Yankees' Miguel Andujar's clutch blast sinks Rangers

by Felix Pantaleón

The Yankees beat the Rangers, 5-3, at Yankee Stadium on a rainy Saturday afternoon, owing big thanks to Miguel Andujar’s go-ahead, two-run blast in the seventh.

NEW YORK — The Yankees have tried to lean on the bullpen to bail them out a lot lately.

This time, it was the struggling relief unit that needed rescue, and one swing was enough to do it.

Miguel Andujar’s two-run blast in the seventh inning saved the Yankees following a combined meltdown from Zach Britton and Dellin Betances just minutes prior.

They won, 5-3, over the Rangers at Yankee Stadium as rained hammered the Bronx throughout the afternoon.

Andujar clubbed a first-pitch fastball with two outs and the score knotted at 3-3. It zoomed on a low line over the wall in right field, also bringing home Giancarlo Stanton.

It bailed out the bullpen and it validated yet another strong effort from Lance Lynn, who went five innings, giving up a run and striking out nine. Lynn became the first start his Yankees career with three straight games of five or more strikeouts and one run earned or fewer.

Aroldis Chapman got the save. It wasn’t easy, again. He put the go-ahead run at the plate with one out before Elvis Andrus popped up. Then he nailed Adrian Beltre on the knee to load the bags.

Chapman blew a 98-mph fastball past Jurickson Profar to end it with a swinging strikeout.

What it means

The Yankees improved to 73-43, putting themselves 30 games over .500, tying their season-high. They haven’t been 31 games over the mark since finishing the 2011 season 32 games over.

They have won five of their last six games. The Yankees started the game nine games back of the Red Sox in the American League East and well ahead (4 1/2 games) Oakland for the first Wild Card spot.

Andujar’s blast was his 17th on the season. Eight of his blasts have either tied the game or given the Yankees the lead, according to researcher Katie Sharp.

Another meltdown

Britton was the latest Yankees reliever to fall apart in a tight spot.

Britton was handed a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning. No problem, right? Nope.

Britton gave up consecutive singles to left-handed hitters. Then he walked Elvis Andrus on five pitches. That brought out pitching coach Larry Rothschild for a chat.

Didn’t help.

Britton immediately fell behind Beltre, 3-0, before getting two called strikes to fill the count. But his sixth pitch, a 94-mph fastball, missed inside and Choo scored to bring Texas within run.

That was the end of the night for Britton, who has now walked in two runs in seven games since the Yankees traded for him. It didn’t nearly end the Yankees’ headache.

With Rougned Odor bouncing around at third base, Betances appeared to set himself, and then reset himself on the mound. Umpires called it a balk. Odor scored and the game was tied at 3-all. With the next pitch, Betances struck Jurickson Profar looking.

Boom

Stanton crushed a first-inning solo shot to left field, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead. He went 0-for-3 in Friday’s loss but entered the night hitting .343 with 10 homers vs. lefty pitchers on the season. He also homered Thursday.

Bird back?

Bird came into the afternoon in a rough slump, with just one extra-base hit in his previous 54 at-bats.

He recorded a pair. They were huge.

Bird’s first-inning double to center field was deep enough to bring Miguel Andujar, who singled, home from first base. That made it 2-0 Yankees.

In the sixth, he roped another double, this to the right-field corner. It bounced off the wall and Shin-Soo Choo had difficultly grabbing it. Bird cruised into second.

After a Gleyber Torres strikeout, Neil Walker, hitting from the right side, singled to left field. Joey Gallo’s weak throw didn’t have a chance at getting the slow Bird. Walker made it to second base on the throw.

Next

Yankees lefty CC Sabathia (6-4, 3.49 ERA) vs. Rangers lefty Martin Perez (2-4, 6.15 ERA) at 1:05 p.m. Sunday at Yankee Stadium.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.