Juan Soto hit a three-run double in the seventh inning, breaking the tie and helping the New York Yankees defeat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 on Sunday. The game was cut short due to rain, marking a weekend sweep for the Yankees.
Aaron Judge hit a home run early in the game for the Yankees against Tarik Skubal, who struck out 12 batters in six innings. The game was stopped after a 56-minute delay in the middle of the eighth inning due to steady showers throughout the day.
After playing for 17 days without a break, the Yankees (23-13) reached a season-high of 10 games over .500.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, “Wins are important in this league. It's great to celebrate three victories going into a day off. It's uplifting for the team.”
New York had the bases loaded in the seventh inning against reliever Shelby Miller (3-4) before Soto hit a line drive down the right-field line, breaking the 2-all tie.
Soto mentioned, “I enjoy being in significant moments. It gives me adrenaline and motivation to succeed.”
The Yankees loaded the bases again but were unable to take advantage in an inning that lasted more than 30 minutes. Soto leads the team with 28 RBIs.
Victor González (2-1) retired the last batter in the seventh inning. Dennis Santana got his second save by pitching a scoreless eighth.
Throughout the afternoon, players navigated through rainy weather. A tense pitching battle between left-handers lasted until the seventh inning, when both Skubal and Nestor Cortes were replaced.
Cortes left with two on and one out before Spencer Torkelson hit an RBI double, reducing New York’s lead to 2-1. Javier Báez followed with an RBI groundout after a walk to Colt Keith.
Cortes was charged with two runs on three hits and a walk in 6 1/3 innings, striking out nine.
Cortes stated, “I was able to locate both sides of the plate to the right-handed batters and my slider was effective against the left-handed batters.”
After being ejected on Saturday for the first time in his career, Yankees captain Aaron Judge returned with a solo home run in his first at-bat. His seventh home run of the year was the first one given up by Skubal in a month.
Judge commented, “It's impressive, enjoyable competing against players like him, especially the young ace of the team. I look forward to more battles with him.”
Judge ended the series with 5 hits in 10 at-bats, raising his batting average from .197 to .220.
The Yankees scored again in the second inning with Oswaldo Cabrera’s run-scoring double.
Skubal allowed two runs and six hits with no walks.
ADDITIONAL EFFORT
The ground staff at Yankee Stadium was very busy during most half-innings, working hard to keep the infield, batter’s box, and pitcher’s mound relatively dry.
A.J. Hinch, the Detroit manager, said, “The field became increasingly unplayable and dangerous. Players couldn't run at full speed and there were puddles everywhere. The game was finally called off despite our efforts to play.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: Gio Urshela has a right hamstring strain and is working out with the team but has not run the bases yet. Hinch hopes he will do so in Cleveland this week. Wenceel Pérez was removed from the original lineup because of illness.
Yankees: Anthony Rizzo was given a planned day off. DJ LeMahieu, who has a bruised right foot, did some hitting on Saturday and Sunday. Gerrit Cole, who has right elbow inflammation, felt good the morning after throwing off a mound for the first time since he got injured in spring training.
UP NEXT
Tigers: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-1, 4.00 ERA) will face Guardians RHP Triston McKenzie (2-2, 4.34) in the first game of a three-game series on Monday night.
Yankees: After their first off day since April 18, the Yankees will host Houston in the first game of a three-game series on Tuesday night. RHP Luis Gil (2-1, 3.19 ERA) will pitch for New York.
