Yankees Recap: Middle of the Lineup Overpowers Angels’ Pitching

TUESDAY — Coming off a late-game rally that propelled them to a 5-2 win on Monday, the Yankees sent Michael Pineda to challenge Angels’ lefty David Huff, who was called up from the minors for a spot start.

Last time out, Pineda arguably pitched his best outing of an otherwise substandard year: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K against the Detroit Tigers.

The Yankees were going to need a similar line if they hoped to fulfill their Chase for 28. Their 28th victory of the season, that is; not World Series titles.

Big Mike was firing bullets in the 1st, topping out at 96 mph and whiffing two hitters on off-speed pitches in the dirt. In between strikeouts, Aaron Hicks‘ diving catch in center aided in the completion of Pineda’s clean inning.

Monday night’s hero, Carlos Beltran, made waves early in the bottom of the 1st with a two-out, two-run homer (15) to left field.

Thanks in part to a mental lapse by Angels’ third baseman Yunel Escobar — who tagged third base on a force out and neglected the runner heading to first, thinking there were already two outs — Austin Romine made the most of his opportunity by following up with an RBI single.

Overall, the Yankees collected five hits and three runs in the 1st — an encouraging sign for a team infamous for its offensive struggles, and also at its make-or-break point through more than one-third of the season.

New York cashed in for another run in the 2nd, when a double from Hicks, throwing error from Huff, and sacrifice fly from Rob Refsnyder upped the Yankees’ lead to 4-0.

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In the 3rd, Starlin Castro kept the numbers going with his second hit of the evening: a solo home run (9) that routed off the right field foul pole. It was the second straight contest in which Castro cleared the wall, as he continued to build upon his early-season power surge.

The Yankees’ second baseman is now five home runs away from tying his career high of 14. Oh, by the way, it’s only June 7.

Pineda went four scoreless before ex-Yankee Gregorio Petit (remember him?) singled into left field for the Angels’ first run. Kole Calhoun connected for a two-run homer (7) later in the inning, and just like that, it was a tight ballgame again, 5-3.

Pineda worked his way through the 7th inning — likely due to the unavailability of closer Aroldis Chapman, who had pitched three consecutive days prior — which was his longest outing of the season.

He finished his day with a 1-2-3 frame, punching out two batters.

Final line for Pineda: 7 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

Alex Rodriguez plated the Yankees’ sixth run with a two-out single to right field. His 7th-inning hit was his second of the night, and it raised his batting average to .214 — a positive trend compared to the .194/.275/.444 clip Rodriguez had upon returning from his DL stint.

Dellin Betances worked a flawless 8th inning, breaking his concerning chain of four consecutive outings in which he allowed at least one earned run (six total runs allowed in that span).

Coming on for his seventh save of the season, Andrew Miller stranded a runner on third for a scoreless 9th.

On Wednesday, Yankees’ Nathan Eovaldi (6-2, 4.09) will face off against Jered Weaver (5-4, 5.18). New York will have a chance to win the series — a four-game match-up in a seven-game homestand — and come within one game of .500. Tune into MLBN or YES Network at 7:05 PM ET to catch the action!