Jon Berti scored the go-ahead run on a balk in the 11th inning and Aaron Judge added an RBI double to lift the New York Yankees to a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday in Phoenix.
Gleyber Torres’ single off Scott McGough (0-1) put runners on first and third to begin the 11th inning. McGough was not set when he made a pitch to Juan Soto and was called for a balk, giving New York a 5-4 lead.
Judge, who launched a two-run homer in the fourth inning, plated Torres with a liner to center field.
Clay Holmes (1-0) rebounded after allowing two runs on one hit in the 10th inning by striking out Eugenio Suarez in the 11th. Caleb Ferguson relieved Holmes and allowed a two-out RBI single to Jorge Barrosa before intentionally walking the next batter to pitch to McGough, who struck out to end the game.
Ferguson’s first save of the season helped New York to capture the rubber match of the three-game series and finish its season-opening road trip with a 6-1 record.
With inherited runner Anthony Volpe stationed at second base to begin the 10th inning, Alex Verdugo deposited a first-pitch fastball from Kevin Ginkel over the wall in right field for a two-run homer. Verdugo was 3-for-24 before going deep for the first time this season.
Arizona trimmed New York’s lead to 4-3 when Volpe’s throwing error allowed Barrosa to score with one out in the 10th inning. A wild pitch by Holmes permitted pinch-runner Jake McCarthy to advance to third, and McCarthy scored to tie the score when speedy Corbin Carroll legged out an infield single.
Arizona rookie Blaze Alexander belted his first career homer in the second inning and Ketel Marte added a solo shot in the fifth. Marte also ripped a double in the first inning for his 1,000th career hit.
After Alexander deposited a 3-2 fastball from Carlos Rodon to open the scoring in the second inning, Judge answered in the fourth by sending a 1-0 sinker from Merrill Kelly over the wall in right-center field for a two-run homer. The homer was the first of the season for Judge, who entered the game batting .125 (3-for-24) with seven strikeouts.
Marte tied the score at 2, crushing a 1-2 fastball from Rodon into the left-center field seats. The homer was Marte’s first of the season.
–Field Level Media
