Montgomery gets 1st win, Yanks beat White Sox for 8th in row
NEW YORK (AP) - The way Jordan Montgomery keeps his cool on the mound, it's hard to believe he's a rookie.
The way the New York Yankees keep winning games lately, it's easy to forget who they're missing.
Montgomery took a shutout into the seventh inning for his first major league win while Matt Holliday hit a three-run homer in his return to the lineup as the Yankees romped to their eighth consecutive victory by beating the Chicago White Sox 7-4 on Monday night.
New York Yankees Jordan Montgomery deliver the ball to the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 17, 2017, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
"We've just kind of found a nice rhythm and a nice recipe," Holliday said.
The veteran slugger triggered a five-run third with a titanic shot into the raised bleachers beyond the left-center bullpen, his first home run at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge added a two-run drive to chase Derek Holland (1-2) with the score 7-0 in the fifth.
Despite playing without injured catcher Gary Sanchez and shortstop Didi Gregorius, the Baby Bombers have rebounded from a 1-4 start with the club's longest winning streak since a 10-game run in June 2012.
"We've got guys in this room that can handle their business and are showing it," backup catcher Austin Romine said. "They want that opportunity."
Making his second career start, Montgomery (1-0) immediately found himself in a first-inning jam. But the 24-year-old lefty calmly pitched out of it by setting down slumping cleanup hitter Jose Abreu and streaking Avisail Garcia with runners at second and third.
"Just went out there and kind of stayed within myself," said Montgomery, who pitched in the College World Series when he was in his first year at South Carolina. "Hopefully the first of many, so I'm not trying to make too big a deal of it."
Garcia began the night leading the majors with a .465 batting average, yet Montgomery never flinched.
"He's got poise beyond his years," Holliday said. "He's got a very veteran demeanor to him."
Starlin Castro had three hits for New York and Judge drove in three runs. Castro and Chase Headley hit successive doubles after Holliday's homer, estimated at 459 feet as New York won its first seven home games for the first time since 1998.
New York Yankees left fielder Matt Holliday hits a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, April 17, 2017, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Yankees left fielder Matt Holliday, right, celebrates with Aaron Hicks and Pete Kozma (30) after Holliday hit a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, April 17, 2017, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, April 17, 2017, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Derek Holland (45) delivers the ball to the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 17, 2017, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge celebrates his two-run home run with Chris Carter (48) and Starlin Castro, right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, April 17, 2017, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman, right, celebrates with catcher Austin Romine after the Yankees defeated the Chicago White Sox 7-4 during a baseball game, Monday, April 17, 2017, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman smiles after he got a save as the Yankees defeated the Chicago White Sox 7-4 during a baseball game, Monday, April 17, 2017, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley, left, runs to first as the ball gets by Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu during a baseball game, Monday, April 17, 2017, at Yankee Stadium in New York. Headley was safe on a throwing error by Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)