Anthony Rizzo ignited a five-run fifth inning with a two-run homer and the host New York Yankees cruised to an 8-1 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.
Gleyber Torres hit his 100th career homer and drove in a run with an infield single early in the game before the Yankees produced their biggest inning of the young season.
Rizzo’s drive off Yunior Marte just stayed fair and reached the second deck down the right field line. Franchy Cordero hit a two-run double and Jose Trevino added an RBI single later in the inning as the Yankees sent the Phillies to their first 0-4 start since 2016.
New York’s first run came in the first when DJ LeMahieu led off with a triple and scored on Giancarlo Stanton’s bases-loaded groundout against Philadelphia starter Taijuan Walker (0-1).
New York’s Nestor Cortes (1-0) allowed one run on seven hits in five innings after his spring training was slightly delayed by a strained right hamstring. He struck out three and walked none, and threw 80 pitches.
Cortes also made a key defensive play in the fifth moments before the Yankees pulled away. With Brandon Marsh on second after a leadoff double, J.T. Realmuto hit a two-out single to right. When the throw home sailed high over the head of the catcher Trevino, Cortes was backing up the play, caught the throw and fired to third to nail Marsh before he could get back to the bag.
In the bottom of the inning, Rizzo lifted a 2-1 fastball from Marte for his first homer of the season. After two walks, Cordero hit his double, and two batters later, Trevino singled to center.
Edmundo Sosa had an RBI single and Alec Bohm collected three hits for the Phillies.
Walker allowed four runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings in his Philadelphia debut. He struck out five and walked three.
New York scored twice without leaving the infield to go ahead in the first.
LeMahieu’s triple went past Marsh in center field. After Stanton drove him in, Torres followed with a single that caromed off Walker’s glove.
In the third, Torres hit a full count offering from Walker to right field for his milestone homer. Bohm doubled and scored on Sosa’s hit in the fourth to get Philadelphia within 3-1.
–Field Level Media
