Big 1st Inning Powers Yanks Past Halos

The Yankees played the finale of their 3-game home series with the Los Angeles Angels this afternoon. Nestor Cortés started for the Yankees. He got Shohei Ohtani to pop up, and then, just when it looked like no one was going to get it and it was going to drop in fair territory, made a basket catch He got through the 1st 2 innings without allowing a baserunner, and the 1st 4 without allowing a hit, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa -- not normally a center fielder -- making a spectacular diving catch to end the top of the 4th.

The Yankees struck right away, with a leadoff walk by Anthony Volpe, and singles by Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo, to make it 1-0. After Anthony Rendon robbed Gleyber Torres of a line-drive hit that was sure to be an RBI, DJ LeMahieu drew a walk. Oswald Peraza had been called up, and was walked with the bases loaded. Oswaldo Cabrera struck out, and Jose Trevino hit one all the way to the base of the left-field wall, clearing the bases and making it 5-0.

Brandon Drury broke up the no-hitter by leading off the top of the 5th with an infield single to 3rd. Luis Rengifo hit one into the right-field corner, putting men on 2nd and 3rd. Logan O'Hoppe singled Drury home to end the shutout. Tyler Ward hit a long drive into Death Valley, and IKF made another great catch, but it was still a sacrifice fly that brought Rengifo home. But Cortés got Ohtani to ground out to end the threat, and it was 5-2 Yankees.

Cortés walked Rengifo, and Aaron Boone brought Ron Marinaccio in. He gave up a double to O'Hoppe to make it 5-3. He then got 2 outs, but then, having had him pitch to the minimum 3 batters, Boone took him out. And brought in Wandy Peralta.

Why would you do that? Because he was a lefty, and the next batter was the Angels' only lefty, the previously 0-for-3 Ohtani. This move, reminiscent of Joe Girardi bringing Boone Logan in to face 1 lefty batter, was just asking for a game-tying home run.

And Peralta got called for a pitch clock violation before even threw a damn pitch. And then he walked Ohtani, to bring the even more dangerous Mike Trout to the plate as the go-ahead run. He hit one up the middle, and Peraza, playing 2nd base, kept it in the infield to momentarily save the run, but that loaded the bases. Fortunately, Peralta got Rendon to fly to left, ending the threat, and keeping the game 5-3.

LeMahieu loosened things up a bit in the bottom of the 7th, doubling home a run. The Yankees loaded the bases, and IKF, coming into the game batting a horrible .115, singled up the middle to get 2 runs home. They got another run in the 8th, and left loaded the bases. Ian Hamilton pitched a scoreless 8th, and Greg Weissert a scoreless 9th.

Yankees 9, Angels 3. WP: Cortés (3-0). No save. LP: Patrick Sandoval (1-1).

Tomorrow night, the Yankees welcome the Toronto Blue Jays to Yankee Stadium II for 3 games. Domingo Germán is scheduled to start against Yusei Kikuchi.