Yankees shutout the A’s, 10-0

Yankees get the best of Oakland again but this time in much more commanding fashion

On April 22nd, JP Sears and Carlos Rodon of the New York Yankees exchanged dominant scoreless outings en-route to a 2-0 A’s win in the Bronx. Tonight, both pitchers met again but the affair went much more one-sided.

Sears was shelled by his former team and by the third inning, tonight’s game felt already over. Rodon on the other hand cruised through yet another scoreless outing as the Yankees snagged the dominating 10-0 victory. They’ve now taken the first two games of this three-game set and they inch closer to claiming an American League East title.

The Bronx Bombers earned their title tonight coming out guns blazing early and often.

After loading the bases on two singles and a walk in the first, Sears and the A’s traded a pair of outs for a run when Giancarlo Stanton grounded into a double play. Damage looked minimized until Jasson Dominguez lined an RBI single to left next. Then in the second, Anthony Volpe made it a quick 3-0 with a solo-shot to left center.

The A’s had traffic on the base paths early but nothing ever to show for it. In the third, Stanton had the killing blow sending a three-run moon-shot to left to give the Yankees a 6-0 lead.

Sears stayed resilient and gave the A’s five innings but it wasn’t pretty. In what will be his last start at the Coliseum, Sears final line was: five IP, nine hits, six runs and six strikeouts.

Sears was replaced by Brandon Bielak, and Bielak wouldn’t fare much better highlighted by a long seventh inning. After allowing a pair to score thanks to Aaron Judges 54th home run of the season and a Volpe RBI fielders choice, Bielak was removed with the bases loaded for Hogan Harris.

Gleybar Torres stepped up next and flipped a single to right scoring two more after the ball rolled underneath Lawrence Butlers glove. All four runs would be charged to Bielak whose ERA grew by a full run tonight. The lead was now 10-0, and perhaps no play will epitomize tonight for the A’s better than this.

Meanwhile, the A’s offense couldn’t manufacture anything against Rodon or anybody else tonight.

Rodon went six innings while striking out four and allowing five hits — four of them singles. He allowed just one baserunner to reach third on the evening. With a well-rested bullpen behind him, the reigns were passed to Mark Leiter Jr. for two innings and Tim Mayza for one. Both combined to face the minimum while striking out 4/9 batters they faced.

The A’s will look to avoid a series sweep tomorrow but the task doesn’t get any easier as they face Luis Gil, one of baseballs best starters this season. Joey Estes will counter for the A’s at a 1:07 PM PDT first-pitch.