Offense breaks out for two hits, Yankees beat A’s 3-2

Source: FanGraphs

Good pitching and juuust enough hitting gave the Yankees to a 3-2 win over the Athletics on Saturday afternoon. The offense, man. I really hope these last two games are rock bottom. It’s Saturday, so let’s recap this game with bullet points:

• Two Hits: The Yankees had two hits Saturday and they came from back-to-back batters. Matt Holliday cranked a two-run home run in the sixth inning and Starlin Castro followed with a single that didn’t lead to anything. Jharel Cotton, who came up from Triple-A to start, took a no-hitter into the sixth even though he was all over the place. The Yankees scored a first inning run on a walk, a hit batsmen, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly. Two hits, five walks, three runs. It worked.
• Si Si: Phew, good thing the Yankees didn’t release CC Sabathia three weeks ago when he was so obviously done, huh? The big man held the A’s to two runs in 6.1 innings, and the first run probably wouldn’t have scored had Didi Gregorius’ relay throw to the plate been on-line. It got there in plenty of time, but Gary Sanchez was pulled way off the plate. Sabathia struck out nine and allowed the two runs on six hits and three walks. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his ten starts this season. That’ll do.
• Not A Closer: Two bailout jobs by the bullpen. First, Adam Warren inherited the tying run at second with one out from the Sabathia in the seventh, and he escaped with a ground ball and a strikeout. Then, in the eighth, Dellin Betances entered with one out after Tyler Clippard put the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at second. He escaped with two strikeouts, then sat down the side in order in the ninth. Dellin is one hell of a closer, huh? Randy Levine should be getting astronaut lessons right about now.
• Leftovers: The 5-6-7-8-9 hitters went a combined 0-for-13 with two strikeouts … Sanchez had a no contact day at the plate with two walks and two strikeouts … Gardner was caught stealing in the third inning. It was his first steal attempt since April 10th. I hadn’t realized he’d gone that long without running. Then again, Gardner has been hitting all those glorious dingers, so I guess he hasn’t had time to try to steal … and finally, Sabathia has now started more games with the Yankees (238) than the Indians (237). Crazy.

Here are the box score, video highlights, and updated standings. Don’t miss our Bullpen Workload page either. The Yankees and A’s will wrap up this series Sunday afternoon with a 1pm ET start. Michael Pineda and Andrew Triggs are the scheduled starting pitchers. RAB Tickets can get you in the door for that game, the homestand finale.