About Last Night: Yankees 4, A’s 3

About Last Night: Yankees 4, A’s 3

By Derek McAdam

April 24, 2024

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After being shut out for the fourth time so far this season on Monday, the New York Yankees defeated the Oakland A’s last night by a score of 4-3, which ultimately became a battle of the bullpens.

Quick Stats: W: Marcus Stroman (2-1): 5.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 K

                     L: Paul Blackburn (2-1): 6 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 5 K

                     S: Clay Holmes (9): 1 IP. 2 K

Big Story: While it took nine innings for the first run of Monday’s game to be scored, last night's game was the exact opposite. Seth Brown hit an RBI double in the top of the 1st to score Brent Rooker and the give the A’s a 1-0 lead. Juan Soto misplayed the ball, which resulted in the run being scored.

However, the Yankees did not waste time in answering back. With Soto on third and Aaron Judge on second, Giancarlo Stanton knocked a two-run double in the left-center field gap to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. Anthony Rizzo, the next batter, hit a two-run home run to right-center field. The home run gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead.

These would ultimately be the only runs that the Yankees would score for the entire game, as they did not have many opportunities until the 8th inning.

In the 2nd, Shea Langeliers hit a solo home run, his fifth of the season, to cut the Yankee lead to 4-2. After the 2nd inning, it seemed as if Stroman wasn’t going to make it past the 4th inning due to his high pitch count. However, he managed to have a couple of quick innings to extend his outing.

In the 4th, Lawrence Butler hit his second home run of the season into the first row of seats in right field to give the A’s another run and cut the Yankee lead to 4-3. While it was Stroman’s second home run of the night he surrendered, it was a very good pitcher that Butler golfed into the seats. According to the YES broadcast, it was the lowest pitch Stroman has ever thrown in his career that went for a home run.

Blackburn, who came into the game with an ERA just over 1.00, settled in after the 1st inning, and kept the Yankees off the bases. While the Yankees also had an opportunity in the 8th to tack on a security run or two, Soto grounded into a double play with runners at first and second, while Stanton then lined out to end the inning.

Holmes then came in and got the final three outs to give the Yankees a win and tie the series at one game a piece with two games to go.

Player of the Game: I don’t think I’ve ever given this award to someone who did not drive in a run or get a big hit, but Aaron Judge has to feel good about his plate appearances after last night’s game. He recorded a hit, but also had a couple other very good plate appearances, one of which he sent a ball to the warning track in right-center field. Hopefully, Judge can keep this momentum going forward.

Notable Performances: Both bullpens did a phenomenal job of keeping runs off the board. Rizzo also has to feel good getting that home run under his belt. Hopefully, he can now relax a little at the plate.

Better to Forget: While Austin Wells has been good behind the plate, he has not produced in the batter’s box. He hasn’t recorded a hit since April 3 after getting off to a decent start. While the Yankees will gladly take his defense, they could always use some help from his bat.

My Take: A win is a win, and it’s nice to celebrate after the Yankees were shut out on Monday. However, this was another game that was extremely boring to watch. Against the Rays, whenever the Yankees scored runs, all of them mostly came in one inning. It was the same instance last night, and it doesn’t make for entertaining baseball.

I had that guy feeling that once they scored the four runs in the 1st, Blackburn would come in and settle down. But that’s what this team has done several times throughout the season, and in years past. And it wasn’t even as if they were able to get runners on base and have the possibility of starting a rally. They weren’t even getting runners on base.

Anyway, on to some good news. The Yankees have gotten good length out of their starters since Friday, which is crucial given they don’t have a scheduled off day until May 6. Stroman did a nice job of keeping his pitch count down in the 3rd and 4th innings to give the Yankees some length and not have to go to their bullpen too early. This is a long stretch of baseball, and the Yankees need as fresh of a bullpen as they can possibly have. Although I thought Aaron Boone was playing “bullpen roulette” last night, the decisions ultimately paid off and the Yankees pulled through. I’ll take it.

What’s Next?: The Yankees will face the A’s for the third time tonight. Joe Boyle is scheduled to start for the A’s, while Clarke Schmidt is set to start for the Yankees. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EST, and will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.