New York Yankees vs Chicago Cubs Match Player Stats On May 05, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 5, 2017

CHICAGO -- Brett Gardner clubbed a three-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning as the New York Yankees rallied to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a weekend interleague series on Friday at Wrigley Field.

Gardner's fifth homer of the season came off Cubs closer Hector Rondon and scored Chase Headley and pinch hitter Jacoby Ellsbury as the Yankees (18-9) won their third straight.

Rondon (0-1), who came into the inning in position for his first save, instead sustained his first loss as he gave up three runs on three hits while walking one in his single-inning outing.

Yankees reliever Jonathan Holder (1-0) earned the win after working a scoreless eighth. Closer Aroldis Chapman, the former Cubs reliever, faced four batters in a scoreless ninth for his seventh save.

The Cubs (16-13) never trailed until that point as Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber each slugged a solo home run while starter Kyle Hendricks worked 5 1/3 shutout innings for a 2-0 lead.

Neither Hendricks nor Yankees starter Michael Pineda recorded a decision.

Bryant gave the Cubs the lead as he launched Pineda's 1-1 pitch into the right field bleachers in the bottom of the first for his sixth home run of the season.

The Cubs prevented a Yankees' tying run in the second when Headley hit into a fielder's choice to Ben Zobrist, who fired to catcher Willson Contreras to tag Aaron Judge trying to score from third.

The Yankees threatened in the fifth when Chris Carter walked and reached second on Pineda's sacrifice grounder. Hendricks then walked Gardner with two outs but escaped any damage as Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo beat Aaron Hicks to the bag on a grounder for the final out.

Contreras sent a high fly to right with one out in the Cubs fifth and reached third when the ball was mishandled by Judge for an error. But Chicago came up empty as Hendricks and Jon Jay were retired on infield grounders.

The Yankees loaded the bases in the sixth failed to score.

Hendricks left with one out after Starlin Castro beat out an infield hit and Judge singled to left. Left-handed reliever Brian Duensing entered and gave up a base hit to Didi Gregorius to load the bases.

Headley then sent a drive to right that was caught by Jason Heyward and quickly fired back with a pinpoint throw to Contreras to tag Castro just before he reached home. Contreras hit the dirt after taking a shoulder from Castro in a collision but stayed in the game.

Schwarber gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead with his fifth homer of the season to open the sixth.

Hendricks allowed six hits, walked two and struck out five. Pineda gave up two runs on three hits while walking one and striking out six.

NOTES: Yankees C Gary Sanchez rejoined his team on Friday in Chicago after a three-game rehab stint (strained right biceps) in Triple-A Wilkes Barre and was promptly inserted into the starting lineup and went 0-for-4. ... New York is 12-3 at home and now 6-6 on the road. ... Former Cubs and current Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman received his 2016 World Series ring in a public pregame ceremony as Chicago manager Joe Maddon made the presentation. He also received greetings from a receiving line of ex-Cubs teammates . ... Yankees 2B Starlin Castro also received a warm welcome from Chicago fans in his first at-bat against his former team. Castro saluted his former teammates in turn as he reached the batter's box. ... New York sends RHP Luis Severino (2-2, 3.86 ERA) against Chicago LHP Brett Anderson (2-1, 6.23 ERA) in Saturday night's middle game. ... The Cubs named INF Jaime Candelario and RHP Dylan Cease as minor league player and pitcher of the month on Friday. Candelario hit .306 at Triple-A Iowa while Cease posted a 1.90 ERA in five starts at Single-A South Bend.