The New York Yankees (33-20) kicked off a three-game series in Anaheim on Monday night with a victory, topping the Angels (25-28), 5-1, behind Ryan Yarbrough’s best outing of the season and a four-run fourth inning.
Yarbrough, who joined the rotation in early May after Carlos Carrasco was designated for assignment, has stepped up in a big way. The veteran lefty made his fourth start and delivered a season-high six innings of one-run ball while striking out seven. After surrendering a leadoff homer to Zach Neto, Yarbrough settled in and didn’t allow another run, lowering his ERA as a starter to 2.25.
The Yankees’ offense was quiet through the first three innings, going hitless without a single baserunner, but things changed quickly in the fourth. Ben Rice, Trent Grisham, and Aaron Judge each singled to load the bases with nobody out. Cody Bellinger followed with a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, and Anthony Volpe then delivered the big blow, a bases-clearing double to give New York a 4-1 lead. Austin Wells later added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
The bullpen handled the final three innings cleanly, locking down the Yankees’ third straight win and their 14th in their last 18 games.
The Yankees look to secure a seventh straight series win on Tuesday when Carlos Rodón takes the mound. The left-hander is 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA over his last seven starts. The first pitch is slated for 9:38 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].