Field Level Media
Jun 12, 2018
Didi Gregorius homered twice, leading the New York Yankees to a 3-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Gregorius recorded his fourth career multi-homer game and third this season. He set a team record for multi-homer games by a shortstop in a single season and homered for the first time since May 23.
Gregorius also hit his first homer in New York since April 25 against Minnesota.
He connected on a 1-1 curveball from Tanner Roark (3-7) over the center field fence and into the New York bullpen with one out in the second. Four innings after his 415-foot drive, Gregorius reached the first row of the second deck in right field when he drove Roark's 3-2 fastball an estimated 361 feet.
It was the 14th multi-homer game of the season for the Yankees, who lead the majors with 105 homers.
Austin Romine drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly as the Yankees won for the 18th time in their last 22 home games. Romine started at catcher as manager Aaron Boone opted to give slumping Gary Sanchez Tuesday's game off and possibly Wednesday as well.
CC Sabathia (4-1) allowed four hits in 5 2/3 innings and became the fifth pitcher to get 1,500 strikeouts for the Yankees. He joined Andy Pettitte, Ron Guidry, Whitey Ford and Red Ruffing when he struck out Michael A. Taylor for the second out of the fourth.
Sabathia exited to a nice hand from the crowd after allowing an infield single to Taylor. Taylor was thrown out trying to steal second after the Yankees initially challenged.
Chad Green followed Sabathia and pitched 1 1/3 innings. Dellin Betances fanned two in the eighth after hitting Bryce Harper on the left foot and Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save.
Harper exited the game after being hit on the left foot leading off the eighth against Betances. He also was hit on the left elbow with two outs in the fifth by Sabathia.
It was the second time in his career Harper was hit multiple times in a game.
Washington's Daniel Murphy made his season debut after playing 10 rehab games in his recovery from right knee surgery. He was 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts and started at designated hitter.
The Nationals were shut out for the fourth time this season and second game in a row.
Roark allowed three runs on six hits in six innings.
--Field Level Media