Clint Frazier hit a three-run homer off Corey Knebel with one out in the ninth, lifting the New York Yankees over the Milwaukee Brewers 5-3 on Saturday.
Frazier turned on a 1-0 pitch from Knebel (0-2) for his second career homer and first game-ending shot. He threw his helmet as he approached his teammates at home plate, unveiling his mop of red hair, which was then doused in yellow Gatorade.
"The hair is OK," Frazier told the Yankee Stadium crowd. He had three hits and a career-high four RBIs in his sixth game.
It was New York's third walk-off win this season and ended a three-game slide. The Yankees improved to 7-17 since going a season-best 15 games over. 500 on June 12.
Dellin Betances struck out two in a perfect eighth for New York, and Aroldis Chapman (2-0) struck out the side in the ninth.
The NL Central-leading Brewers wasted an impressive showing by crafty left-hander Brent Suter. They had won five in a row.
Suter, a Harvard graduate who has never reach 90 mph in the majors, didn't allow a hit until Frazier's groundball single with two outs in the fifth. He pitched two-hit ball through six scoreless innings before the Yankees got to him for two runs in the seventh. Jared Hughes and Jacob Barnes then got the ball to Knebel.
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Luis Severino - an All-Star who can reach 100 mph - struck out 10 and gave up three runs over seven innings for New York. Milwaukee's only damage against the right-hander was Domingo Santana's homer in the first.
New York chased Suter with a trio of hard-hit balls in the seventh. Chase Headley doubled, Jacoby Ellsbury singled and Suter's errant pickoff attempt let Headley score.
Frazier then drilled a standup triple off the wall in left-center to make it 3-2.
DISPUTED HBP
Santana's homer came one at-bat after Yankees manager Joe Girardi furiously argued with plate umpire Mike Estabrook over a hit-by-pitch. Estabrook granted Travis Shaw first base after the batter claimed Severino's pitch brushed his jersey, and Girardi waved his arms furiously while talking with Estabrook and crew chief Larry Vanover. Girardi eventually challenged, but video officials did not overturn the call.
THE OL' 1-5-6-3
The Yankees hit into a strange double play in the second inning. With Didi Gregorius at second, Headley chopped a ball to Suter, and the pitcher turned to catch Gregorius midway between second and third. Third baseman Shaw and shortstop Orlando Arcia retired Gregorius in a rundown, and then Arcia whipped the ball to first to pick off Headley, who had wandered too far off the bag.
Headley has been thrown out on the bases nine times this season. Cleveland's Jose Ramirez entered Saturday leading the majors with 10.
SCRANTON SHUTTLE
The Yankees sent pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Luis Cessa to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and called up right-handers Ben Heller and Jonathan Holder. Montgomery has become a dependable member of the big league rotation, but pitched Friday and won't be needed again for at least a week because of the All-Star break. Cessa also threw two innings Friday. Both players must remain in the minors for 10 days, unless the Yankees add a player to the disabled list.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: OF Matt Holliday (viral infection) was expected to make his first rehab appearance with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday night.
UP NEXT
The Brewers and Yankees conclude the unofficial first half of the season Sunday. RHP Jimmy Nelson (7-4, 3.20 ERA) leads Milwaukee with 10 quality starts. RHP Masahiro Tanaka (7-7, 5.25 ERA) has a 1.29 ERA in his past three outings after an inconsistent open to the season.
