Yankees 2, Tigers 1: Ninth-inning magic brings Bronx back to life
04/05/2024 04:17
For eight innings, this looked like an awful one, but the offense came through late for the walk-off win
The benefit of strong pitching is that you're always close. Even if a hit seems like the toughest thing in the world to achieve, you're right there and can bounce back in the blink of an eye. The Yankees' 2-1 comeback victory tonight highlights that as much as any single game possibly could.
For eight innings, the Yankees offense produced absolutely diddly squat — two hits and zero runs, to be precise. However, the fine work from Marcus Stroman, the bullpen, and thedefense allowed them every opportunity to take charge of this game, and they needed all those chances.
Back in the fifth inning, the Tigers had scored a run when Stroman ran out of gas and walked Colt Keith with the bases loaded. It looked like that one measly run would hold up and give the Yankees arguably their most deflating loss of the season. However, in the ninth inning, Aaron Judge led the charge on what hopefully will now spark a light in this New York offense.
The Tigers' bullpen had dazzled the Yankees in the seventh and eighth, and closer Jason Foley entered the ninth with a 1.32 ERA and 2.77 FIP on the young season. He'd surrendered just 10 hits across 14 games. Out of nowhere, his hit total would increase by 40 percent in the span of about five minutes.
Judge led off the frame against Foley with a single up the middle, and then Alex Verdugo marvelously laid down a bunt down the third-base line to make it first and second with no outs. Still, there was still a healthy level of skepticism, as Giancarlo Stanton, the next man up, had struck out thrice in the evening, looking every bit as bad as that stat line would indicate. Even if he made contact, the Yankees had already increased their staggering 2024 double play total to a league-leading 40 in 34 games.
Stanton remained unfazed by what had been an atrocious performance and erased it all with a 115.9-mph missile double down the right-field line to tie the game and leave the winning run 90 feet away.
Detroit elected not to walk Anthony Rizzo to ensure the force play, and he made them pay with a single to walk it off.
What a way for the vibes in the Bronx to change on a dime.
Assessing how the Yankees got to this point, we look at a pitching staff that allowed only one run in nine innings. David Cone often talks about and discredits the notion of a starting pitcher being unaware of his matchup's outlook and if his opposition is dealing or not. It's impossible to know how each individual handles these things, but it stands to reason that a large portion of starters are, in fact, very aware of what's happening on the other side of the game.
Understanding the slumping offense and its failed attempts to provide him with proper run support, Marcus Stroman started and wrapped his evening without seeing his attack produce anything at the plate.
It's an easy assumption to make that it affected how Stroman pitched. All you need to do is look at the five walks he allowed, three of which came in a row during his final inning, as the righty walked in the opening run of the game with a bases-loaded free pass.
Surely, the three consecutive walks aren't a casual thing one can easily dismiss, and Stroman will probably be kicking himself about it. However, the responsibility was also on the Yankees' offense to do something on a night when the pitching showed up, and boy did they take their sweet time to do that.
Stroman certainly did his part, but the rest of the bullpen also deserves major praise. Ian Hamilton, in particular, came in with only one out and the bases loaded in relief of Stroman. The right-hander punched out Spencer Torkelson and retired the next batter to strand 'em all and keep Detroit at just one. Victor González and Dennis Santana also held firm during their innings, and ultimately, in the nick of time, the offense rewarded them for it.
It's a quick turnaround after tonight's theatrics, as the Yankees and Tigers prepare for a matinee on Saturday. Casey Mize will pitch for Detroit while the first pitch from Clarke Schmidt will come at 1:05pm ET.
