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Yankees 6 Reds 2
Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo homered as the Yankees spoiled the Reds debut of their City Connect uniforms with a 6-2 victory before 35,177 fans Friday night at GABP.
Judge homered in his first at-bat of the game and Rizzo extended a 1-0 lead to 3-0 with a two-run rocket in the 6th. The Reds scratched to within 3-2 in the bottom of the 6th, but the Yankees broke it open with three runs in the 9th vs Silvino Bracho.
All Rise! Aaron Judge entered the game with six homers in his last six games, he made it seven in seven with a 1st inning homer (431 feet).
A-Lively and well: Ben Lively 5.2 IN, 2 H, 2 R, 1BB, HR, 8 K, 83 pitches/50 strikes. He doesn’t waste pitches. First two appearances 5.1 IN/76 pitches.
His ERA sits at 2.45.
Big shot: Trailing 1-0, Ian Gibaut entered in the 6th with a man on and two outs. He was immediately taken deep by Anthony Rizzo for a two run shot (424-feet) to extend the Yankees lead to 3-0. It was Rizzo’s 23rd career HR at GABP in 79 games.
Rally time: Jake Fraley got the Reds on the board with a 2-run double in the 6th to score India (1B) and McLain (2B) and make it 3-2.
Missed chance: The Reds had 2 on with no outs after the Fraley double and Spencer Steer walk in the 6th, but Tyler Stephenson grounded out to the pitcher, Nick Senzel struck out and Henry Ramos struck out.
Beat 'em up: The Yankees dented the Reds pen for five runs, including three in the 9th off Silvino Bracho and Alan Busenitz.
Wait, what? Yankees SP Clarke Schmidt was allowed to wash a sticky substance off his hand. I didn’t realize there was a “my bad, I’ll go wash it off” aspect to the rule. David Bell lost his mind and then got ejected. Such a chicken $&#* move by the home plate umpire to toss him. Imagine giving a Yankees SP the benefit of the doubt in the same a week another Yankees SP was suspended 10 games for a sticky substance.
Call it! Schmidt was shuffling/lifting his feet on the rubber every pitch. What the heck is a balk?
I don’t get it: With runners on 1st and 2nd and one out in the 3rd, Henry Ramos was thrown out stealing 3rd with Jonathan India batting. Can’t happen.
That’s not aggressive. That’s dumb.
Impressive: Matt McLain beat out a bouncer up the middle for an infield hit. Later, he roped a double. Man, can he handle the bat.
Stat of the night: Think the substance wasn’t helping Schmidt spin the ball? Per Codify Baseball Twitter: % of Clarke Schmidt curves and sweepers spinning at 3,000 RPMs or faster: May 3 - 10%, May 9 - 20%, May 14 - 48%, Friday - 69%
Attendance: 35,177
Medic! Prior to the game, the Reds today placed Derek Law on the 15-day injured (right elbow sprain); recalled from Louisville RHP Alan Busenitz.