Just when it seemed like the Yankees left their bats in Milwaukee, they came alive in the bottom of the ninth Friday, as they scored a pair of runs to beat the Tigers, 2-1, in The Bronx.
The rally came out of nowhere, as the Yankees were completely shut down for eight innings after a mostly silent series in Baltimore, where they followed up an offensive explosion the previous series against the Brewers to score just six runs in four games versus the Orioles.
They were especially quiet Friday, with just two singles until the ninth.
Aaron Judge led off with a single up the middle against Jason Foley and Alex Verdugo followed with a bunt hit down the third base line.
Giancarlo Stanton, who struck out his first three times, ripped a double to right to drive in Judge and tie the game at 1-1.
Anthony Rizzo followed with a single through a drawn-in infield to win it to allow the Yankees to avoid a fourth loss in five games.
Despite the lack of production, Stanton said the lineup was waiting to answer.
“Just keep pushing while we have outs and opportunities,’’ Stanton said. “We needed every last one, but if we’ve got outs [left], we’ve got time.”
Four batters came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth and they all reached base.
“The offense didn’t put much together,’’ Rizzo said. “But with this offense, it takes one guy to get on and we just keep grinding. Winning like this, when we’re not clicking, is big.”
The late rally allowed the Yankees to take advantage of a strong night from the pitching staff.
Marcus Stroman, coming off a rough start against the Brewers, gave up just one run in 5 ¹/₃ innings despite more command issues.
The lone run he surrendered came on a bases-loaded walk to Colt Keith in the sixth.
Detroit right-hander Reese Olson had allowed two earned runs or fewer in all but one of his starts entering Friday and was impressive against the Yankees.
He held the Yankees scoreless over his five innings and at one point retired nine Yankees in a row before Austin Wells drew a two-out walk in the fifth.
Detroit’s bullpen kept the Yankees down until the ninth.
Stroman allowed just a pair of singles and two walks before Riley Greene opened the sixth with a base hit to right-center.
Wenceel Perez and Kerry Carpenter also walked to load the bases for Keith before Stroman also walked the slumping second baseman to force in the game’s first run and end Stroman’s night.
It was Stroman’s fifth walk of the game, matching a season-high, which he set in his previous outing — a start that lasted just four innings.
With the bases still packed, Ian Hamilton entered and whiffed Spencer Torkelson and then got Zach McKinstry to ground out to keep it a one-run game.
Detroit loaded the bases again in the seventh and left-hander Victor Gonzalez got pinch-hitter Matt Vierling to ground into a forceout to end the threat, part of a bullpen that hasn’t allowed an earned run in 17 ²/₃ innings.
Verdugo started the bottom of the seventh with a walk and Rizzo walked with one out.
Gleyber Torres, dropped to seventh in the lineup again, bounced into an inning-ending double play.
It was the 40th double play the Yankees have grounded into this season, most in the majors.
But the ninth-inning dramatics erased all that.
“It’s been a slow week for us,’’ Aaron Boone said. “You hope something like this ignites us and gets the offense cranking, but it’s about winning and these guys have done a great job of that. You’ve got to find different ways to win in this league.”
