Sac Flies and Didi Give Yanks Win Over Halos

In pretty much any season since 2010 -- the year after the last World Championship season thus far -- including last season, the Yankees would have lost last night's game. After all, they trailed late, on the road, against a team that's given them a lot of trouble over the years, the team currently named the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Maybe there's something different about this 2018 Yankee team. (UPDATE: As it turned out, there wasn't.)

Luis Severino started at Angel Stadium (formerly Anaheim Stadium and Edison International Field), and pitched fairly well: 7 innings, 3 runs, 5 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts. He could have pitched longer, but he threw 96 pitches, and that's 1 more than Brian Cashman's magic number. (I used to say it was Joe Girardi's benchmark, but since Aaron Boone still uses it, clearly, Girardi wasn't the problem: Whoever the manager is, he's under Cashman's orders.)

I can't question removing Severino after 7, though. First, because Cashman manager actually allowed him to pitch the 7th, thus possibly saving an inning for a reliever. Second, because it led to the desired result.

But 1 of the runs Severino allowed was a 2nd inning solo home run by the man who, along with Giancarlo Stanton, everyone is watching this season, Japanese pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani. Sacrifice flies by Aaron Hicks in the 5th and Neil Walker in the 6th made it 2-1 Yankees, but an Andrelton Simmons triple in the 7th made it 3-2 Angels.

Jonathan Holder pitched a perfect 8th inning, but the Yankees needed a run in the top of the 9th. Cliche alert: Walks can kill you, especially leadoff ones. Gary Sanchez led the inning off with a walk. Walker did not live up to his name, striking out. Miguel Andujar doubled to left, but Sanchez could only get to 3rd. Gleyber Torres got his 1st major league intentional walk, as the Angels set up the double play.

Boone gambled, sending Brett Gardner up to pinch-hit for Ronald Torreyes. It worked: Gardy hit a sac fly to left, and Sanchez scored the tying run. The Yankees now had 3 runs, all on sac flies. David Robertson a perfect bottom of the 9th, and it was off to extra innings.

Aaron Judge flied out to start the top of the 10th. Didi Gregorius was up next. Boom. Home run to right field. He later blamed Judge for telling him to take a curtain call on the road, but it worked, as there were a lot of Yankee fans on hand to cheer him.

Aroldis Chapman slammed the door in the bottom of the 10th. Yankees 4, Angels 3. WP: Robertson (1-1). SV: Chapman (5). LP: B. Parker (1-1).

The Yankees have now won 7 straight, and have closed to within 3 games of the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

The series continues tonight, with Masahiro Tanaka starting against Garrett Richards.