NEW YORK _ Joe Girardi made a few predictions before the game, but they really sounded like his most optimistic hopes.
Rookie left-hander Jordan Montgomery would be even more comfortable than he was in his first major-league start, he said. Maybe he'd even muster better command of his fastball, or have his best slider. As for the Yankees' difficulties hitting with runners in scoring position, Girardi busted out his best fortune cookie impression: "Good things are going to come."
Given how things worked out Monday night, it looks like Girardi was actually thinking small. He should've guaranteed a World Series. Maybe even world peace.
Montgomery and a third-inning offensive explosion made a prophet out of the manager, as the Yankees powered through the White Sox, 7-4, for their eighth straight win. They're still perfect (7-0) at Yankee Stadium this year, paced by consistently excellent starting pitching and a strong bullpen.
Matt Holliday's three-run homer keyed a five-run third, and Aaron Judge hit a two-run shot in the fifth. Montgomery, 24, showed the poise of a veteran before showing signs of fatigue in the seventh, when he allowed a three-run home run.
The Yankees, who had four hits with runners in scoring position, came into the game hitting .200 in those situations. They survived a late onslaught by the White Sox, who scored three in the seventh and one in the ninth.
"The thing is, you can look at it two different ways," Girardi said. "You can look at it that we're not hitting well with runners in scoring position or you can look at it like we've been getting a lot of runners on, and we've been patient, and we've taken our walks and the guys have worked pitchers really hard. As long as our approach stays good and guys don't start swinging wildly and remain patient, good things are going to come."
It took two blips and a bang for those good things to come in the third. With one out, Pete Kozma hit a comebacker that nailed Derek Holland on the right foot before ricocheting into foul territory for a hit. Jacoby Ellsbury followed with an infield hit of his own, a slow dribbler that first baseman Jose Abreu dropped. After a fielder's choice, Matt Holliday blasted a 2-and-2 fastball into the left-field bleachers for his second homer. It traveled an estimated 459 feet, with a 114-mph exit velocity.
Starlin Castro doubled to center, and Chase Headley brought him home on a double to left that was misplayed by Tim Anderson to land Headley on third. That cost the White Sox another run, as the next batter, Judge, legged out an infield single to give the Yankees a 5-0 lead. Four runs were earned.
Judge's homer in the fifth came with two outs, making it 7-0.
Montgomery showed all the traits that earned him a spot on the roster in spring training, escaping a one-out, two-on jam in the first, but otherwise cruising until the seventh. He turned to his sinker to help get out of lesser jams in the second and fourth. He got Kevan Smith to ground out into a 6-4-3 double play in the second, and worked around Melky Cabrera's leadoff single in the fourth, thanks to Avisail Garcia's double play. He allowed back-to-back singles in the seventh before Yolmer Sanchez's home run.
Montgomery earned his first big-league win, allowing seven hits, three in the seventh, with two walks and four strikeouts in six-plus innings. Adam Warren, who hadn't allowed a baserunner this season, gave up a long RBI double to Smith in the ninth. Aroldis Chapman gave up a single in two-thirds of an inning and earned his fourth save.
"He had a chance to get more comfortable with his surroundings," Girardi said of Montgomery, who had a no-decision in his first start. "He went through what every little boy who's a baseball player dreams about: that first time you're in the big leagues. He got through it and he was fairly successful. He should be a little more relaxed tonight."
Right again, Joe.
