NEW YORK --
\n\nJamowed 'em down for his first W in exactly 2 years.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 1, 2021
Congrats @JTaillon50 \uD83D\uDC4F pic.twitter.com/NjVtq3Jdnl
“After two years, to pitch like that and to win, he’s amazing,” Torres said. “To me, he’s an inspiration. He passed those situations and he continued. He has \\[shown\\] us what he can do. It’s really great; I’m so happy for him.”\n\nThe 29-year-old Taillon said that it took him longer than expected to notch his first win; New York won just one of his first four starts for the club. Taillon was clocked as high as 95.9 mph on Saturday, feeding the Tigers lineup an effective mix of fastballs (38), curveballs (27), sliders (11) and changeups (3).\n\n“I think he’s continuing to pound the strike zone, getting more comfortable and confident,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m really excited for him, knowing that he’s been through a lot to get to this point.”\n\nJeimer Candelario accounted for the only run off Taillon, homering on a hanging slider in the fourth inning. Taillon pitched into trouble in the fifth, as an infield hit and two walks loaded the bases for Miguel Cabrera.
“I told myself, ‘Let’s just slow this down. Let’s make one pitch at a time,’” Taillon said. “Miggy is one of the best hitters of our generation, if not the best. No matter what stage of his career he’s in, I have a ton of respect for a guy like that standing in the box. That was a good challenge for me.”\n\nTaillon gassed the two-time MVP with an elevated fastball, then shouted into his glove as he strutted off the field.\n\n“That was a big moment,” Judge said. “That just shows you what type of competitor he is. He’s not going to back down from anybody.”\n\n**Here comes the Judge** \nOne day after launching a pair of homers -- including his second career grand slam -- Judge swelled his weekend tally to eight RBIs with a go-ahead double in the fifth inning, then cashed two more with a bases-loaded knock off José Cisnero as part of a four-run sixth.
“I’m trying to do my job, especially when I’ve got guys on base,” Judge said. “I’m just trying to pick up my teammates; that’s really what it comes down to. Just trying to lock it in for that 15, 30, 45 seconds and trying to do \\[the\\] job. I’m feeling good; I think the results and the work speak for itself on how I’m feeling.”\n\nNew York peppered right-hander Spencer Turnbull for four runs and five hits over five-plus innings. Torres punched a run-scoring single through the right side of the infield in the third inning and Judge smoked a 112.1 mph RBI double in the fifth, scoring DJ LeMahieu after a single, a stolen base and a throwing error.
\n\n \n\nA hit-by-pitch and two walks set up New York’s sixth-inning rally, with Judge lacing a two-out, two-run single -- his third hit of the afternoon -- and Torres flaring a two-run bloop into shallow left-center field.\n\n“Everybody is getting better,” Torres said. “We’re taking advantage of every opportunity the other team gives us. The first couple of weeks, we lost too many opportunities on base. As a group, we’re more confident right now.”
**Slamming the door**
Left-hander Justin Wilson permitted two runs in the seventh and Niko Goodrum hit a solo homer off right-hander Chad Green in the eighth, trimming what had been a five-run Yankees lead.\n\nAroldis Chapman protected the advantage by striking out two men in a terrific seven-pitch ninth, nailing down his fifth save in as many opportunities. The Yankees would return to the .500 mark with a win on Sunday.\n\n“We want to be way beyond .500,” Judge said. “We’re going to continue to try not only to win series, but we want to dominate series.”