight games and eight of their last 11. With the Red Sox and Blue Jays rained out Tuesday night, the Bombers pulled back into a tie with Toronto for third in the American League East and seven games back of division-leading Boston.
The Phillies (47-45) , who swept the Bombers last month in one of the low points of the season, lost for just the third time in their last eight games.
Gardner hit his fourth home run of the season and Sanchez hit his 17th. Stanton hit his 16th of the season in the seventh, his first home run since July 6 in Seattle. Florial hit his first career big league homer, a shot to right field It was the fourth time this season the Yankees have hit four homers in a game and only the second time this year they have hit three or more in back-to-back games.
Domingo German gave the Yankees just four innings. The right-hander, who has been working out of the bullpen in his last three appearances, allowed two runs on three hits. He struck out five, walked three and gave up a home run.
More importantly, Aroldis Chapman seemed to rediscover himself after giving up a home run to Andrew McCutchen, picking up his first save in a month.
These are the guys who have to get back on track if the Bombers are going to make a postseason run, and they had encouraging nights.
It was Allen, however, who seemed to spark them.
“The home run ball showed up for us tonight for four different guys, but the little ball was there… I mean, there’s excitement. We were up against a good opponent today. And Aaron Nola is a really good pitcher, obviously, that’s kind of had our number. We kind of grinded him down a little bit and made it really tough on him and, and we’re able to ding them there finally and knock him out.
“It’s definitely been a fun brand of baseball here for the last few days.”
Allen that got that first punch in on Nola, who the Yankees chased after 5.1 tagged with four runs on seven hits.
In the third, Allen lined a triple intro right, just the sixth triple for the Yankees this season.
Since being called up, Allen has gone 4-for-7 with five runs scored, a double, a triple and two stolen bases.
“I think for me, it’s definitely an important part,” Allen said of making things happen with his
speed. “I think it goes down to just finding ways to impact the game. You may not always get a hit while you’re at bat. But if you make a good defensive play, I’m getting in good scoring position or help a team score run with your legs. I think all those things have value.
“So at the end of day, it’s about finding ways to impact the game for me.”
The Yankees acquired Allen this winter in a deal that sent a minor league pitcher to the Padres, before they re-signed Gardner. He would have gotten a call up earlier in the year with the injuries to the outfielders, but he too was injured. This time, with the Yankees losing Aaron Judge on Friday to the COVID-19 list, after losing Aaron Hicks for the season to a wrist injury and Clint Frazier to vision issues, and then Tim Locastro on Saturday to a torn ACL, Allen is getting consistent chances at the big league level.
“He’s been an absolute pro in the room and been incredibly productive between the lines,” Boone said. “And obviously, the element he brings of running the bases, the versatility, and really good defense, he brings in the outfield, and he’s gotten results, but just the quality of the at-bats has been really strong.
“And yeah, I love what he’s brought.”