The Yankees narrowly avoided a close call against the Colorado Rockies, edging out a 5-4 victory on Sunday to clinch the series.
Key points from the game include:
– Paul Goldschmidt continued his hot streak in the series finale, contributing a multi-hit game batting leadoff. He opened the scoring with a single and scored the first run in the opening inning, then added another hit and scored again following an Aaron Judge double that broke a 2-2 tie. In his debut season in New York, Goldschmidt is impressing with a .347/.401/.492 slash line over 52 games. He alternates between leading off and the cleanup spot, excelling as a leadoff hitter with 22 hits in 61 at-bats.
– Aaron Judge also recorded multiple hits and is now 4-for-12 at Coors Field, including the crucial double that helped the Yankees pull ahead.
– The standout performer was catcher JC Escala, who led the Yankees with three hits, including two doubles, and two RBIs. Escala’s second hit drove in Anthony Volpe, who tripled and later scored, making a significant impact. The 30-year-old backup catcher, who made his MLB debut this year, now has a .244 batting average.
– Will Warren started for New York, pitching four innings and allowing two runs on seven hits with two walks. Despite a tough first inning with loaded bases, Warren managed to limit further damage. His outing was cut short due to a rain delay in the fifth inning, after which he was replaced. Warren has shown improvement from an earlier 5.63 ERA in April to a 2.38 ERA in May, striking out 41 batters over 26.2 innings.
– After the rain delay, Jonathan Kaowashiga pitched 1.2 innings, followed by a clean inning from Jr. Markhead and three strikeouts by Devin Williams in the eighth. Luke Weaver closed the game but faced a scare as Mickey Moniak hit a leadoff home run, narrowing the lead to 5-4. Despite the tension with runners on base, the Yankees managed to secure the win.
Game MVP: JC Escala, who led the offense with his three-hit performance, including the decisive two-run hit that gave the Yankees the lead.
Looking ahead, the Yankees will continue their West Coast road trip with a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels starting Monday night, facing pitcher Jack Kochanowicz (3-5, 5.03 ERA) whose team has yet to announce a starter.
—
Fan Take: This thrilling series win highlights the depth and versatility of the Yankees lineup, especially with emerging players like JC Escala stepping up. For baseball fans, it signifies the exciting mix of veteran leadership and fresh talent shaping the future of the sport.
