New York Yankees Defeat Rays With Only One Hit

The New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday with only one hit in the game, something the franchise hasn’t done in over 102 years.

The New York Yankees chances of defeating the Tampa Bay Rays looked bleak midway through their Sunday contest while Jake Odorizzi held them hitless through six innings. But that changed with just one swing of the bat in the top of the seventh inning.

After Jacoby Ellsbury began the inning with a ground out, Brett Gardner managed to secure a walk to give the Yankees a glimmer of hope after only managing one base runner up to that point in the game.

Just one batter later, Starlin Castro came to bat and launched a home run to center field for his seventh of the season and New York’s first, and last, hit of the game.

Odorizzi’s spectacular performance now had a lone blemish, and his no-hitter and shutout were over. Just an inning later, Odorizzi was removed from the game and was forced to take a heartbreaking loss, which lowered his record to 2-3 on the season.

The Yankees went on to win the game 2-1, with only one hit to their credit. The victory and the lone hit signaled the first time since 1914 that the Yankees earned a victory while only recording one hit.

However, when looking at the box score, the game only lasted six innings. In order to find a time when the Yankees earned a victory with only one hit in a nine-inning game, you’ll have to go back just a bit further.

One year, to be exact. CBS Sports noted that the last time New York accomplished the one-hit victory in nine innings was way back in 1913, in what was the franchise’s first season as the Yankees.

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It’s worthy to mention that the Yankees are actually the third team this season to earn a one-hit victory, joining the Texas Rangers on Opening Day and Seattle Mariners on April 29. But in light of a trying season for the Yankees, there’s a sense of hope surrounding the victory. Even more so, a sense of hope surrounding the pitching staff that carried them through the game.

Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi earned his sixth victory of the season after going six innings while only allowing one run on six hits. In 10 starts on the season, Eovaldi has managed a 3.71 ERA to go along with a 1.15 WHIP and 8.46 K/9. After struggling to establish himself as a consistent presence in the Yankees rotation last season, he’s become one of the team’s most dependable starters this season.

And his improvements have been rather simple. Throw more strikes and generate more ground balls. Last season, Eovaldi struck out 18 percent of the batters he faced, but this season, that number has jumped to 22 percent. Along with his increased strikeouts, his ground ball rate is up nearly two points from last season – and 10 points from 2014.

With questions surrounding Michael Pineda’s future in the rotation, Eovaldi’s emergence has been more vital than ever. Along with solid seasons from Masahiro Tanaka, Ivan Nova and the resurgent CC Sabathia, the Yankees look to have a solid rotation going forward.

What’s more exciting for the Yankees, though, was the dominance of the three-headed monster in the bullpen.

After acquiring Aroldis Chapman in the offseason, New York figured to have the best bullpen in baseball with Chapman, Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller closing out games. Now with Chapman’s suspension in the past, the Yankees dreams are coming to fruition.

After Eovaldi was removed against the Rays, Betances came on to work the seventh before Miller bridged the gap to Chapman in the ninth. None of the trio allowed a hit, and they combined for seven strikeouts – which equaled Eovaldi’s total on the day.

Since Chapman joined the bullpen, the Yankees have gone 13-7 to improve their record to 24-25.

The 28-year-old already has six saves in just nine appearances to go along with a 1.93 ERA and 14.46 K/9. Betances’ numbers look nearly identical, as he owns a 1.93 ERA and has a 17.74 K/9 in 23.1 innings pitched. Miller has been even better. Despite losing the closer job to Chapman, Miller has a 0.87 ERA with a 16.55 K/9 and only 0.44 BB/9.

While the sample size for the Yankees trio is limited, it’s clear that their potential has no limit. If the offense and starting rotation can stay consistent, New York will have a legitimate chance to improve down the stretch.

But after the game against the Rays, it’s clear that the Yankees won’t need much run support in order to succeed.

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