Yankees sweep Braves with 20-run output
ATLANTA -- Jacoby Ellsbury hit a three-run homer, Chase Headley and Stephen Drew each added a two-run shot and the Yankees rolled to a 20-6 rout of the Braves on Sunday at Turner Field, completing a series sweep.
Drew stroked four hits and Headley had three, each driving in four runs for the Yankees, who put an eight-run pounding on Atlanta starter Julio Teheran. New York remained 1 1/2 games behind the Blue Jays in the American League East chase.
"Every game that we're playing now is important," Headley said. "You win the first two, you give yourself a chance. We were able to come out and win today, which was big. You focus on winning every series. That's the goal. But when you sweep, that's the best-case scenario."
Video: NYY@ATL: Headley goes 3-for-3, tallies four RBIs
Nathan Eovaldi worked five-plus innings and was charged with five runs, but the Yanks' bats boosted him to a team-leading 14th victory, pulling away with nine runs in the seventh inning off relievers Ross Detwiler, Peter Moylan and Jake Brigham. The Braves have lost 12 of their last 13 contests.
Video: NYY@ATL: Nine Yankees cross home in the 7th inning
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
No Solo Mio: Teheran had done a good job in limiting damage on home runs, having allowed only five homers in his last eight starts, only two of those with men on base. But on Sunday he allowed three round-trippers, all with men on, accounting for seven of the season-high-tying eight runs he allowed. Even more vexing for Teheran, all three homers came with two outs and followed walks.
Video: NYY@ATL: Drew collects four hits, drives in four runs
Not great Nate: Eovaldi lacked his good splitter on Sunday, but fortunately for him, run support has not been an issue. The right-hander surrendered three straight hits to open the sixth, including Andrelton Simmons' two-run single, prompting the Yanks to ask Adam Warren and Chasen Shreve to bail him out. Eovaldi's career-best winning streak improved to nine games since June 20, a span of 13 starts -- the longest in the Majors this year.
"Any time you get a lead, you want to try to go after the hitters as much as possible," Eovaldi said. "You try to pitch like it's a 0-0 ballgame all the time. It's a good feeling, getting a lot of run support."
Video: 8/30/15: Shreve gets Pierzynski out to get out of jam
A-Rod delivers: Alex Rodriguez has been relegated to pinch-hitting duty during this Interleague series, but he provided a hit off the bench to spark the big seventh, lining a two-run single off Moylan. Rodriguez is expected to return to his usual designated hitter role when the Yanks return to American League play, though it is also possible that A-Rod could see time at first base this week.
"It was nice. It was great to see guys one through nine, one through 12, swing the bats extremely well," Rodriguez said. "It's been a while since we've swung the bats like this, so hopefully it sets the tone for September." More >
Video: NYY@ATL: A-Rod lines a single, knocks in two runs
Hot-donis: Braves rookie third baseman Adonis Garcia continued to wield a hot bat. He put up his second three-hit game in the last four, going 3-for-5 with a pair of singles and a homer. He's batting .500 (9-for-18) over those four games, with two homers. More >
Video: NYY@ATL: Garcia drives a solo homer off Pinder in 7th
QUOTABLE
"You never, as a baseball player, as a competitor, want to be a part of a game like this, unless you're on the other side. It's just something that you never want to happen again. So you go out there and play, and hopefully you can contribute as much as you can so this doesn't happen again. Today's over with. Hopefully tomorrow we can play a better game." -- Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman
Video: NYY@ATL: Freeman dives, keeps run from scoring in 1st
SAVE THAT BALL!
Pinder connected for his first Major League hit on Sunday, lining a run-scoring double to left field off Brigham in the eighth inning. Pinder said that it was his first plate appearance since he was a catcher at Santa Ana (Calif.) College.
"That's the first hit our pitchers have had this year," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We had a couple of guys hit the ball hard the past couple of days. It's fun, it's his first hit, it's exciting. Pretty hard to top it if you get up again."
Video: NYY@ATL: Pinder hits RBI double for first career hit
MOMENT OF SILENCE
Before the game, the Braves recognized 60-year-old Greg Murrey, who passed away after falling from the upper level of Turner Field on Saturday.
"It's just sad," said Braves president John Schuerholz. "We're sort of all just dealing with the sadness and the tragedy of it for the gentleman's family and anybody who happened to witness it." More >
Video: NYY@ATL: Fan is remembered with a moment of silence
WHAT'S NEXT
Yankees: Right-hander Ivan Nova (5-6, 4.50 ERA) will make his 12th start of the season as the Yankees open a three-game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Nova has lost his last two starts, coming off a seven-run pounding at the hands of the Astros last time out. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (7-5, 4.39) will start for Boston.
Braves: Atlanta continues its nine-game homestand, opening a three-game set with the Marlins on Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Hard-throwing right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (4-6, 5.71 ERA) will get the ball, making his 16th start of the year and 19th appearance. Foltynewicz is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA (2 ER in 5 2/3 innings) against the Marlins this year. Miami will counter with lefty Chris Narveson (1-1, 7.04).
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