NEW YORK _ Gary Sanchez deserved to admire that one. The struggling Yankees slugger hit a pinch-hit, grand slam in the eighth inning to power the Bombers to a 5-2 win in the second game of a doubleheader, extra-innings sweep at Yankees Stadium Sunday night.
It was the catcher's second career grand slam and his first as a pinch hitter. It was a huge relief for Sanchez, who was 1 for his last 14 and had just 10 hits on the season going into that at-bat. He had gone 0-for-4 in the Yankees 8-7 walk off, extra-inning win in the afternoon.
But he delivered when the Yankees called on him in the nightcap.
It was also a huge relief for the Yankees, who had to rally for both wins on Sunday.
The Yankees (19-13) have now won three straight, coming on the heels of a seven-game losing streak. It also gives the Yankees some momentum as they head into a huge three-game series against the American League East-leading Rays, who have a 3.5-game lead in the division, this week in the Bronx.
Sanchez knew the minute he connected with the ball that it was headed over the visitors' bullpen in left field. He stood and admired it for a moment before tossing his bat aside and running the bases. It was the 23rd pinch-hit grand slam in Yankees' history, but the first in extra innings.
It was too late, however, to reward rookie Deivi Garcia in his much-anticipated major league debut, Garcia was impressive.
The 21-year-old right-hander was charged with one unearned run _ thanks to a fielding error by Luke Voit _ in six innings of work. The Mets got four hits off him, he did not walk a batter and struck out six.
Jeff McNeil got the first hit off him, a single to lead off the fourth inning.
He was kind of what the Yankees expected of him.
As he rocketed through the minor leagues last season and during the two training camps this year, Garcia has piqued the Yankees' interest.
"Obviously a great curveball, deceptive fastball, really unique delivery. That's fun to watch too," Gerrit Cole said. "He's very athletic so outside of just having his major league debut today. I'm excited to watch him pitch as well."
It was also a much-needed strong start that saved the Yankees bullpen and rotation as they tried to navigate through a tough stretch. After these five Subway Series games in three days, because of last weekend's COVID postponement, their division-rival, the red-hot Rays come into the Bronx. The spot start by Garcia allowed the Yankees to keep their front end of the rotation, headed by Cole, in line to face Tampa Bay.
It was also a much-needed bright spot in a stretch of the season that had become something of a slog.
No matter that this is a weird season with so much dictated by the coronavirus, there is an extra jolt in the clubhouse on the day a kid makes his major league debut.
"I love major league debuts because too often, as your career goes along, it's just not in the forefront of your mind. So when you see someone else experience it, you obviously immediately think back to yours," Cole said. "And fortunately, I got a pretty happy experience. My debut was against the Giants, which my brother in law (Brandon Crawford) was on. So it was a family affair and he got a hit and we won the game. So it was one of those rare games where we could both celebrate at the same time."
The Yankees could use some good times these days.
With their injury-plagued lineup, they have been scraping for runs. Missing Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres, they had to play small ball and capitalize on Mets mistakes in the first game to make the unlikeliest of comebacks. They scored five in the bottom of the seventh, capped by Aaron Hicks' two-run, game-tying home run, to send the game to extra innings. They won it there on Gio Urshela's walk-off single to put together two wins for the first time since sweeping the Red Sox Aug. 14-17.
But even the high from that win _ their first in extra innings this season _ was quickly spoiled. Hours after hitting that homer, Aaron Hicks walked off the field in the nightcap with what the team said was "cramping in both calves."
Sunday night, however, the Yankees might have gotten more than just two wins. With the rotation short now, with James Paxton on the IL, Garcia and Michael King, who was solid in the afternoon game, give the Yankees options moving forward.
