The Sports Xchange
Jun 14, 2017
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Eric Young Jr.'s infield single in the bottom of the 11th inning drove home Andrelton Simmons from third base to lift the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday at Angel Stadium.
Simmons got the winning rally started with a leadoff walk off Yankees reliever Chasen Shreve (1-1). After C.J. Cron flied out to left for the first out of the inning, Shreve was replaced by Ben Heller, called up from the minors earlier in the day.
Heller got Martin Maldonado on a grounder back to the mound as Simmons took third, bringing up Cliff Pennington. Pennington had a chance to win the game in the ninth, coming up with two on and two outs, but flied out.
This time Pennington walked, bringing up Young, who hit a line drive off Heller. The ball deflected toward shortstop Didi Gregorius, who had no chance to get the speedy Young.
Young sent the game into extra innings with a home run in the eighth inning that made it 2-2.
Though the Angels won the game in the bottom of the 11th, it's safe to say reliever Keynan Middleton (2-0) had as much to do with the victory for his performance in the top of the inning.
The Yankees loaded the bases with one out against Mike Morin before Angels manager Mike Scioscia summoned Middleton from the bullpen. Middleton got Chris Carter to swing at his first pitch, popping out to third. Middleton also got Brett Gardner on a pop out to third to end the inning.
Yankees starter CC Sabathia had won five consecutive starts going into the game, but had to leave after the fourth inning because of a strained left hamstring.
He allowed only an RBI single by Cron in the fourth inning, but the run was unearned because it came after first baseman Carter dropped a throw from shortstop Gregorius for a two-base error. Instead of being the third out of the inning, Simmons' routine grounder resulted in the Angels getting a runner into scoring position for Cron's single.
It was especially unfortunate for Sabathia and the Yankees because Sabathia seemed to hurt his hamstring after Carter's error.
The Yankees' bullpen, though, was up to the task, at least initially. Giovanny Gallegos (fifth and sixth innings) and Adam Warren (seventh) held the Angels scoreless over the next three innings, allowing New York to take a 2-1 lead into the eighth.
Tyler Clippard, however, gave up a home run to Young to start the eighth
Angels starter JC Ramirez pitched well for 6 2/3 innings, but got a no-decision after giving up two runs on five hits and three walks. Ramirez also got a boost from reliever Yusmeiro Petit, who rescued Ramirez in the seventh.
The Yankees had two on and two out for Aaron Judge, but Petit was able to strike out Judge to end the inning.
Sabathia's defense saved a run in the first inning when Kole Calhoun tried to score from first base on a double to the left-center field gap by Yunel Escobar. But left fielder Brett Gardner threw to the shortstop Gregorius, whose relay home to catcher Gary Sanchez easily beat Calhoun to the plate for the final out of the inning.
Chase Headley led the Yankees' offense with three hits, including a solo homer in the seventh inning, his fourth of the season, that gave New York a 2-1 lead.
The Yankees got even in the fifth inning when Headley doubled with one out and scored on Gardner's two-out single.
NOTES: Angels CF Mike Trout got the stitches out of his hand and has begun throwing a baseball. He also had the cast removed and is wearing a brace. Trout sustained a torn ligament in his left thumb when sliding head first into second base on a steal attempt May 28. He had surgery to repair the tear and is still expected to miss another 4-5 weeks. "I'm starting to strengthen it, just getting the range of motion back," Trout said Tuesday. "I hear good things from the doctors, they're excited. I'm happy with it, my mind's in the right place." ... Yankees LHP Aroldis Chapman, on the disabled list since May 14 with a shoulder injury, was scheduled to make a rehab appearance Tuesday with Class A Tampa, but the game was rained out. Chapman is scheduled for an outing Friday with Tampa, and if all goes well, he could be activated Sunday when the Yankees are in Oakland.