Game 79 | 42-37, 2nd : Nathan Eovaldi turned in his third straight strong outing, and the Yankees’ steadfast bullpen protected the lead for a 3-1 New York victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to salvage the final game of their final West Coast road swing of season.
Garrett Jones hit a solo blast in the 6th inning to extend the lead to 2-0.
Here’s the box score, full recap, and video highlights.
Yankees 3, Angels 1
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- Chase Headley Big game for Headley. 3-5 with a much-needed 2-out RBI that put the Yanks on the board for a 1-0 lead in the third inning. He was in a 1-23 funk coming into tonight’s game.
- Chasen Shreve Another night, another Chasen Shreve relief gem. In a pivotal point of the game with the bags loaded and 1 out in the 6th inning, the Las Vegas native took the reins from Eovaldi and recorded got two quick outs to end the threat.
- Mark Teixeira Although the Yankees had great infield combinations during the mid-to-late 90s and early 2000’s, it was often said that the glove work of Tino Martinez saved more errors and potential runs scored by opponents that could be measured. Well, in the long tradition of stellar first basemen who wore the pinstripes, Mark Teixeira continues that legacy and proved it again tonight. In what was possibly the game-saving play, Tex made a sweet pick of an unruly Headley peg from third to end both the 6th inning and a bases loaded threat from the Halos. Tex misplays that short hop and the game tying runs would have scored. Stuff you can’t see in the box score, but who knows what the outcome would be without that defensive gem.
Teixeira said he actually noticed that Chase Headley didn’t have a good grip on the ball, so he was ready for an off-target throw. “I was definitely prepared for a funky throw,” he said. “It came out kind of spinning low and I knew I was going to have to pick it. I just went after it and got it.” (h/t: Chad Jennings/LoHud)
- Didi Gregorius As his confidence and play improves in the field, Didi has been steadily advancing his game at the plate. Going 2-4 tonight with an important RBI, Gregorius has raised his BA to .240, and the future looks bright. And keep in mind he is only 25 years old, a rarity among Yankee starters.
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FOOTNOTES : In a blessing by the schedule gods, the Yankees are now thankfully done with travel to the West Coast, and will have a majority of their games at home in the crucial second half…
