The Yankees avoid the sweep with a 9-7 win over the D-backs

New York—The Yankees avoided being swept on Thursday night with a 9-7 win over the D-backs.

Carlos Carrasco made his Yankees debut tonight, as he got things started with a clean 1-2-3 inning, picking up two strikeouts.  

Yankees first baseman tonight, Ben Rice, got things started in the bottom of the 1st inning with a leadoff ground roll double, followed by a walk from Cody Bellinger. Then the captain, Aaron Judge, deposited his fifth home run of the season into the right field stands to make it 3-0 Yankees. A couple of batters later, Trent Grisham roped a two-RBI double into the left-center gap to make it 4-0 Yankees.

D-backs got on the board in the top of the 2nd inning thanks to an RBI groundout from Alex Thomas to cut the Yankees lead to 4-1.

Ben Rice worked a one-out walk in the bottom of the 2nd inning but was stranded.

Carrasco worked a 1-2-3 top of the 3rd inning and picked up his fourth strikeout of the ballgame. 

In the bottom of the 3rd, Anthony Volpe dunked in a two-out bloop single to center field, and the next batter, Trent Grisham, launched a 2-run bomb into the short porch in right field to make it a 6-1 Yankees lead.

Trent Girsham talked postgame about staying ready as the fourth outfielder.

"My job is to be ready every day, no matter if it's off the bench or if I'm starting that day." 

The D-backs cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the 4th inning thanks to an RBI double from Lourdes Gurreiel Jr., followed by an RBI groundout from Alex Thomas.

In the bottom of the 4th, Ben Rice worked his second walk of the game with one out, then a couple of batters later, Aaron Judge hit a rocket RBI single up the middle to make it 7-3 Yankees. The next batter, Jazz Chisholm Jr., hit a 2-run moon shot toward the Judge chambers out in right field. 

The Yankees have 22 home runs through their first six games of the season. Captain Aaron Judge talked about the relentless approach of the offense.

"We never exhale. We've seen it too many times in this game. It's been our thing since the beginning of this year - don't let off the gas. Keep scoring. Keep scoring until you get that final out."

Carrasco worked around a leadoff single in the top of the 5th inning with some help from first baseman Ben Rice, who started a beautiful double play.

The Yankees were set down in order in the bottom half of the 6th inning.

Carrasco picked up the first out of the top of the 6th inning but was taken out after giving up a double to Josh Naylor. Adam Ottivino came in to replace him and picked up a strikeout to end the top half of the 6th.

Judge hit a rocket double into the left field corner with two outs in the bottom of the 6th but was stranded following a strikeout from Jazz.

Ryan Yarbrough came in to pitch the top half of the 7th and did not have it, as he walked back-to-back hitters and gave up a single to load the bases. Then Geraldo Perdomo hit a grand slam in the short porch in right field to cut the Yankees lead to 9-7. Mark Liter Jr. came in to replace Yarbrough and get out of the top half of the 7th.

J.C. Elscara picked up his first major league hit with a rocket double into the right field corner but was stranded following a Ben Rice strikeout to end the 7th inning.

"I don't know if everyone saw it.” Elscara said, “I got a little bit too excited at second base."

Liter Jr. picked up the first two outs of the top of the 8th inning. Then Luke Weaver was called upon to try and pick up a four-out save.

Jazz worked a two-out walk then stole second right away, but was stranded at second base as Jason Dominguez struck out to end the 8th inning.

Weaver set the D-backs down in order in the top of the 9th as he picked up a strikeout to get his first save of the season and end this ballgame 9-7.