Anthony Rizzo hits 3-run home run as Yankees beat Tigers

NEW YORK — Sometimes, it only takes one big swing to break a lineup out of a funk.

The Yankees have now gotten two from Anthony Rizzo in a span of 24 hours, and they hope it means things start clicking again for their scuffling offense.

Only a few hours after connecting for the walk-off single in Friday’s series opener, Rizzo had the biggest swing again for the Yankees in their 5-3 victory over the Tigers on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Rizzo’s third-inning three-run homer off Casey Mize banked off the side facing of the second deck in right field and into Judge’s Chambers, setting the tone for a team win and setting New York up for a potential sweep.

That was enough support for Clarke Schmidt and three Yankees relievers, who kept Detroit in check after Riley Greene’s leadoff homer. Schmidt struck out seven across five innings of three-run ball, and Luke Weaver got seven big outs behind him before Clay Holmes shut the door for his 11th save.It had been a quiet week for the Yankees’ lineup. After bursting out for 30 runs in two games against the Brewers last weekend, it managed just six runs in the next four games combined against the Orioles. The Yankees were then very much held in check for most of Friday by Detroit pitching until Rizzo’s single capped a two-run rally in the ninth.

Saturday was a different story. Even more encouraging, the damage came from the heart of the order, which had been hard to come by for the past few days. Rizzo entered play 2-for-his-last-17 without an extra-base hit over his past five games. Aaron Judge entered play 2-for-his-last-16. Giancarlo Stanton: 6-for-his-last 30 with 13 strikeouts.

All had a hand in Saturday’s win. Judge doubled home a run ahead of Rizzo’s homer in the third, and he scored twice as part of a two-hit day. Stanton drove in New York’s first run with a laser single to the right-field wall.

If the Yankees’ clutch rally Friday allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief, Saturday’s performance felt like a full exhale.