Yankees set team record in nightcap win

Luke Voit rewrote the franchise record book and Mike Tauchman delivered a tiebreaking hit as the Yankees defeated the Phillies, 3-1, in the second game of a seven-inning doubleheader on Wednesday evening at Citizens Bank Park.

Tauchman connected for a deciding seventh-inning knock after Voit’s drive in the second gave the Yanks home runs in each of their first 11 games for the first time in franchise history. The previous mark was established when the 1999 club homered in their first 10 games.

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“This lineup is just tremendous, deadly,” Voit said. “We're called the Bronx Bombers for a reason. It doesn't matter who's pitching, what game, whether we're at home or [away]. Guys can always do damage and we're looking to do damage."

Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge homered in the first game of the Yanks’ first seven-inning twin bill. J.A. Happ was knocked for four runs over three innings and the Phils piled on for seven more runs (six earned) against rookie reliever Nick Nelson, and the Yankees saw a seventh-inning rally fall short in an 11-7 loss.

“I thought the first one was too short, and then this [second] one was just right,” said manager Aaron Boone, whose club was the “home” team in Game 1 following Tuesday’s rainout at Yankee Stadium. “It’s not going to be easy every night. You’ve got to find a way, and tonight was a perfect example of that.”

Voit’s homer was the 23rd belted by the Yankees this season, which surpassed a franchise record established last year, when they hit 22 homers through their first 11 games. The Major League record for consecutive games with a home run to begin a season is 20, set by the 2019 Mariners.

Aside from Voit’s blast, Phillies starter Aaron Nola was dominant in a six-inning performance, striking out 12 while holding the Yanks to three hits. Nola hadn’t pitched since July 24 due to the Phils’ lengthy layoff, and so manager Joe Girardi went to the bullpen for the seventh inning with Nola at 88 pitches. New York greeted reliever Tommy Hunter with three consecutive hits to open the seventh, with Tauchman doubling home Giancarlo Stanton. Gio Urshela added a run-scoring hit off Hunter to extend the lead.

“I think we were pretty happy to see him go,” Tauchman said of Nola. “He's a top-of-the-rotation guy and he pitched like it tonight. Luke was able to hit one of the few mistakes he made. With a tied game going into the seventh, we just had to keep trying to have good at-bats and execute our plans.”

Jonathan Loáisiga started the second game for New York, holding the Phils to Andrew Knapp’s second-inning RBI single over 2 1/3 frames.

“I would say it was a good outing,” Loaisiga said through a translator. “My changeup was really good tonight, and combining that with my fastball, I was able to get through hitters. There were a couple pitches I missed. But at the end of the day, we got what we wanted, which was to get a victory in the second game.”

Luis Avilán, Chad Green, Adam Ottavino and Zack Britton combined for 4 2/3 innings of perfect relief, with Britton notching his Major League-leading fifth save. Britton is filling in as the interim closer while Aroldis Chapman rehabs at the club’s alternate training site in Moosic, Pa.

“We’re fortunate here because we have two closers in myself and Chappy,” Britton said. “If this is what's asked of me, to help us out while Chappy’s building back up, that's what I'm going to do. I have a lot of confidence that I can have success in this role because I've done it in the past. But I understand that I'm here to win a championship.”

Tauchman and Voit both said that they enjoyed the seven-inning doubleheader, which is a Minor League staple but are new to the Majors in 2020. Voit said that it cut down on “wear and tear” for the players, making it good for injury prevention. The Yanks are scheduled to play another doubleheader on Saturday, when they’ll visit the Rays at Tropicana Field.

“I'm kind of all for it,” Tauchman said. “I wouldn't be opposed to a seven-inning doubleheader every single Sunday and every single Monday off going forward. Maybe there's a little bit more pressure to execute. With two less times at the plate, you’ve got to get your runs when you can. But our mentality is to score every inning always, so it doesn't really change too much for us.”