The Yankees got back in the win column and had their first experience with Major League Baseball’s (MLB) new extra innings rule that is in play in the 2020 season as they swept the Mets and took both games of today’s doubleheader, both in extra innings fashion. Both games also saw eighth inning fireworks that led to two momentum-driving, exciting victories for the Yankees.
GAME 1 FINAL: Mets 7 Yankees 8
WP: Green (3-2) LP: Diaz (1-1)
GAME 1 RECAP:
Game one’s scoring started in the bottom of the first when Michael Tauchman grounded out to short with bases loaded, with runners on second and third. Tauchman’s groundout scored DJ LeMahieu and moved Luke Voit to third base. The Yankees would take the quick 1-0 lead over the Mets in the first.
In the top of the fourth, the Mets got on the board on a Pete Alonso single that scored J.D. Davis and moved Robinson Cano to second. The Mets would tie the game 1-1. Following Alonso, Wilson Ramos singled to right and scored Cano. The Mets took a 2-1 lead over the Yankees.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Yankees struck back on a double by Mike Ford that scored Mike Tauchman. It was a 2-2 game heading into the fourth inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, Robinson Cano struck back for the Mets with a 2-run home run that also scored Dominic Smith and gave the Mets a 4-2 lead over the Yankees.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Mets extended their lead on a Michael Conforto double that scored Wilson Ramos and Andres Gimenez. The Mets would extend their lead to 6-2 over the Yankees.
Immediately following, Pete Alonso was hit by a pitch by Ben Heller that scored Nimmo and then extended the Mets’ lead over the Yankees to 7-2.
The bottom of the seventh inning is where the fireworks began. It all started with a single by Luke Voit that scored Mike Ford and Tyler Wade. The Yankees would decrease the Mets’ lead to 7-4.
Voit’s double was followed by a wild pitch by Jared Hughes that allowed Thairo Estrada to scored. The Yankees would come within two runs, with the score 7-5, Mets still in the lead.
Following Hughes’ wild pitch, it was Aaron Hicks with a 2-run home run to right field that just got over the wall of Yankee Stadium and scored Luke Voit. The Yankees would have a 5-run seventh inning to tie the game at 7-a-piece and force extra innings in the Bronx.
The Mets would go down scoreless in the eighth inning, in which each team would start with a runner on second base, per MLB’s new extra innings rule for 2020.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Gio Urshela would hit a walk-off single that scored Mike Tauchman to give the Yankees an 8-7 win over the Mets in game one of today’s doubleheader.
GAME 1 PITCHING LINES:
Michael King got the start for game one of today’s doubleheader, making his first big league start for the Yankees.
Michael King (First Career Start): 3.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR
Brooks Kriske: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR
Ben Heller: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR
Chad Green: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
GAME 1 POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCES
AARON BOONE:
Aaron Boone met with the media following game one of today’s two-game doubleheader against the Mets.
Boone spoke on the Yankees’ resiliency to come back in the seventh inning, stating that the Yankees continued to battle and put up good at-bats at the end. Boone stated that Aaron Hicks got a hold of a good heater and put a great swing on it. Boone stating that this was a full-team effort with a lot of guys contributing to put together that five-run seventh inning and the winning inning in the eighth.
Boone spoke on the matchup of Aaron Hicks vs Diaz of the Mets, stating that Hicks has a good shot there and put a big swing on the heater by Diaz. Boone said it was a great job by the team to keep grinding away.
Speaking on his first Major League start, Boone spoke on Michael King’s outing, stating that the Mets’ lineup is a tough one to go through, stating that King threw the ball really well, but got a little tired in the last inning. Boone stating that he wasn’t going to allow King to go over 60 to 65 pitches today. He said King made good pitches with his secondary pitches and his two-seam fastball played well as well. Boone stating that he didn’t get a ton of hard contact and pitched really well.
Green came in to close out this game and ended up getting the win. Boone stating he bounced back great and executed well against the Mets’ top of the lineup. Boone stating he pitched really, really well and mixed in some curveballs. Boone stating he wasn’t surprised to see Green bounce back the way he did after a rough last inning.
Boone spoke on Gary Sanchez’s first game this afternoon, stating he made some good blocks behind the plate and that the Yankees need to continue to get him going offensively and look forward to when he really breaks through. Boone said that anytime a player struggles and cares, it gets to you, but that Sanchez has remained in a good frame of mind and kept his energy and focus in the dugout good. Boone stating he hasn’t seen any outward frustration from Sanchez.
Speaking on scoring with runners in scoring position, Boones stated the team is trying to play good, clean baseball. He stated that they’re going to face challenges along the way and have to grind and get through it, but that the guys in the dugout and the coaching staff as well, are equipped to handle it, stating that getting through failure & struggle is part of the process and the season and you have to be able to get through it, handle it, and turn the page.
MICHAEL KING:
Michael King met with the media following his game one start, stating he felt really good today and got a lot of soft contact. He stated he felt like the soft contact was either off the handle or end of the Mets’ bats as he felt he didn’t have the north depth he usually has with his two-seam fastball. King stating he didn’t get a lot of swings & misses today, however he stated that the he would throw a fastball and the Mets would take it until the fourth inning when the Mets started getting to him.
Speaking on the offensive comeback in the seventh and eighth innings, King Stated, “It was unbelievable! I’m going to be honest, I thought we had no chance (to come back). When it started to unfold, I was in here watching it, I was like, here we go!.”
King took one tumble off of the mound, stating that as his left leg was coming down, he clipped the ground. He stated it’s happened before and that he’s fine from it.
GAME 2 FINAL: Yankees 5 Mets 2
WP: Holder (1-0), LP: Smith (0-1), SV: Cessa (1)
GAME 2 RECAP:
With game two a makeup of a postponed game at Citi Field, the Yankees were playing this one as the visiting team, with the Mets playing as the home team.
Game two’s excitement started in the top of the third inning on a solo home run by Tyler wade to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead over the Mets.
In the bottom of the sixth, Dominic Smith singled to left field and scored Jeff McNeil to tie the game, 1-1.
Game two of today’s doubleheader would also head to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth inning (Yankees at the plate), Gary Sanchez, who has struggled of late, came up with a huge, clutch grand slam that scored Brett Gardner, Clint Frazier, and Mike Tauchman to give the Yankees a 5-1 lead over the Mets in the top of the eighth inning.
The Mets tried to come back in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Michael Conforto singled on a line drive to left field and scored Amed Rosario to bring the score to 5-2. But that’s all the Mets would be able to do.
The Yankees would go on to win game two by a score of 5-2, sweeping today’s doubleheader against the Mets and getting two big wins as they now welcome the Rays to the Bronx.
GAME 2 PITCHING LINES:
Deivi Garcia was on the mound for today’s game two matchup, making his MLB debut. Garcia would dominate the Mets and become the youngest Yankees pitcher to ever go six innings without earning an earned run in a game.
Deivi Garcia: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR
Jonathan Holder (WIN): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR
Luis Cessa: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR
GAME 2 POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCES:
AARON BOONE:
Aaron Boone met with the media following game two this evening.
Boone spoke on Gary Sanchez’s Grand Slam and offensive performance in game two. Boone stating that he liked the matchup of Sanchez in the eighth and thought he had a good at bat and laid off pitches he should’ve left off, got one up in the zone and did with it what he needed to. Boone stated that anytime a player’s struggling, you want results or you want to come through and you just have to focus on having good at bats and coming through. Speaking on how bad Sanchez needed that huge hit, Boone reiterated that he’s been working hard and that he’s excited for him, stating that Sanchez means so much to the Yankees and Boone knows how much he cares.
Boone also spoke on Deivi Garcia’s MLB Debut, stating that he was really impressed with his command tonight, stating that his fastball was playing and stayed on plane, he was in the strike zone a ton tonight, the curveball, changeup, and slider were all playing well, and he was really, really good and fun to watch. Boone stated that whether Garcia is struggling or pitches great, nothing fazes him. Boone stating he was having fun out there, was smiling, making jokes with Kratz, and was fun to watch compete.
Speaking on a subway series without fans, Boone stated it was definitely different and he missed having the fans in the building and the raucousness they cause during big series, such as the subway series between the Mets and Yankees.
Aaron Hicks left today’s game early with calf tightness. Boone stating that it’s not serious, just cramping.
When asked about the extra innings rule, Boone stated his first impression was that he liked it today and thinks it’s necessary for this year.
DEIVI GARCIA:
Deivi Garcia met with the media following his MLB Debut tonight. Garcia stated that he found out yesterday that he was starting today and was told to be prepared to pitch today in the Bronx. He stated he wasn’t nervous yesterday, but definitely understood the task in front of him and wanted to do the best he could to help his teammates.
When asked what he’ll remember most about this outing, Garcia stated he’ll remember that first strikeout, saying it’s something he’ll always remember. But he stated he will remember the whole game, his first game.
When asked how he stayed effective through six innings, Garcia stated that it has to do with the amount of practice they get at the alternate site, preparing for playing at Yankee Stadium and in the big leagues. Garcia stating that he takes practice as serious as possible and makes it feel like an actual game. He stated it worked out really well for him and was one of the keys of why he was so sharp in game two tonight.
When asked if he expected to be as calm as he was, Garcia stated that that’s one of the characteristics he’s always had is the ability to focus and dial in and concentrate and not let anything bother him. He stated it’s an advantage for a pitcher to be able to keep their emotions in check and that when you do that, you keep the calmness and focus on your job.
Erik Kratz and Deivi Garcia worked together in Triple-A at Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Garcia stating it was helpful to have him behind the plate tonight since he was behind the plate a lot for Garcia in Scranton and has a lot of knowledge. Garcia stating he tries to pay attention and listen to Kratz. The two joke around that Kratz calls Garcia his son and Garcia calls Kratz dad.
GARY SANCHEZ:
Gary Sanchez met with the media following game two of today’s doubleheader. Sanchez stating that he went into the box in the eighth inning looking to put a good swing on the ball and understood that if he did that, the team could score a run. He stated that luckily he hit that pitch that was up and it left the park. He stated that at the plate, he wanted to keep things simple and just put the ball in play, with the plan to just keep it simple. Sanchez stated he’s been working on facing live pitchers between games and hitting off a high velocity pitcher to work on getting in front of the ball.
Sanchez stated that he’s been very anxious to contribute to the team, especially since he’s been in a rough patch, and that when he hit the ball, he knew it would be deep enough to at least get a run in and understood that he was going to give his team a chance.
AARON HICKS:
Aaron Hicks was the last player to meet with the media this evening. He exited game two with calf-tightness in both calves. Hicks stated that after he took a 3-1 swing, he cramped up in both calves, stating that after he took ball four, he started running down the line, felt fine, then just got worried when both calves were cramping. Hicks stating that it was just cramping.
Hicks spoke on playing five games in three days, stating that he thinks it’s the most games he’s ever played in three days with the doubleheader, day game, followed by another doubleheader. Hicks stating you have to manage yourself and understand that it’s what they have to do during this time to get in as many games as possible.
Speaking on the five-run inning in game one, Hicks stated that it was awesome to be able to hit the home run, especially since Diaz struck him out on Friday. Hicks stating he wanted to be ready for that kind of pitch and velocity (of the fastball) and was excited to him the home run.
When asked how important these wins are, Hicks stated they’re big and that it feels good get wins, especially two today. Hicks stating it was important to get momentum going and to get wins with the Rays coming in tomorrow and that the Yankees needed to get back into the winning spirit, especially since they know they have the ability to win.
Hicks also spoke on the subway series without fans, stating it was very different and makes you really appreciate the love of the fan atmosphere.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The New York Yankees will now welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to town for a three-game series beginning tomorrow at 7:05 PM. They will then play one game on Thursday at Citi Field against the Mets at 4:05 PM before heading to Baltimore for the weekend, beginning with a doubleheader Friday against the Orioles to open a 4-game, 3-day series against Baltimore
