Not this time. Coming off the previous night's walkoff home run by Tyler Austin against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning, scored 2 in the 3rd on another home run by Gary Sanchez, and 4 in the 4th, on a grand slam by Mark Teixeira.
Sanchez now has 12 home runs on the season, the same number that Teix has of "Teix Messages," in far fewer at-bats.
But Michael Pineda couldn't get out of the 5th inning. The September roster expansion means that Joe Girardi has a bit more flexibility with the bullpen. But Chasen Shreve was also shaky. He and Pineda each allowed the last-place Rays 2 runs.
The much-maligned Adam Warren came in, and settled things down. Since Pineda fell 1 out short of the 5-inning requirement for a starter, he could not be officially declared the winning pitcher even though the Yankees led when he left the game.
Dellin Betances let in a run in the 9th, after the last rain delay, but that was enough to seal the win. Yankees 7, Rays 5. WP: Warren (5-3). SV: Betances (10). LP: Snell (5-8).
For the 1st time all season, the Yankees are 10 games over .500. I guess A-Rod was the drag on us.
The Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays, so the Yankees remain 4 games out in the American League Eastern Division. However, the Baltimore Orioles lost, so the Yankees move to within 1 game of the 2nd AL Wild Card slot. There are 20 games to go.
The Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming...
The series continues this afternoon, first pitch at 4:05 PM. Opposing pitchers: Masahiro Tanaka vs. Chris Archer.