Just when it seemed like the Yankees left their bats in Milwaukee, they came alive in the bottom of the ninth Friday as they scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Tigers, 2-1, in The Bronx.
The rally came out of nowhere, as the Yankees were completely shut down for eight innings after a mostly silent series in Baltimore, where they scored just six runs in four games.
The Yankees were especially quiet Friday, with just two singles until the ninth.
Aaron Judge led off with a single up the middle against Jason Foley and Alex Verdugo followed with a bunt hit down the third base line.
Giancarlo Stanton, who struck out his first three times, ripped a double to right to drive in Judge and tie the game at 1-1.
Anthony Rizzo followed with a single through a drawn-in infield to win it to allow the Yankees to avoid a fourth loss in five games.
After putting up 15 runs in back-to-back games against the Brewers last week, the Yankees finally got their offense going just in time.
It helped the Yankees take advantage of a strong night from the pitching staff.
Marcus Stroman, coming off a rough start against the Brewers, gave up just one run in 5 ¹/₃ innings despite more command issues.
The lone run he surrendered came on a bases-loaded walk to Colt Keith in the sixth.
Detroit right-hander Reese Olson had allowed two earned runs or fewer in all but one of his starts entering Friday and was impressive against the Yankees.
He held the Yankees scoreless over his five innings and at one point, retired nine Yankees in a row before Austin Wells drew a two-out walk in the fifth.
Detroit’s bullpen kept the Yankees down until the ninth.
Detroit had a runner in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but failed to score.
Stroman, meanwhile, allowed just a pair of singles and two walks before Riley Greene opened the sixth with a base hit to right-center.
Wenceel Perez walked with one out, which prompted a visit to the mound by pitching coach Matt Blake.
Stroman then walked Kerry Carpenter to load the bases for Keith.
After getting ahead of Keith, 0-2, Stroman walked the slumping second baseman to force in the game’s first run and end Stroman’s night.
The walk to Keith was Stroman’s fifth of the game, matching a season-high, which he set in his previous outing- a start that lasted just four innings.
With the bases still packed, Ian Hamilton entered and whiffed Spencer Torkelson and then got Zach McKinstry to ground out to keep it a one-run game.
Olson left after five scoreless innings, replaced by Alex Faedo.
The right-hander fanned Anthony Volpe, Juan Soto and Judge in order.
Detroit loaded the bases again in the seventh and left-hander Victor Gonzalez got pinch-hitter Matt Vierling to ground into a forceout to end the threat, as Detroit fell to 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Verdugo started the bottom of the seventh with a walk and Rizzo walked with one out.
Gleyber Torres, dropped to seventh in the lineup again, bounced into an inning-ending double play.
It was the 40th double play the Yankees have grounded into this season, most in the majors.
