The Yankees lost to Boston Friday night, 6-2, as Rafael Devers of Boston hit 2 HR and drove in 5 runs.
The loss puts the Yankees (50-46, 3rd in AL East) 9 games back of Boston.
The Yanks scored first when in the second inning, Gary Sanchez (who later left the game with back spasms) led off with a walk, Gleyber Torres singled, and Brett Gardner doubled in Sanchez.
Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez left the game then due to a migraine, and although bad for him, it turned out good for Boston. His reliever, Phillips Valdez, shut the Yankees down. He got a strikeout, hit Ryan LaMarre with a pitch to load the bases, then got two more strikeouts. The Yanks only got one run and wouldn’t score again until the ninth inning.
Gerrit Cole pitched four scoreless innings, but threw a lot of pitches to do so and ran out of gas in the fifth, giving up 3 runs, 2 on a HR by Devers. In five innings, Cole threw 104 pitches.
Devers hit a 3-run HR off of Nestor Cortes, Jr. in the seventh to make it 6-1 Boston.
The Yanks scored in the ninth when with two out, Giancarlo Stanton singled and Rougned Odor doubled him home.
Cole (L, 10-5) 5 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 2 W, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.74 Cortes 2 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 0 W, 3 K Gave 1 HR 1.95 Wilson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 7.50
Loasiga and Cortes back from Covid IL, and sent down were Kriske and Nelson.
The Yankees had a short bullpen, with the IL and COVID IL having O’Day, Peralta, Cortes, Loaisiga & King on it, and both Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman were unavailable due to recent usage.
Next man up, but….
those men didn’t deliver as the Yanks blew a 3-1 lead in the 9th, then a 4-3 lead in the tenth as the Yanks (50-45, 3rd, 8 GB) lost 5-4 in Boston. Another late inning bullpen meltdown, and the Yanks have had too many of those lately.
Poor Jordan Montgomery pitched well and once again got little run support. The Yanks only got four hits all game long.
They did go up 1-0 in the fourth. Brett Gardner and Giancarlo Stanton walked to lead off the inning. After an out, a passed ball moved both runners up, and Gardner scored on a groundout by Gleyber Torres.
There was a 55 minute rain delay in the fifth inning.
Boston tied the game, helped by an error by Tyler Wade, in the seventh.
The Yanks went ahead 3-1 in the eighth. D.J. LeMahieu and Gardner both walked to lead off the inning, then Stanton singled to make it 2-1. Rougned Odor bunted both runners over and Torres hit a SF.
Luis Cessa pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, but manager Aaron Boone went to his closer for the night, Chad Green, for the ninth. Strikeout, single, single, lineout, and the Yankees were one out away. Instead, a double tied the game before Green then got the last out.
In the top of the tenth, Tyler Wade was the ghost runner at second. He moved up to third on a ground out and scored on a SF by Gardner.
Then to a wild, terrible bottom of the tenth. Brooks Kriske came in to pitch, and FOUR wild pitches by Kriske basically gave Boston the game. Boston had their ghost runner. WP moved him to third. Another WP and the game was tied, and Boston did nothing to earn that. A walk. A WP moved the winning run to second. Another WP moved him to third. A strikeout. A SF to win the game. What an ugly way to lose.
Torres 2 RBI
Montgomery 5 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, 6 K. 3.96 1 WP Romano (H, 1) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 5.06 (Combined Cin/NYY; see below) Luetge (BS, 2) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.20 Cessa (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.82 Green (BS, 2) 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.06 Kriske (L, 1-1; BS, 1) 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 10.80 FOUR wild pitches.
Before the game, the Yanks DFA’d Asher Wojciechowski and brought up Sal Romano. Romano was with the Reds 2017 through this year and going into this game, had a career record of 15-19, 5.15 (ERA+ 85). 83 games, about half of which were starts.
The Yanks moved into sole possession of third place in the AL East with a 6-5, 10-inning walk-off win over the Phils last night. The Yanks are 50-44, 7 GB.
The game featured both teams using spot, emergency starters. Both starters did surprisingly well, considering.
Asher Wojciechowski started for the Yanks, and things looked like they would be bleak when he gave up a HR to Jean Segura of the Phils on his first pitch of the game. But he settled in to just give up 2 runs in 4 IP. Hoy Jun Park was sent down to make room for Wojciechowski on the roster.
After the Phils made it 2-0 in the third inning, the Yanks came back to tie the game in the fourth. With two out, Gleyber Torres homered (6). Brett Gardner singled, and then Greg Allen, who has really given the Yankees a jolt, doubled in Gardner to tie the score.
The Yanks got three runs in the bottom of the seventh to go up 5-2. With one out, rookie Estevan Florial singled, then stole second. After another out, Giancarlo Stanton singled in Florial, then Rougned Odor hit a 2-run HR (11).
The Yanks’ bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, as Zack Britton and Nick Nelson combined to give up three runs in the top of the eighth to allow the Phils to tie the game.
The Yanks had a chance to walk it off in the ninth, but couldn’t get the run in, so to extra innings it went.
Gary Sanchez was the “ghost” runner in the tenth, a rule that (thankfully) seems like it will be going away and back to the minors. Gleyber Torres sacrifice bunted Sanchez to third, and PH Ryan LaMarre singled in Sanchez with the winning run.
Brooks Kriske got his first MLB win.
The Yanks were fortunate. They won despite issuing 11 walks. The Phils were 1 for 14 w/RISP.
The Yanks now head to Boston for a big 4-game series.
Odor 2-run HR (11) Torres solo HR (6) LaMarre PH GW RBI single
Wojciechowski 4 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 W, 4 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 4.50 Abreu 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1.88 Wilson 1 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 7.94 Britton (H, 3) 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 8.53 Nelson (BS, 1) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1 WP. 9.45 Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 4.28 Kriske (W, 1-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 10.50 FIRST MLB WIN.
When you look at the Yankees’ win (6-4) over the Phillies last night, it’s easy to look at the four homers that were hit. But to me, most impressive was the little things that Greg Allen and rookie Estevan Florial did in the victory.
Both players are filling in while others are on the IL or Covid-IL.
Florial was brought up earlier in the day when Trey Amburgey (hamstring) had to go on the IL. This was his third MLB game.
The Phillies struck first when Rhys Hoskins hit a HR in the second inning off of Yankees’ starter Domingo German.
The Yanks tied it in the bottom of the third. Allen tripled, and Florial got him in with a groundout to second. Just doing the little things to get the run in.
The Phils got a run in the fourth to go up 2-1. They were helped by a balk by German, and ex-Yankee Ronald Torreyes doubled in the run.
The Yanks went up 3-2 in the fifth. Allen walked and stole second. He moved up to third when Florial flied out (doing the little things). I would have liked to have seen Tyler Wade squeeze home the run there, but he swung away and lined out to SS (to ex-Yankee Didi Gregorius). Gregorius tried to double Allen off of third but made a throwing error that allowed Allen to score. Brett Gardner followed that with a HR (4).
Gary Sanchez homered (17) in the sixth to make it 4-2 Yankees.
In the top of the seventh, Chad Green got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam with a couple of strikeouts, the last one to Didi.
In the bottom of the seventh, Giancarlo Stanton homered (16) to put the Yanks up 5-2.
The Phillies got a run in the top of the eighth to cut it to 5-3, and it was Torreyes who got the inning going for them.
In the bottom of the eighth, Florial hit his first MLB HR to put the Yanks up 6-3.
Aroldis Chapman gave up a HR in the ninth to Andrew McCutchen (another ex-Yankee playing for the Phils, managed by, you guessed it, ex-Yankee Joe Girardi) that made the score 6-4 before closing out the game.
With the win, the Yanks, 49-44, are in a virtual tie for third, 7 games back. After tonight’s game with the Phils, they have four games at Fenway against Boston, followed by three in Tampa Bay. These games are right before the trade deadline.
I won’t write about rumors, but if the Yanks do make deals, I’ll write about the deal and my reaction to it.
Gardner solo HR (4) Stanton 2 hits, solo HR (16) Sanchez 2 hits, solo HR (17) Florial 2 RBI, solo HR (1) FIRST MLB HR
German 4 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 W, 5 K. 1 Balk. Gave up 1 HR. 4.71 Cessa (W, 3-1) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K. 2.89 Luetge (H, 3) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 WP. 3.25 Green (H, 13) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.76 Britton (H, 2) 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 6.00 Chapman (S, 17) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.41
The Yanks are bringing up Asher Wojciechowski for a spot start tonight vs. the Phils.
Since the Yanks needed to bring up a lot of guys from SWB because of COVID, it had a residual effect. Guys had to be brought up to SWB, etc.
AAA: SWB (41-21) won 7-2. CF Estevan Florial 2 hits, 2 RBI, both solo HR. C Donny Sands (just brought up) 3 hits, solo HR. DH Matt Pita 2 hits, 3 RBI, a 3-run HR.
AA: Somerset (40-23) lost 6-4. SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits, RBI. CF Brandon Lockridge (just recently promoted) 3 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR. RF Michael Beltre 2 hits, solo HR. 1B Max Burt 2 hits.
High A: Hudson Valley (41-23) won 8-7. Recently promoted SS Anthony Volpe (2019 1st round pick) 4 hits, 2 doubles, RBI. LF Elijah Dunham solo HR. DH Josh Breaux 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR. RF Jake Sanford (just promoted) 2 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR. 3B James Nelson 2 hits, RBI.
Low A: 18 year old Jasson Dominguez is the Yankees’ top prospect. Nicknamed “The Martian”, the Yanks signed him two years ago for $5.1MM. His skills, power and speed, have drawn comparisons to Mickey Mantle, Mike Trout and Bo Jackson. He played in the Futures Game before ever even joining Low A. Last night he hit his first professional HR as Tampa (44-19) won 13-4.
Dominguez 2 hits, 2 RBI, a 2-run HR. .438 at Low A so far (7 for 16). He was 4 for 20 in the FL Complex League before going to Tampa, so 11 for 36 so far. It will be interesting to see how fast he rises. Remember, just 18.
Also in this game: 2B Trevor Hauver 2 hits, 2 RBI. CF Everson Pereira 2 hits. RF Aldenis Sanchez 4 hits, 3 RBI. 1B Pedro Diaz 2 RBI. LF Evan Alexander 3 hits, 3 RBI. Nelvin Correa 4 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 5 K.
Major problems. And these could sink the Yankees’ season.
The Yanks were already without Jonathan Loaisiga (Covid list). Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar were on the IL, not to mention others like Corey Kluber, Aaron Hicks and Darren O’Day.
Now add to the Covid List Wandy Peralta, Nestor Cortes, Jr. Aaron Judge, Kyle Higashioka and Gio Urshela. Add Luke Voit (knee) to the IL.
As a result, a bunch of guys had to be brought up from SWB. Hoy Jun Park and Trey Amburgey each made their MLB debuts last night. Rob Brantly had to be brought up. Chris Gittens, just off the IL himself, had to come up. Zack Britton was activated off of the IL. Am I missing anyone?
The depleted Yanks lost to Boston 4-0, getting just three hits. They are 0-7 vs. Boston this year, and are now 9 back and in fourth place with a 46-44 record. They play Boston six more times between now and June 25. They have Tampa Bay June 27-29. (In between there are two games with the Phillies).
Those guys out will be out for a while, leaving it up to the scrubs. This could get ugly.
So what did we see last night? The Yanks had a #3 hitter hitting .219, a cleanup hitter hitting .215, A #5 hitter at .237, a #6 hitter at .190. The #7 hitter is 2 for 22 in his MLB career. The #8 hitter was making his MLB debut. The #9 hitter is at .180 and was pinch-hit for by another guy making his MLB debut. Hoo boy. Is it any wonder why the Yanks got shut out?
Poor Jordan Montgomery. No run support. Montgomery had just one bad inning, the second, when he gave up a walk, double, RBI groundout, and a 2-run HR for 3 runs. That was more than enough for Boston. The second straight game he lost 4-0. In his last five starts, Montgomery has lost four of them. In those five games, the Yankees have scored a total of seven runs.
Later, Justin Wilson, who has been absolutely brutal this season, gave up a solo HR for the last run of the game. 4-0, Boston.
Montgomery (L, 3-5) 6 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. One bad inning. 4.18 German 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.72 Wilson 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 8.62 Gave up 1 HR. Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 4.40
The Yankees/Red Sox game on Thursday night was postponed due to Covid concerns, and the whole four-game weekend series could be in jeopardy. Things could get even worse for MLB. This could affect each team.
Besides Jonathan Loaisiga, who tested positive before the All-Star Game, Nestor Cortes, Jr. and Wandy Peralta have also tested positive. The Yanks made roster substitutions, reinstating Zack Britton off of the IL, bringing up Trey Amburgey, and putting Hoy Jun Park on the taxi squad.
Then it was reported that Aaron Judge, Gio Urshela and Kyle Higashioka are in protocol. First reports are that they are positive too, but further testing is needed to confirm.
Since Judge was just a starter and played at the All-Star Game, if he was/is positive, then every team has a problem, especially with its All-Stars, and MLB is then in a tizzy.
Hoo Boy.
Minor League Report.
AAA: SWB (40-21) won 11-3. RF Ryan LaMarre, 2 RBI, solo HR. LF Greg Allen 2 hits, RBI. 3B Aramando Alvarez 2 hits, 3 RBI, SS Andrew Velazquez 2 hits, 2 RBI.
The AL won the All-Star Game, 5-2 last night. Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., who hit a 468 ft. HR, was named MVP of the game, the youngest All-Star Game MVP ever. It was the 8th win in a row for the AL. The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, who pitched and hit, got the win. Guerrero and his father are the third father/son combo to each HR in an all-star game.
Aaron Judge went 0 for 2 with a walk and scored a run. The other All-Star Yankees, Gerrit Cole and Aroldis Chapman, did not play.
In the minor leagues, the Yankees promoted a lot of players. I’ll name a few but probably won’t name them all.
AAA: Pitcher Glenn Otto was promoted up to here. SWB (38-20) won 5-2. LF Greg Allen 2 hits, RBI. C Rob Brantly 2 RBI.
AA: Somerset (39-21) won 3-2. CF Brandon Lockridge prmoted to here, and he hit a solo HR. LHP Ken Waldichuk with another great game. 6 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 W, 11 K. 3-0, 3.08 at AA. For the season, A/AA 5-0, 1.42 (12 starts). In his minor league career, 22 starts, he is 5-2, 2.19. SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits. RF Michael Beltre 2 hits.
High A: SS Anthony Volpe, and OF’s Pat DeMarco and Jake Sanford promoted to here from Low A. RF Sanford had 2 hits. Hudson Valley (40-20) won 9-4. 2B Ezequiel Duran 2 hits, 2 RBI. 3B James Nelson 2 hits, 2 RBI, a 2-run HR. 1B Chad Bell 2 hits, RBI. CF Pablo Olivares 2 hits. Starter Josh Maciejewski 5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 7 K, 1 HBP.
Low A: Promoted to here from the Florida Complex League: Top prospect CF Jasson Dominguez, as well as Ryder Green and LF Aldenis Sanchez. Tampa (41-18) won 6-2. Dominguez 2 hits, 2 RBI, double. He was 4 for 20 in the FCL, all singles, so this was his first extra-base hit. He’s only 18. Sanchez had 2 hits, RBI. 3B Andres Chaparro solo HR.
Gerrit Cole threw a complete game shutout and in the end, it was pure guts. Pure willpower. He threw 129 pitches, and with two out in the 9th, persuaded manager Aaron Boone to leave him in. Result? Three pitches, three strikes. The last two outs were strikeouts. It was like no way Cole was going to lose this game. Pure determination.
The only run of the game came on a 419 ft. HR (21) by Aaron Judge in the third inning.
Before the game, Miguel Andujar (hand) and Jonathan Loaisiga (Covid) were put on the IL. Albert Abreu and Brooks Kriske brought up.
The Yanks had six hits, Houston had three.
The complete game may have been necessary. Given the way Aroldis Chapman has been lately, I don’t think anyone would have been comfortable with Chapman in the game in that ninth inning. It was Cole’s to win or lose. And even with a high pitch count, I, and others, would rather take our chances there with Cole and his heart, guts and determination.
With the win, the Yanks (46-42, 3rd place) are now 8 back.
AAA: Besides Derek Dietrich opting out of his deal, Robinson Chirinos and Nick Goody are out as well.
SWB (34-16) Lost 5-4. 3B Andrew Valazquez 2 for 2, 2 walks, RBI.
AA: Somerset (35-18) won 3-0. Luis Medina (going to Futures Game) 5 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 1 W, 8 K. SS Oswald Peraza 3 hits, RBI. DH Donny Sands 2 hits. RF Michael Beltre solo HR. LF Isiah Gilliam solo HR.
High A: Hudson Valley (34-19) won 7-3. SS Josh Smith 2 hits. 2B Ezequiel Duran 2 hits, 3 RBI. CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR. LF Elijah Dunham 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR.
Low A: Tampa swept a DH. Both 7-inning games.
Game 1: Won 2-1. CF Pat DeMarco 2 hits.
Game 2: Won 5-1, all runs scoring in the bottom of the sixth. SS Anthony Volpe (.309-11-46) solo HR, DH Austin Wells (.266-6-40) solo HR (HR were back-to-back). RF Jake Sanford 2 hits, RBI.
