The Sports Xchange
Jul 25, 2017
NEW YORK -- Todd Frazier experienced a memorable Yankee Stadium debut, hitting into a run-scoring triple play as the New York Yankees held on for a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.
Six days after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox, Frazier got his first home at-bat for the Yankees with the bases loaded in the second. He hit a 3-1 pitch to shortstop Jose Peraza, who stepped on second for the force play for the first out before throwing the ball to first baseman Joey Votto for the second out.
Didi Gregorius, who began the play as the baserunner at second, initially held up and was late to advance to third. He was caught in a rundown when Votto threw the ball to third baseman Eugenio Suarez.
Suarez continued the rundown, and Peraza was credited with the third out when Gregorius was ruled out for running out of the base line. By the time the outs were recorded, Matt Holliday scored from third after opening the inning with a single.
Frazier was not credited with an RBI on the play that gave New York a 1-0 lead.
It was the first triple play hit into by the Yankees since Sept. 27, 2011, at Tampa Bay. New York hit into a triple play at home for the first time since Randy Velarde did so on May 29, 2000.
Cincinnati turned a triple play for the first time since Sept. 12, 1995, against the Florida Marlins.
The Yankees scored their next three runs in more conventional ways. Aaron Judge singled and scored on Gregorius' sacrifice fly to right in the fourth, and Austin Romine lined an RBI double to right in the fifth.
After the Reds scored single runs in the sixth and eighth, Gregorius hit a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth.
For a while, Frazier's triple play was not the only memorable event for the Yankees as Jordan Montgomery (7-5) faced the minimum and took a no-hitter into the sixth.
The rookie left-hander lost his no-hit bid two pitches into the inning when Scott Schebler lined a double to center field. Before facing Schebler, Montgomery held the Reds hitless on 54 pitches, getting a double play to end the second and a sliding stop by shortstop Gregorius on Devin Mesoraco grounder to end the fifth.
Montgomery allowed one run and two hits in 6 2/3 innings. Montgomery was lifted after a single by Adam Duvall, and he exited to a standing ovation from the fans.
Tommy Kahnle recorded the final out of the seventh, and Dellin Betances heard boos after allowing Billy Hamilton's RBI double off right fielder Judge's glove in the eighth. Adam Warren recorded the final out of the eighth, and Aroldis Chapman notched his 12th save with a scoreless ninth.
Gregorius' 15th homer of the season accounted for the final margin.
Cincinnati rookie Luis Castillo (1-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. Arismendy Alcantara hit an RBI groundout in the sixth as the Reds lost for the 10th time in 12 games.
NOTES: Reds RHP Scott Feldman (right knee) is making progress with his throwing program. Manager Bryan Price said Feldman would join the team this weekend in Miami to continue his rehab. ... Yankees manager Joe Girardi said OF Aaron Hicks (strained right oblique) and 1B Tyler Austin (strained right hamstring) began hitting off a tee and are progressing well, but there is no timetable for either player's return. ... Cincinnati RHP Anthony DeSclafani (sprained ulnar collateral ligament) is scheduled to make his second rehab start Saturday for Class A Dayton.