Ellsbury, Gregorius power Yankees past Dodgers
NEW YORK -- Jacoby Ellsbury and Didi Gregorius homered on consecutive pitches with one out in the seventh inning, lifting the New York Yankees to a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.
Ellsbury capped a nine-pitch at-bat by lifting a full count curveball from Ross Stripling (4-7) into the second deck in right field. Gregorius batted for Ronald Torreyes and sent Stripling's fastball into the right-center field seats.
It was Ellsbury's ninth home run and fifth in his last 22 games. For Gregorius, it was his 18th home run and first as a pinch hitter.
The Yankees (77-67) won for the eighth time in 10 games.
Ellsbury did not start because manager Joe Girardi said he was resting after playing 11 days in a row. He entered when rookie right fielder Aaron Judge left with a strained right oblique after the fourth inning.
Gregorius did not start for the second straight game because Girardi said he was resting some soreness, specifically a sore right rib.
Rookie Gary Sanchez added insurance by opening the eighth with his 14th home run.
CC Sabathia put the Yankees in position to win late by allowing three hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven, walked one and threw 93 pitches before getting a loud ovation.
Adam Warren recorded the final two outs in the seventh for the win, Tyler Clippard gave up a two-out single to Howie Kendrick in the eighth and was replaced by Dellin Betances.
Betances, pitching for the first time since getting the save following Friday's 51-minute rain delay in the ninth, quickly recorded the final out of the eighth and tossed a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.
Los Angeles rookie left-hander Julio Urias allowed four hits in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Before the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Urias was heading to the bullpen as part of a plan to limit his innings.
Urias' 14th start ended when he loaded the bases by walking Judge on a full count. Earlier in the plate appearance, Judge grimaced on a foul ball but stayed in the game.
The Dodgers (81-63) lost for the third time in 10 games and were shut out for the 10th time.
NOTES: New York SS Didi Gregorius (sore rib) was held out of the starting lineup for a second straight game. Manager Joe Girardi said Gregorius experienced soreness in his rib Friday after getting hit while diving back to first base on a pickoff play. ... Yankees CF Jacoby Ellsbury had the night off to rest since he is hitting .247 against left-handed pitching this season. Girardi said Ellsbury would play all four games this weekend against the Boston Red Sox, who are slated to pitch three lefties. ... Los Angeles RHP Brett Anderson (blister, left index finger) will start Game 3 for Triple-A Oklahoma City in the Pacific Coast League championship series against El Paso. ... RHP Brandon McCarthy (right hip stiffness) and LHP Alex Wood (elbow impingement) will throw in simulated games this weekend when the Dodgers are in Arizona.