Yankees lost 6-5 against White Sox’s in DH Opener

New York Yankees 5, Chicago White Sox 6

NEW YORK — Eloy Jiménez hit a key home run against Michael King in the seventh inning. This helped the Chicago White Sox beat the New York Yankees 6-5 in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday. This win gave them an amazing five-game winning streak, which was the team’s best of the season.

Following the Major League Baseball’s decision to postpone Wednesday’s game due to the perilous air quality caused by Canadian wildfires, the conditions in the Bronx significantly improved by the start of Thursday’s first pitch. As reported by IQAir, the air quality rating stood at 142 prior to the commencement of the game, gradually decreasing to 127 approximately an hour later. An Air Quality Index (AQI) falling within the range of 101-150 is classified as unhealthy for individuals with sensitivities.

Jake Burger made his mark with a two-run home run against Yankees’ starter Luis Severino, followed by impressive home runs from Luis Robert Jr. and Yoán Moncada, all against the right-handed pitcher.

Despite Robert’s recent struggle with an 8-for-40 slump, he bounced back with an outstanding performance, securing three hits. In the seventh inning, he hit a double, setting the stage for Jiménez, who promptly smashed the very next pitch from King (1-2) into the New York bullpen in right-center field for a crucial two-run home run. This pivotal shot propelled Chicago into a 6-5 lead.

In the absence of slugger Aaron Judge, who was recently placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained and bruised right big toe, Willie Calhoun stepped up for the Yankees, contributing significantly with three RBIs. Calhoun showcased his prowess by delivering an RBI single and a powerful two-run home run against starter Lance Lynn.

In the fifth inning, Kyle Higashioka came through with an impactful RBI double, while Oswaldo Cabrera followed suit with an RBI single, allowing the Yankees to claim a 5-4 lead.

Severino found himself in a challenging position as he surrendered three home runs, matching his career-high for the fourth time overall and second consecutive start. Over the course of five innings, he conceded four runs and six hits.

Lynn endured a challenging outing, allowing five runs and eight hits in a span of five innings. On the other hand, Gregory Santos (2-0) took the mound in the sixth and swiftly retired all three batters he faced, securing the win.

Joe Kelly and Reynaldo López showcased their skills, each pitching a flawless, hitless inning. In the crucial moments of the game, Kendall Graveman stepped up, earning his sixth save by inducing Anthony Rizzo to ground into a game-ending double play with two runners on base.

Burger showed off his power by hitting a 421-foot home run in the second inning. The ball went into the Chicago clubhouse in left-center field, giving the White Sox a 2-0 lead. Even though Higashioka’s RBI double and Calhoun’s run-scoring single helped the Yankees tie the game, the White Sox quickly took the lead back in the third inning.

In a remarkable display, Robert kickstarted the inning by connecting with a fastball, driving it high above the center-field fence and onto the netting above Monument Park. Not long after, Moncada joined the action, sending a powerful shot into the right-field seats. Chicago successfully maintained their lead until Calhoun altered the game’s dynamics with a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

UP NEXT

In the second game, the Yankees will have rookie right-hander Randy Vásquez (0-1, 3.86 ERA) making his second major league start against Chicago’s right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger (3-3, 4.13 ERA).

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