Game 123. Yanks’ bats silent in 5-1 loss.

Sonny Gray has pitched well since the Yankees traded for him. ERA 3.13.

However he is 1-3 as a Yankee because the Yankees haven’t hit for him.

Sunday was another example. The Yanks lost 5-1 to Boston, dropping them five behind Boston with 39 games to go. The Yanks are 66-57.

They only got three hits in the game, two by Brett Gardner. Gardner’s 20th HR of the season accounted for their only run.

Aaron Judge struck out for the 37th consecutive game. Hopefully that streak ends soon. He also made a bad defensive play, lobbing the ball in while getting suckered by Mookie Betts, who tagged up and went to third. I think Judge will be firing the ball back in from now on. Betts didn’t score, but…

Tommy Kahnle struggled, just like he did Friday night vs. Boston.

Gray (L, 7-8, 3.38) 5 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 2 W, 0 K.
Warren 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.03
Chapman 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 4.14
Kahnle 0 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.98
Smith 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 6.55

When CC came off the DL, Montgomery was sent down to SWB to control his innings.

Game 122. Austin powers Yanks, 4-3.

Tyler Austin’s 3-run HR was the key blow as the Yanks beat Boston and Chris Sale on Saturday night, 4-3.

Sale usually owns the Yanks.

CC Sabathia came off the DL and was, to my surprise, effective. The last time we saw CC on the mound, he was in pain with that right knee and we were not sure what to think. Season over? Career over? But there was no structural damage and he missed just one start. The knee didn’t seem to bother him last night.

Austin’s second-inning HR (2) put the Yanks up 3-0. Boston got two in the fifth off of CC.

Todd Frazier hit a solo HR (21) in the sixth to make it 4-2 Yanks, but Adam Warren gave up a HR in the seventh.

Before the game, it was announced that Aroldis Chapman has lost his closer’s job for now. There is still four years left on Chapman’s contract at $17MM per. The Yanks will need to straighten him out.

Sabathia (W, 10-5, 3.99) 6 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 4 K.
Warren (H, 11) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1.88
Robertson (H, 3) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2.19
Betances (S, 9) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.11

Aaron Judge set a record for most consecutive games striking out.

Brett Gardner had 2 hits. Didi Gregorius had 3. Austin had 2 and was robbed of a third.

The win puts the Yanks at 66-56, four back of Boston. They hold the top wild card spot by 3 1/2 games.

Game 120. Sweep the Mets, Sweep the Mets, step right up and Sweep the Mets!

I hope I don’t have to pay copyright infringement on the Mets’ theme song. LOL.

The Yanks swept the Subway Series from the Mets, 7-5 tonight, to improve to 65-55. 4 back of Boston in the AL East, still in control of the top wild card spot.

They face Boston in Fenway this weekend.

Gary Sanchez drove in 5 runs.

In the first, he hit a 3-run HR. (22)

In the fourth, Tyler Austin (just called up b/c Garrett Cooper was put on the DL w/a hamstring problem) singled. Austin was 2 for 4 tonight. Torreyes singled and Severino was called upon to bunt. Even though he popped up the bunt, it was missed, and Severino got his first MLB hit to load the bases with no one out. Gardner doubled in two. Hicks grounded out softly, no advance. Judge was HBP to reload the bases and Sanchez singled in two to put the Yanks up 7-0.

The Mets got an unearned run in the seventh on a two-base error by Judge, WP by Severino (brilliant tonight) and RBI single.

So the Yanks took a 7-1 lead into the ninth. Garbage time for Bryan Mitchell, who was garbage, getting no one out. Double, Single, Walk loads the bases and Ex-Yankee Curtis Granderson hits a grand slam to make it 7-5 and send Mitchell out, Betances in, and Betances finishes off the sweep of the Metropolitans.

Severino 6 1/3 IP, 1 R, unearned, 4 H, 3 W, 9 K. (W, 10-5, 3.18)
Shreve 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2.70
Mitchell 0 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 1 W, 0 K. 4.67 Gave up a grand slam.
Betances (S, 8) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W 0 K 2.15.

Imagine how scary Aaron Judge (3 K tonight) could be if he cut his strikeouts by 25-30%????

Gardner 2 RBI
Sanchez 2 hits, HR (22), 5 RBI
Gregorius 2 hits, .311
Austin 2 hits.

 

 

Game 118. Gray seals it, but Chapman almost unseals it in a 5-4 Yanks’ win.

Pardons to Elton John for the headline.

The Yanks have a problem on their hands. That problem is Aroldis Chapman and a second problem may be Joe Girardi’s stubbornness right now.

Sonny Gray pitched well, six shutout innings before yielding a 2-run HR in the seventh. Still, the Yanks took a 5-2 lead into the ninth, when Chapman gave up a 2-run HR to make things shaky before the Yanks finished off the Mets 5-4.

Chapman is a problem right now. As I wrote a few days ago, the Yanks have three closers. They can go with the hot hand, something Girardi mentioned sarcastically a few days ago in saying “Chapman is my closer. What am I supposed to do, go with the hot hand?”

Yes, Joe, that is exactly what we want you to do. We also want you to leave relievers performing well in for more than one inning. For you almost blew another game tonight. 

The Yanks scored first, getting a run in the third on a Torreyes double, Gardner sac bunt and Hicks single. Good. Nice to see some littleball with the bunt there.

Jacoby Ellsbury hit a 2-run HR (6) in the fourth to make it 3-0.

Gary Sanchez homered in the sixth (21) to make it 4-0. Gray gave up a 2-run HR in the seventh,  but the Yanks made it 5-2 in the eighth on a SF by Sanchez.

Then in came Chapman who almost blew the game. Why not leave Betances throw a second inning. Why not use Warren (Robertson could use the day off). But no, the “he’s my closer” stubbornness mentality almost cost the Yanks a ballgame.

You just knew when Chapman came in tonight that this wasn’t going to go smoothly.

Aaron Judge struck out for the 32nd straight game, tying a MLB record, but he did have a key double and then scored that fifth run.

Gray (W, 7-7, 3.37) 6+ IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Kahnle (H, 11) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.30. Threw just 10 pitches. What, he can’t go two?
Betances (H, 17) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.20. Threw 19 pitches. He couldn’t go two?
Chapman (S, 16) 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.89. That save rule is a joke.

Happy the Yanks won. Unhappy Girardi is so inflexible with his thinking.

UPDATE: Chapman was pretty down after the game. Not as confident as previously. It could be getting to him. On the final play, he appeared to tweak his hammy a bit.

Cessa went on the DL. Smith back up.

Game 117. The Aaron’s (Hicks & Judge) and the Kraken power Yanks, 4-2.

Home runs by the Aaron’s (no, not Henry or Tommy) Hicks and Judge and another by Gary (the Kraken) Sanchez powered the Yanks to a 4-2 subway series win over the Mets Monday night.

I was worried about Luis Cessa starting. He pitched half decently tonight but didn’t provide length (see below…injury). There are times I and others wondered “why Cessa again? Why not bring up Chance Adams?” Cessa does appear better suited for middle relief than a starting role. His numbers seem to back that up.

Now to bring up Adams, the Yanks would have to put him on the 40-man and take someone off. Girardi thinks Adams, despite his fine record in the minors (13-3, 1.96 AA/AAA this year), isn’t ready yet. He may or may not have to be ready now, because Cessa got hurt tonight. I know I, and a lot of the fan base, would like to see the kid. And see him over Cessa, no offense to Cessa. With Cessa’s injury, do we now see Adams?

Cessa left the game in the fifth inning with an apparent back injury. Meanwhile, CC Sabathia apparently tried pitching today and may or may not be ready on Saturday. So he’d fit right back in line if he was ready.

Cessa gave up HRs in the third to both ex-Yankee Curtis Granderson and to Yoenis Cespedes to put the Mets up 2-0.

In the fourth, Sanchez hit a SF to cut the lead to 2-1.

Aaron Judge tied the game with HR #36 in the sixth. The strikeouts did continue, but maybe this HR gets him going again.

With the score tied in the bottom of the eighth, the Yanks got HRs from Aaron Hicks (12) and Gary Sanchez (20) to put the game away, 4-2.

For all three, it was their 40th career HR. All three got it in the same game.

Cessa 4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR. 4.75
Green 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 4 K. 1.95. Been great all year.
Robertson (W, 6-2, 2.30) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Betances (S, 7) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.25

Some further notes. The Yanks may want to bring up someone like Donovan Solano and send Tyler Wade down? Castro will be starting rehab soon and should be back soon, and they need him. Wade, 22, has done well at SWB but is down to .120 and really looks overmatched so far in the majors.

The slump of Judge and the slump of Holliday, combined with the DL stints for Holliday and Castro have really hurt the lineup. 3 homers today helped win the game, but the Yanks will have to be good at playing littleball until some players come back, be it Bird, Holliday and/or Castro.

The win, puts the Yanks at 62-55. With Boston losing, they are now 4 1/2 out in the AL East. They retain the top wild card spot.

 

Minor League Report. Tampa wins on 1-hitter.

ICYMI: Tyler Clippard has moved on again, now from the White Sox to Houston. Clippard, who started strong for the Yanks this year before fading and being traded away, actually did well for the White Sox in his brief time there.

AAA: SWB (77-43) scored two in the top of the ninth to win 4-2. DH Ji-Man Choi, double, 2-run HR in the top of the ninth, 4 RBI.  2B Donovan Solano 3 hits. SWB pitchers struck out 15.

Cortes 4 2/3 IP, 1 R, unearned, 1 H, 0 W, 8 K. 0.98
Brewer 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. 9.64
Heller (W, 5-3, 2.76) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 5 K.

AA: Trenton (78-41) gave up the tying run in the bottom of the ninth and the winning run in the bottom of the tenth and lost 5-4. LF Zack Zehner grand slam. SS Thairo Estrada 4 hits. CF Jeff Hendrix, 3B Abiatal Avelino & C Sharif Othman 2 hits each.

Camarena 5 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 7 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.75
Schwaab (H, 1) 1 Ip, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. 4.22
Carroll (H, 3) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.79
Coshow (BS, 4; L, 2-5, 4.11) 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2 W, 1 K.

High A: Tampa (73-46) won 3-0 on a one-hitter. C Donny Sands 2 hits.

Widener 5 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 6 K. 3.62
Tarpley (W, 6-0, 0.00) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.
Sosebee (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00
Harvey (S, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.33

Low A: Charleston (66-53) won 9-2. 3B Dermis Garcia 2 HR, 3 RBI. SS Oswaldo Cabrera and C Eduardo Navas 3 hits each. DH Isiah Gilliam 2 RBI. CF Pablo Olivares 2 hits, RBI.

Perez (W, 9-3, 3.01) 5 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 W, 7 K.
Wivinis 2 IP, 0 r, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 0.00
Trieglaff 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00

Game 115. Boston blasts Severino, Tanaka to Dl. Montgomery escapes DL. Mets trade another Yanks’ target elsewhere.

What a bad day for the Yanks.

Masahiro Tanaka joins CC on the 10-day DL. For CC, knee. For Tanaka, shoulder inflammation.

…. Seand the Yanks almost had to put Sunday night’s starter, Jordan Montgomery, on the DL himself. He was hit in the head with a BP line drive while signing autographs before today’s game.

The Yanks fell to 61-54, 4 1/2 back of Boston due to a 10-5 loss Saturday afternoon. Luis Severino got rocked, giving up two 3-run HRs to Boston’s Andrew Benintendi.

The Yanks started well, getting a 2-run HR in the first by Gary Sanchez (19).

But Boston got five in the third, keyed by Benintendi’s first HR.

The Yanks loaded the bases with no one out in the fourth but only got one run. As you readers of mine know, I criticize Girardi for never MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. He doesn’t steal much, doesn’t hit and run, almost never bunts, and never squeezes runs home. He doesn’t play littleball. He doesn’t CREATE RUNS, and this team is having trouble scoring runs lately. It drives me crazy. Bases loaded, no one out and only one run.

Boston got five more in the fifth, keyed by another 3-run HR by Benintendi to go up 10-3.

The Yanks got back-to-back HR by Headley (7) and Ellsbury (5) in the ninth. 10-5 final.

Aaron Judges’ post All-Star game troubles are a problem. He has dropped 40 points of the batting average. .329 to .289,  W.161-5-12 since winning that HR derby. A curse. Some 43 strikeouts or so in 93 at bats. Strikeouts in his last 29 straight games. We have to get him back on track. As I mentioned, so many strikeouts are LOOKING. Pitch recognition? Aaargh. Swing that bat!

He is so strong. Stay WITH the ball and work on going the other way. He is so strong it will go out to RF.

Before the trade deadline, the Yanks were talking to the Mets about Neil Walker. They didn’t like his medicals, so a trade didn’t happen. He was dealt to the Brewers. So a third Yankees trade target from the Mets goes elsewhere. It really looks like the Mets have a thing about trading anyone to the Yankees, even if the Yanks give them a better deal (inferiority complex?). Whatever, I hope the Yanks kick the Mets’ ass this coming week as a result.

Severino (L, 9-5, 3.32) 4 1/3 IP, 10 R, 8 ER, 8 H, 2 W, 4 K. Gave up 2 HR.
Gallegos 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K. 5.79
Mitchell 2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.33

I guess we can rule OUT Mitchell for Monday against the Mets (taking Tanaka’s turn).