The Yankees overpowered the Rockies in the Bronx on Friday night. Given the ongoing struggles of Colorado’s offense, it took only a couple of mighty swings.
Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton hit a solo home run off Kyle Freeland in the fourth, and Aaron Judge hit a solo blast off Freeland in the sixth en route to a 3-0 win.
It was Judge’s 49th homer of the season. The crowd at Yankee Stadium serenaded him with “MVP!” chants.
A fielding error on a bad-hop grounder to Ryan McMahon cost the Rockies another run in the fifth.
The Yankees, owners of the best record in the American League, improved to 76-53. Colorado, now 47-82, officially clinched its sixth consecutive losing season. The Rockies are on pace to lose 103 games.
The Yankees had only five hits, but it was more than enough as they notched their second straight shutout. They blanked the Guardians, 6-0, on Thursday.
Freeland pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up two earned runs on five hits. With his sinker and slider working, he got 11 outs via groundballs. He struck out three and walked two. It was a solid performance, but it wasn’t nearly enough, given Colorado’s empty at-bats.
“Kyle threw well, but their guy pitched just a little bit better,” manager Bud Black told reporters in New York. “But that’s what the Yankees do, especially with the guys at the top of the order. They homer.
“If you look at Kyle’s pitches (on the homers), they weren’t horrible. The fastball to Judge was inside, but Judge is Judge. He’s talented. And the pitch to Stanton was out away from him, and if he gets his arms extended, it can go.”
Judge has hit five home runs in his last four games, seven in his last eight games, and eight in his last 11.
The Rockies, shut out for the 13th time this season, managed only four hits. The franchise record for being shut out in a season is 15 in 2021.
They had a couple of chances to crack New York lefty Carlos Rodon but couldn’t deliver the clutch hit.
In the third, Nolan Jones led off with a single and advanced to third on Ezequiel Tovar’s two-out double. But Rodon struck out Brendan Rogers to snuff out the rally. In the fifth, Jordan Beck reached on a one-out single, and Tovar drew a two-out walk. But after an eight-pitch battle, Rodon got Rodgers to chop out to shortstop Anthony Volpe.
Rodon pitched six innings, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out five.
“Kyle gave us a chance to win; we just couldn’t solve their pitching,” Black said.
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Saturday’s pitching matchup
Rockies RHP Bradley Blalock (0-0, 2.92 ERA) at Yankees TBA
12:05 p.m. Saturday, Yankee Stadium
TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Acquired by the Rockies in a trade with Milwaukee in exchange for right-hander Nick Mears on July 27, Blalock is making his third career start, all with the Rockies. He had one relief appearance with the Brewers. The right-hander has shown excellent fastball command and poise during his short time with Colorado. In his last start, he held the Padres to one earned run on six hits through 5 2/3 innings at Coors Field. Blalock was 5-3 with a 4.47 ERA in 18 Double-A starts this season.
Pitching probables
Sunday: Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (4-8, 4.64) at Yankees TBD, 11:35 a.m.
Monday: Marlins RHP Edward Cabrera (2-5, 5.65) at Rockies TBA, 6:40 p.m.
Originally Published: August 23, 2024 at 7:49 p.m.
