As the Yankees eyed another new-look lineup upon arrival to the visiting clubhouse at Progressive Field on Thursday, the unspoken message was one of urgency. Their belief in the potential of a run-scoring juggernaut has not wilted, but there was no attempt to camouflage the reality that results need to happen now.
A few big knocks provided a boost as the Yankees opened their eight-game road trip with encouraging signs of life from their slumbering lumber. Rougned Odor’s go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning put his club in the driver’s seat as the Bombers posted a 6-3 victory over the Indians.
The Yanks’ early-season doldrums seemed to be opening a new chapter with three Cleveland runs off Domingo Germán in the first inning, which featured sloppy defense — Cesar Hernandez’s hit popped out of Brett Gardner’s glove in left field, Eddie Rosario’s infield hit knocked off of Mike Ford at first base and Germán booted Franmil Reyes’ grounder up the middle.
But Germán and the Yanks picked it up. Facing Cleveland starter Aaron Civale, DJ LeMahieu delivered a third-inning RBI single and Gleyber Torres — in the midst of a frustrating skid that earned a closed-door chat with manager Aaron Boone after failing to run out a grounder on Wednesday — pushed two runs home with a third-inning RBI single that also eluded right fielder Josh Naylor for an error.
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Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].