Michael King uncharacteristically blew a Yankees lead to keep the sweep away from New York
Brad Miller’s pinch-hit, two-run homer in the seventh inning snapped Michael King‘s impressive scoreless streak, lifting the Texas Rangers over the New York Yankees 4-2 to a doubleheader split.
Gleyber Torres‘ game-ending homer leading off the ninth inning gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead. After only five hits in the first game, New York had three in the nightcap.
Before Miller smacked a 1-0 fastball for a two-run lead, King (2-1) had pitched 14 1/3 innings without allowing a run. The Yankees‘ right-hander hadn’t allowed a run since George Springer’s RBI double.
After Jonah Heim start the inning, King relieved Jordan Montgomery. King walked Kole Calhoun, Nathaniel Lowe, and Andy Ibáez on a forceout, moving Heim to third. One pitch before Miller’s homer, Heim scored on a wild pitch to the backstop.
The rare ineffective outing raised King’s ERA from 0.51 to 1.42.
In the second game, Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer. New York suffered its second loss in 14 games.
Texas starter Glenn Otto allowed two runs and two hits in five innings against his former team. After Stanton hit a 461-foot drive into the Texas bullpen in the third, he struck out two, walked two, and retired his final seven hitters.
Montgomery allowed two runs and four hits over six innings. It was the 22nd time this season.
In the sixth, Garrett Richards (1-1) followed Otto and earned the win. Dennis Santana ended the seventh by striking out Aaron Judge with the bases loaded, Brett Martin pitched a perfect eighth, and Joe Barlow pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
UP NEXT: Texas RHP Jon Gray (0-1, 7.50) opposes New York LHP Nestor Cortes (1-1, 1.82 ERA) on Monday afternoon.
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