21 Unanswered Runs Solve Spot Starter Problem

Game 99 / 57-42 / 1st / +7G : In an important spot start, Chris Capuano couldn’t find the plate but today’s call-up Diego Moreno could and then some. Capuano put the Yanks in a 5-0 hole without getting out of the first inning, but Moreno was lights out in early relief while New York scored a historic 21 unanswered runs for a 21-5 victory over the host Rangers at Globe Life Park.

Here’s the box score, full recap, and video highlights.

Yankees 21, Rangers 5 — yes, you read that right.

• Didi Gregorius   Gregorius is well beyond the ‘heating up’ stage — the man is on fire. Another solid night at the plate, going for 4-5 with a bases-clearing triple to left-center in the 2nd inning making it a 10-5 lead.
• Chris Young   Joe Girardi stacked the lineup with righty hitters against XXXX Perez, and Young helped make it pay off with a grand slam in the top of the third inning, making it a 15-5 New York lead. Perez was long gone at this point, as Young hit his blast off reliever Wandy Rodriguez.
• Diego Moreno   You kiddin’ me? 5.1 innings of stellar relief — 0 runs, 0 hits and 1 walk. Moreno singled-handedly saved the bullpen tonight.

• Chris Capuano   The veteran lefty is really struggling lately, getting torched for 9 earn runs in his last inning and a third.

“Didi’s coming a long ways. As I told you guys early in April, let’s give it to June 15th and see where he’s at. It takes a minute to learn the playbook here in New York. It is different here in New York. And Didi has tremendous upside, and we’re starting to see a little bit of it right now.” ‐ Alex Rodriguez on Didi Gregorius  (h/t: Chad Jennings / LoHud)

FOOTNOTES : The last time the Yankees scored 21 runs on the road was on June 19, 2000 when the Bronx Bombers hammered Boston Red Sox pitching for a 22-1 victory. Ramiro Mendoza started that game, scattering 6 hits and 1 earned run over 7 innings, then turning it over to Jeff Nelson and Mike Stanton respectively for a scoreless 8th and 9th. New York’s 21-hit attack was lead by home runs from Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Felix Jose, Shane Spencer, and Scott Brosius.