Yankees bats finally come alive in 14-4 pummeling of Red Sox
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The New York Yankees had scored 17 runs in their first five games of 2015, a stretch in which they went 1-4 and never scored more than five in a single contest. Then, Sunday night, as they played the rival Boston Red Sox on national TV, one loss away from a series sweep, the Yankees’ bats came alive.
It was more like an outburst, actually. The Yankees scored 14 runs (nearly a season’s worth for them at this point), beating the Red Sox by 10. Front and center was Alex Rodriguez, who had four RBIs, including a bases-loaded double in the first inning.
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The Yankees scored a total of seven runs in the first inning, pretty much putting the game out of reach right away. Chase Headley and Stephen Drew both homered in the first inning as well, turning Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz into a punching bag. He looked great for Boston on opening day, not allowing a run in seven innings. On Sunday night, that seemed like all he was doing. He allowed nine earned runs (plus another unearned) in 3 1/3 innings, turning a nice blank ERA into an ugly 7.84.
“I think overall it’s good to see one through nine come out and get some good at-bats, get some hits,” Rodriguez said after the game. “I think this is a game that we needed.”
The Yankees offense made it so starter Masahiro Tanaka wasn’t the story. There have been questions about his elbow and whether he needs Tommy John surgery. Tanaka’s velocity was down in his first start. Take away all this Yankees offense, and there’d be more scrutiny for Tanaka. He wasn’t spectacular, but did enough to fly under the radar and get the win. He threw 97 pitches in five innings, giving up three earned runs and allowing four hits.
DEXTER FOWLER LIFTS CUBS IN THE NINTH
The Chicago Cubs went into the ninth inning of Sunday’s game against the Colorado Rockies down 5-3, but they got a big lift from one of their newest players. Dexter Fowler, acquired in an offseason trade with the Houston Astros, hit a two-run, go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth. Welington Castillo had driven in a run prior to Fowler’s at-bat, cutting the lead to one. Then Fowler delivered off Rockies closer LaTroy Hawkins for the Cubs’ third win of the young season.
TIGERS, ROYALS STAY UNDEFEATED
If we continue at this rate, things will be really interesting when the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals meet on April 30. The AL Central foes are the last two defeated teams in MLB after Sunday’s action. The high-powered Tigers got a 4-for-4 day from Miguel Cabrera (including two homers) as they beat the Cleveland Indians 8-5. Meanwhile, the Royals pounded 14 hits in their 9-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Both teams are now 6-0. The Atlanta Braves hadn’t lost before Sunday, but fell 4-3 to the New York Mets. Next up: The Royals are on the road in Minnesota, while the Tigers travel to Pittsburgh for a series.
NELSON CRUZ IS A HERO AGAIN FOR MARINERS
For the second day in a row, new Seattle Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz helped his team beat the Oakland Athletics in the late innings. On Saturday, Cruz hit an eighth-inning, go-ahead homer. On Sunday, he pulled off his magic in extra innings, launching a 10th inning homer as Seattle won 8-7. Not all was joyous for the M’s, though. Ace Felix Hernandez left the game in the fifth inning because of tightness in his right quad. The Mariners called it a precaution.
Want to see the rest of Sunday’s MLB action? Check out our scoreboard.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
