NYY Recap: Pineda Holds His Own as Yankees Sweep A’s

Michael Pineda was far from perfect, but his six-inning, three-run effort Sunday was good enough for his first win since April 6. Along the way, a couple of clutch two-out hits and the Yankees’ three-headed monster in the bullpen keyed a 5-4 win to finish off the team’s first series sweep of the year. The Yankees have now won five games in a row, and at 21-22, are just one game under .500 after a 9-17 start.

The Yankees took an early 2-1 lead after Brian McCann and Jacoby Ellsbury hit a pair of solo homers in the second and third innings, respectively.

Pineda (2-5, 6.34 ERA) delivered a quality start, striking out six and walking just one. But Dr. Jekyll reared his ugly head in a shaky fifth inning that momentarily seemed as though it might spoil the afternoon. With two outs and two strikes to Stephen Vogt, the right-hander allowed a two-run double that gave Oakland a 3-2 lead.

His teammates picked him up in the top of the sixth with a clutch two-out rally to regain the lead. With two outs and runners on first and second, Mark Teixeira grounded a ball softly to the right field grass that A’s second baseman Chris Coghlan was able to get to because of the shift. Teixeira beat out the throw and Brett Gardner came around to score from second to tie the game at three. It was the first RBI for Teixeira since May 1, and the hit broke his 0-for-19 skid. Starlin Castro followed with a single to center that scored Carlos Beltran and put the Yankees ahead 4-3.

May 22, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) hits an RBI single against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Pineda followed his teammates’ lead and bounced back in the sixth, retiring the side in order on just 11 pitches to redeem himself and preserve what had been a solid outing prior to the Vogt double. The Yankees picked up an insurance run in top half of the seventh on a Beltran double. Beltran was 9-for-18 with eight RBI in Oakland. After that, Joe Girardi went to his big three relievers to protect the lead.

May 22, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) celebrates with catcher Brian McCann (34) after the win against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. The New York Yankees defeated the Oakland Athletics 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Dellin Betances set Oakland down in order in the seventh, picking up two strikeouts to boot. In the eighth, Andrew Miller struck out one and allowed an unearned run to score thanks in part to errors on back-to-back plays by Didi Gregorius and Castro. Aroldis Chapman came on in the ninth to shut the door and complete the sweep. The three flamethrowers have pitched in the same game on five occasions and the Yankees have won each time.

After a 4-3 West Coast road trip, the Yankees return home on Tuesday with a chance to get back to .500 as they start a three-game set with the last-place Toronto Blue Jays (22-24). The Jays, though, have won three of four. Game one of the series will see the Yankees send Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 4.44 ERA) to the mound while Toronto will counter with R.A. Dickey (2-5, 4.50 ERA).

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