DETROIT (AP) — Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman pitched out of his own bases-loaded, no-out jam in the ninth inning, helped by a slick double play and New York held off the Detroit Tigers 5-4 Thursday night.
After scoring against relievers Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, Detroit was down 5-3 going into the ninth. The Tigers quickly loaded the bases against Chapman on a single, a walk and a bunt single.
Shortstop Didi Gregorius then scampered up the middle to field a hard grounder by J.D. Martinez and made a glove flip to second baseman Starlin Castro, who caught the ball with his bare hand and let go a strong, off-balance relay. A run scored on the play, with the potential tying run moving to third.
The Yankees chose to pitch to Tigers star Miguel Cabrera, and Chapman retired him on a routine grounder for his eighth save.
Jacoby Ellsbury drove in three runs for the Yankees in a makeup game from a rainout on April 10. New York had lost three straight.
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