by Tamar Chalker
April 18, 2924
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It’s been a tough road trip North for the Yankees, but they were able to put together an exciting win before heading home. Marcus Stroman had a decent start, but it was big hits from Giancarlo Stanton, Juan Soto, and Aaron Judge that made all the difference.
Quick Stats - Marcus Stroman went 5.1 innings and gave up two runs on six hits, two walks, and one homer. The win ended up going to Victor González, who got the last out of the eighth inning. Clay Holmes secured the save with a scoreless ninth. Erik Swanson took the loss.
Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton both had homers for the Yankees, keeping them in the game for Aaron Judge’s game winning hit. Soto went 3-3 with two RBIs, two doubles, a home run, and two walks. His homer was also Soto’s 500th career RBI, making him the seventh-fastest player to reach that mark. Oswaldo Cabrera also had a pair of hits, a run scored, and a double. Daulton Varsho almost single-handle beat the Yankees with his two homers and three RBIs.
Big Story - The Yankees’ offense has been MIA since they crossed the border, but they found it just in time Wednesday afternoon. A couple of big homers from Varsho had Toronto feeling confident heading into the ninth, but Giancarlo Stanton kicked off the kind of inning Yankee fans hope to see a lot of this season. New York had some chances to make some noise earlier in the game, but they weren’t able to capitalize. Stanton’s home run woke up the Yankees’ bats, setting the stage for Aaron Judge to be the hero.
Judge entered the game hitless in the series, adding to an already shaky start to his season. With the bases loaded and two outs, Judge hit a sharp single plating Alex Verdugo and Jose Trevino. It was a big moment hit when his team needed him, so hopefully this gets Judge out of his funk.
Player of the Game - Juan Soto gave the Yankees the consistent offense at a time when they needed it. He kept them in the game and also had some solid defense.
Notable Performances - Jose Trevino pinch hit for Austin Wells in the ninth and singled in the tying run. Oswaldo Cabrera went 2-4 with a double and a run scored. Ian Hamilton and Clay Holmes both pitched scoreless innings in relief. Hamilton gave up a hit and a walk, but he picked up a pair of Ks.
Better to Forget - Anthony Volpe struggled at the plate on Wednesday, going 0-5, however, he did have a great play defensively to end the game and seal the Yankees’ victory.
Anthony Rizzo and Judge both struck out three times.
My Take - The Yankees were due for a bit of a losing streak after starting so strong this season, but I’m glad they busted out of it with an exciting, come-from-behind win. Here are my general thoughts after the game. It’s been a long day/week, so bear with me.
Juan Soto was a great pickup and the Yankees need to keep him. Is it too early to make this statement? Probably, but I’m willing to take that chance. He has been an absolute joy to watch both in the field and at the plate.
I want a game where Soto, Judge, and Stanton all homer - in the same inning. Am I being ridiculous? Yes, but I wouldn’t bet against it happening.
Wells has been great in the field, but almost non-existent on offense, so being able to call on Trevino in the ninth was key.
Home plate umpire Ryan Wills had a lot of calls that left everyone scratching their heads. Diplomatically, you could say he was consistent in his inconsistency. Blue Jays manager John Schneider got tossed in the ninth when he got fed up with the calls. While I could understand his frustration, some pretty egregious strike calls went in Toronto’s favor, too. I’d tip my hat a bit to Alejandro Kirk, who did a great job framing behind the plate, but some of these strike calls were pretty absurd.
Next Up - The Yankees travel back to New York today where they will get ready to host the Tampa Bay Rays for a series starting Friday night. Clarke Schmidt will take the ball for the Yankees, while Tampa hasn’t tapped a starter yet. First pitch is at 7:05 pm.
