NEW YORK — Anthony Rizzo broke a long power drought with a two-run home run that capped a four-run first inning, and the New York Yankees held on for a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.
A day after being eliminated for the fourth time in their first 23 games, the Yankees fell behind when Seth Brown hit an RBI double in the first off Marcus Stroman (2-1).
Giancarlo Stanton had a two-RBI double against Paul Blackburn (2-1) in the bottom half, after which Rizzo hit his second home run and first since April 7.
Blackburn has not allowed a home run in four previous starts this season.
Rizzo, who missed the final two months of last season with post-concussion syndrome, had just one extra-base hit in 54 at-bats between home runs.
“Every time I step up to the plate, I just try to get good hits,” Rizzo said. “Sometimes you look really good and sometimes you don’t.”
The Yankees, who have scored in just four of 46 innings in their current homeland, have had just one hit in their last eight innings.
“You want to put together a few big innings to give us some breathing room, but sometimes all it takes is one,” Stanton said.
Stroman (2-1) struck out nine in 5 2/3 innings — his most hits since striking out nine for the New York Mets against San Francisco on Aug. 17, 2021.
“That’s uncharacteristic of me, honestly,” Stroman said with a smile. “That’s not my game. That’s not what I’m trying to do.”
Shea Langeliers scored in the second and Lawrence Butler in the fourth.
Ron Marinaccio, Caleb Ferguson, Dennis Santana and Clay Holmes combined for 3 2/3 hitless innings, with Holmes striking out two in a perfect ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances.
Blackburn (2-1) gave up five hits in six innings, retiring 17 of his last 18 batters, including the last 13. His ERA rose from 1.08 to 2.03.
“We had our chances to get a big hit and Paul’s work tonight after the first inning – he scored zeros and gave us a chance to come back,” said athletics manager Mark Kotsay. “Good night after that first one to Paul.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone, ejected by umpire Hunter Wendelstedt five pitches into Monday’s 2-0 loss for a comment he and his players claimed was shouted by a fan behind the dugout, said he did not expected to be fined after several conversations with Major League Baseball Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations Michael Hill.
“I feel good about where the league is,” Boone said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: LHP Scott Alexander (left rib), RHP Luis Medina (right knee) and LHP Ken Waldichuk (elbow) had successful bullpen sessions on Tuesday. … INF JD Davis (right adductor) and OF Miguel Andujar (right knee surgery) started running.
Yankees: 3B DJ LeMahieu was removed in the second inning of his first rehab game Tuesday for Double-A Somerset due to soreness in his right foot. … RHP Gerrit Cole (right elbow), the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, said he felt good after throwing 50 times from 120 feet.
NEXT
The four-game series continues Wednesday night when Yankees RHP Clarke Schmidt (1-0, 3.15 ERA) opposes Athletics RHP Joe Boyle (1-3, 7.23 ERA).
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