Game 94. Yanks walk-off Phils in 10, 6-5.

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.

Game 88. Pure guts. Cole pitches CG shutout, Yanks win 1-0 on Judge HR.

Masterpiece.

Pure guts.

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.

Judge HR (only run of game) #21

Cole (W, 9-4) 9 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 W, 12 K. 2.68

Game 80. Yanks score 7 in 1st, but give up 7 in 9th, lose 11-8. Brutal.

There were two rain delays totaling about an hour and 40 minutes. By the time the second rain delay was over, the game resumed around 11:30 PM and ended after 1 AM.

I’m glad I didn’t see the ending. My blood pressure would have caused another PE or a heart attack.

After last night, stick a fork in the Yankees. They are done. Sure, comebacks (think 1978) happen. But do any of you think it will happen with this team? They are now 41-39, 4th in the AL East, and 8 1/2 back.

And last night’s loss? Just excruciating. The Yanks scored 7 runs in the first inning, just one the rest of the game, took an 8-4 lead into the ninth, and gave up 7 runs in the top of the ninth to blow it and lose 11-8. Pathetic.

Before the game, controversy. The Yanks get swept in Boston last weekend. Their GM says “They suck.” The manager says that “the season is on the line.” But in a game with Ohtani on the mound, both Aaron Judge and Gio Urshela are out of the lineup. Where is the urgency? This “looking at the big picture stuff” as far as resting players right now is BS. What big picture? The playoffs (Cue Jim Mora here) that you won’t qualify for the way you are playing right now? What are you saving them for? Manager Boone says they are banged up. A lot of us remember a crippled, banged up Mickey Mantle playing through hellish injuries. Same with a banged up Thurman Munson. What crap. You should have heard the Michael Kay show on the YES network yesterday. Boy were they criticizing the Yanks over this.

Before the game, Justin Wilson up off of rehab, Albert Abreu sent down.


A slumping Domingo German gave up a 2-run HR in the top of the first inning to Phil Gosselin, and the Yanks were down 2-0 right away. I don’t know what it is with Yankees’ starters that they can’t make it out of the first inning unscathed. The homer came with two out and two strikes on Gosselin. Of course it did.

Shockingly, Angels’ star Shohei Ohtani had nothing as his control was off. The Yankees knocked him and his bat (the Angels forgoed the DH what with Ohtani and his 28 HR starting) out of the game after just 2/3 of an inning.

D.J. LeMahieu walked. Luke Voit walked. A passed ball. Gary Sanchez walked to load the bases. Giancarlo Stanton singled in a run, Gleyber Torres singled in another. After Rougned Odor struck out, Miguel Andujar made it 3-2 with an RBI groundout. Clint Frazier was HBP to reload the bases. Brett Gardner walked to force in a run, force Ohtani from the game, and make it 4-2. LeMahieu doubled to clear the bases. 7-2. Yankees’ fans were feeling good, not knowing what was to come later. What was to come later was just one more run, and a shocking defeat.

German gave up a run in the second. He was pulled after the first rain delay. Jared Walsh (we will hear from him later) homered in the fifth off of Luis Cessa to make it 7-4.

Brett Gardner homered in the eighth (3) to make it 8-4 Yankees. Game in the bag, right? Wrong.

In his first 23 games this season, Aroldis Chapman gave up just 1 earned run for an ERA of 0.39. That is through June 9. Starting on June 10 (when he gave up two 2-run HRs in the bottom of the ninth to blow a game), Chapman has given up 12 runs, 11 earned, in just 5 2/3 innings. It would be worse than that except for a triple play that saved his bacon. That ERA has gone from 0.39 to 3.77.

He walked the bases loaded, then gave up a game-tying grand slam to Walsh. Lucas Luetge came in and gave up three runs to complete the implosion. Ugh.

There aren’t any words. Well, yes, there are, but none you would use around children.

LeMahieu 3 RBI
Stanton 2 hits, RBI
Gardner 2 for 2, 2 walks, scored 2x, 2 RBI. Solo HR (3)

German 3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 3 W, 2 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 4.50
Wilson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 5.65
Cessa 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. gave up 1 HR. 3.31
O’Day (H, 4) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.70
Loaisiga (H, 10) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.32
Chapman 1/3 IP, 4 R, 1 H, 3 W, 0 K. Gave up Game-tying grand slam. 3.77
Luetge (L, 2-1) 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.15

Game 79. Yanks outslug Angels, Ohtani, 11-5.

The Yankees (41-38, 4th in AL East, 7 1/2 out) set a season high in runs scored, 11, in banging out 11 hits, including 3 HR, and drawing 9 walks in defeating the L.A. Angels, 11-5 on Tuesday night.

The 11 runs were a nice surprise for a team that has scored 3 or less runs in over half its games this season. The Yanks needed to score to keep up with Angels’ star Shohei Ohtani, who hit 2 more HR to lead the majors with 28. Ohtani, doing things not seen since Babe Ruth over 100 years ago, is the Angels’ starting pitcher tonight.

With the win, the Yanks snapped a four-game losing streak.

Gary Sanchez started things off with a solo HR in the first inning (14).

Yankees’ starter Jameson Taillon gave up a 2-run HR to Jose Iglesias in the top of the second, as the Angels took a 2-1 lead. Taillon got the win, but didn’t really pitch well, giving up 5 runs (3 HR, two to Ohtani) in 5 1/3 IP. He needed the run support.

The Yanks came back with four runs in the bottom of the second and weren’t headed off the rest of the game. With one out, Gio Urshela walked and Miguel Andujar singled Urshela to third. Brett Gardner hit a SF tying up the game, and Andujar moved up on the SF as well. D.J. LeMahieu singled in Andujar to make it 3-2, then Aaron Judge homered (18) to make it 5-2.

Ohtani hit the first of his two homers in the top of the third to make it 5-3.

The Yanks broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Andujar led off the inning with a HR (6). Gardner walked. Two outs later, Sanchez doubled in Gardner to make it 7-3. Giancarlo Stanton walked, then Luke Voit doubled in a run to make it 8-3. Gleyber Torres, in the midst of a terrible slump, singled in Stanton and Voit to make it 10-3.

Ohtani hit his second HR of the game, a 2-run shot, in the top of the fifth to cut the Yanks’ lead to 10-5.

The final run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Torres singled, and Urshela singled. Torres stole third on what was supposed to be a double steal, but Urshela slipped and had to stay at first. Andujar doubled in Torres.

Before the game, Darren O’Day was activated off of rehab. Brooks Kriske was sent down. The Yankees did not activate Justin Wilson yet off of rehab, and why should they? Both Nestor Cortes, Jr. and Albert Abreu are doing well (see below).

Judge 2-run HR (18)
Sanchez 2 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR (14)
Torres 2 hits, 2 RBI
Andujar 3 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR (6)

Taillon (W, 3-4) 5 1/3 IP, 5 R, 9 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 3 HR. 1 WP. 5.43
Cortes 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1.02
Abreu 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 HBP. 2.13

UPDATE: The Yanks have sent Abreu back and will be activating Wilson today. I don’t know about that move. Hopefully Wilson (no options as opposed to Abreu) does better than the 6.08 ERA he had earlier. Abreu at 2.13 has been far better.

Game 78. Yanks lose 4th in a row, 5-3.

The YES network had a lot of statistics yesterday. For example, the Yankees have scored 3 or less runs in 41 of their 78 games this year. That is more than half. Last night, they scored 3.

About 2/3 of the homers they hit are solo HR. The homers aren’t coming with men on base. Last night the Yanks hit two homers. Yup. Both solo shots.

Yankees’ starter Michael King entered last night with a 14.40 ERA in the first inning. In his previous five starts, he had given up 8 first-inning runs. Make that now a 15.00 ERA and 10 runs in six starts. He put the Yanks into a 2-0 hole right away. The second batter, the incredible Shohei Ohtani, hit a HR off of him, #26 of the season for Ohtani. Ohtani is the scheduled starting PITCHER on Thursday against the Yankees, as he continues to do things not seen since Babe Ruth over 100 years ago. King doesn’t see anything wrong with his pre-game routine. The YES analysts see it differently. The YES analysts (which include some ex-major league players) say the jury is out whether King could be a starter in his MLB career. So far, my answer would be no. The first inning blues for one thing. For another, he doesn’t give you any length as a starter. He doesn’t go more than five innings (last night 4 1/3). Until King can fix those two issues, he can’t be an effective starter. Of course, King is only starting now because Corey Kluber is on the IL.

The Yanks lost their fourth straight game last night, 5-3 to Ohtani and the Angels. The loss drops the Yanks perilously close to .500, at 40-38. They are in 4th place in their 5-team division, the AL East, and are now 7 1/2 games out of first place. The season is slipping away. They better wake up. Call Sr. Mary Elephant to scream at them. Or, as Peggy Lee would sing, “Is That All There Is”? Very disappointing.

A couple of more stats YES gave out before more of a game recap. Going into last night’s game, the Yanks were 29th out of 30 teams with a .216 batting average with runners in scoring position. The Yanks went 0 for 4 w/RISP last night.

And lastly, two more things the YES analysts discussed. Both are instances of bad decision-making. Adam Ottavino had a good 2019 year with the Yankees (1.90 ERA) but a bad postseason that year. That bad postseason carried over to a bad 2020 (5.89 ERA). The Yankees traded him and a minor leaguer to, of all places, Boston for unknown compensation. It looks like just cash. Basically a salary dump. Didn’t even get a player for him. He’s rebounded to a 2.81 ERA for Boston this year. More damning is that Ottavino’s slider, when on, is devastating to righty batters. What do the Yankees have? A lineup full of righty batters. So the Yankees gave away to their arch-rival, a guy who, when on, has just what it takes to shut the Yankees down—which is exactly what Ottavino did to his former team this past weekend.

Another guy that shut the Yankees down this past weekend was Garrett Whitlock. If a player is in the minors for three years and not placed on the 40-man roster, he is subjected to the Rule 5 draft. Another team can claim him for $50,000. That player must stay with that team or be first offered back to the original team for $25,000. Well, the Yankees did not protect Whitlock. Whitlock was snapped up by—-you guessed it—-Boston, and helped beat the Yankees this past weekend. Whitlock, a rookie, is 3-1, 1.42 for Boston so far this season. Who did the Yankees protect instead of Whitlock? Well, Nick Nelson for one (0-2, 9.75 for the Yanks in 8 games this year) and Brooks Kriske (0-0, 12.60 in five games for the Yanks so far this year). Oops.

I know. As Yankees’ fans, those points that YES brought up are depressing. But give YES credit for going deep into things and in explaining some reasons for the Yankees underachieving so far this season.

Ok, to last night’s game. I already mentioned that King gave up 2 runs in the first inning, the first on a HR by Ohtani. So the Yanks are down 2-0 before they even came to bat.

The Yanks did get one run back in the bottom of the first. D.J. LeMahieu singled, Aaron Judge doubled D.J. to third, and Gary Sanchez scored D.J. with a SF. 2-1. But the Yanks couldn’t bring Judge in as well.

The Yanks did tie the game up in the second when Gio Urshela homered (10).

LeMahieu made an error in the fifth, which led to the Angels getting an unearned run to take the lead, 3-2.

Lucas Luetge gave up a HR to ex-Met Juan Lagares in the sixth and the Angels went up 4-2.

Giancarlo Stanton hit his 14th HR of the season in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Angels’ lead to 4-3, but the Yanks would score no more. Meanwhile the Halos got an insurance run in the eighth off of Chad Green. 5-3, the final score.

Stanton solo HR (14)
Urshela 2 hits, solo HR (10)

The Yanks only got six hits in the game. Now, many Yanks are struggling, but one in particular? What’s happened to Gleyber Torres? 2018, .271, 24 HR, All-Star, 3rd in ROY voting. 2019, .278, 38 HR, All-Star, 17th in MVP voting.
Since then, 2020 and 2021 combined, 110 games: .240-6-39. Which all coincides with his move to SS. You wonder.

King (L, 0-4) 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.06
Luetge 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.52
Green 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.48
Cortes 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.13

Darren O’Day and Justin Wilson can both come off the IL today. Brooks Kriske is sure to be sent back. It’ll be interesting to see if Abreu or Cortes goes back. Both have done well.

P.S. Back to work next week as I complete my recovery from two major (and one life-saving) surgeries. So future reports won’t be as in depth.

Game 76. Yanks fall to Boston again, 4-2.

You know the saying. Make contact, don’t strike out, and you might get lucky. You don’t know what may happen.

That sure worked for Boston as the Red Sox got five infield hits in beating the Yankees 4-2 Saturday night.

Usually when you are a lefty pitching at Fenway, and give up 3 runs in 6 innings, you did pretty well. But for Jordan Montgomery, it only made him a hard-luck loser last night as the Yankees had trouble getting to ex-Yankee Nathan Eovaldi. More on that in a bit.

The loss dropped the Yankees to 40-36, 6 back. They are 4 1/2 out of what would be the final playoff spot if the season ended today. They are in third place in the AL East, but only 1/2 game ahead of 4th place Toronto. They really need a win today, and at least have ace Gerrit Cole starting the game today.

A lot of the Yankees’ problems deal with how the roster is constructed. Yankees’ teams have traditionally been built on lefty bats (including switch-hitters) and lefty pitching. Here is a look at just a few Yankees’ title teams of the past. Lefty hitters listed, switch-hitters have an asterisk.

1927: Ruth, Gehrig, Combs, Koenig*
1939: Dickey, Rolfe, Keller, Selkirk, Henrich
1961: Mantle*, Maris, Berra, Kubek, Blanchard
1977: Nettles, Chambliss, Rivers, Jackson, White*
1998: Williams*, O’Neill, Martinez, Raines*, Strawberry, Posada*, Ledee, Davis*
2009: (the last title) Swisher*, Cabrera*, Teixeira*, Posada*, Cano, Damon, Matsui, Gardner … even Pena* and Hinske.

Wow. Look at all the switch-hitters in 2009.

Now look at this year. I’ll also have to point out the production, or lack of. Remember 100 is average OPS+. For example, an 80 means 20% below league average.

Odor .209-8-18, OPS+ 93; Gardner .198-2-8, 71; Hicks* .194-4-14, 76 (only 32 games, out for season); Ford .133-3-5, 58 (traded to Tampa Bay); Bruce .118-1-3, 32 (retired after 10 games), Wade .217-0-2, 54. Tauchman was 3 for 14, traded to SF, and young Estevan Florial was 1 for 3 in one game.

There’s very little lefty bats in the lineup, and they have been unproductive. Against a tough righty pitcher like Eovaldi, the Yanks only had one lefty hitting starter in the lineup last night. That was Gardner, hitting ninth.

You can see the problem. Look at the lefties and switch-hitters (and you know how productive they were) of some of the title teams and compare that to this year’s team.

People can talk about the short porch at Yankee Stadium all they want. The Yanks aren’t taking advantage of it.

One last thing before a quick game recap: The Yankees are hitting into a ton of DPs this year, and are at the top in that category. Remember that a righty hitter has to take two or three more steps to get to first base than a lefty one. Those steps are the difference between a force out and a DP.

As for the game, Boston got two runs off of Montgomery in the second inning. Two infield hits, and a SF that went 152 ft. 1B Luke Voit had to go up the line in foul territory for the catch, and was in no position to make a good throw home. So Montgomery and the Yanks had no luck there.

Boston got another run in the third to make it 3-0, helped by two more infield hits. Once again, no luck. Boston added another run in the seventh to make it 4-0.

D.J. LeMahieu got the Yanks on the board in the top of the eighth with a solo HR (7) with two out. The Yanks then loaded the bases on three straight walks, but Voit grounded out to end the inning.

In the top of the ninth, LeMahieu singled in a run to make it 4-2, but with two men on, Aaron Judge struck out to end the game.

LeMahieu 4 hits, Solo HR, 2 RBI
Judge 2 hits


Montgomery (L, 3-2) 6 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 2 W, 5 K. 1 WP 4.06.
Abreu 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.53

Half of Boston’s 10 hits were infield hits.

Before the game, Zack Britton (hamstring) and Wandy Peralta (back) were placed on the injured list. Albert Abreu and Brooks Kriske were brought up.

Game 69. Ex-Yanks’ prospect beats Yanks, 5-3.

A few years back, James Kaprielian was a top Yankees’ prospect. Then injuries slowed his development, and he was traded to the A’s with others for Sonny Gray. We know how poorly Gray turned out.

Last night, Yankees fans got a taste of what might have been. Kaprielian and the A’s shut down the Yankees (36-33, 3rd in AL East, 6 back) 5-3.

James Taillon started for the Yanks, and gave up a HR on a two-out, 0-2 pitch to put the A’s up 1-0 in the first inning. I feel as if the Yanks need to make a deal for a starter (two, preferably) ASAP. Taillon, in 13 starts this season, has only thrown 58 innings, an average of only 4 1/2 innings per start. Only twice in those 13 starts has he gone more than 5 IP. He has ONE win. The ERA is 5.59. He is coming off two TJ surgeries in his career, as well as overcoming cancer. But he isn’t cutting it. Also, Michael King is better as a reliever and not a starter. He also isn’t providing length (since replacing the injured Corey Kluber in the rotation, King is averaging less than 4 innings/start in his 4 starts). King’s ERA in 13 relief appearances in his career is 3.93 but it is 7.28 in eight career starts.

But the Yanks don’t have replacements handy. Luis Severino’s return has been delayed because of the groin injury. Deivi Garcia has been horrible at AAA. Clarke Schmidt has not thrown a pitch yet. Promising youngsters are at AA, or below, not at AAA.

I don’t believe the Yanks can make up ground with Taillon and/or King in the rotation. GM Brian Cashman needs to make a trade ASAP.

Taillon gave up a run in the top of the third to make it 2-0, Oakland.

The Yanks tied it up in the bottom of the third when with two out, Brett Gardner walked and D.J. LeMahieu followed with a 2-run HR (5). The Yanks only got 4 hits in the game.

The Yanks took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Rougned Odor homered (7).

But Wandy Peralta gave up a 3-run HR in the top of the sixth that put Oakland up 5-3, and that stayed as the final score.

Looking at Peralta’s ERA (5.28 as a Yankee), I think manager Aaron Boone trusts him too much. The Yanks will get help here. Both Darren O’ Day (who was doing well before getting hurt) and Justin Wilson (who wasn’t) should be back soon.

LeMahieu 2-run HR (5)
Odor solo HR (7)


Taillon 4 2/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP. 5.59
Peralta (L, 3-2; combined SF/NYY record) 1 1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR 5.32 (combined SF/NYY ERA)
Luetge 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1 HBP; 1 WP 2.91
Cessa 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.10

Minor League Notes (VOIT ON REHAB):

AAA: SWB (27-11) won 7-5. Nick Nelson 4 1/3 IP, 1 R; Albert Abreu 2 IP, scoreless, 5 K (in his brief time with Yanks, 4 games, Abreu has done well this year). CF Greg Allen 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2 -run HR. Two hits, RBI. LF Trey Amburgey 2 hits, RBI. Amburgey is hitting .372 at SWB. Former Yankees C Erik Kratz likes him. Neither Clint Frazier or Miguel Andujar is lighting it up. Why not give Amburgey a chance? 1B Rob Brantly 2 hits, 3 RBI, solo HR. 3B Derek Dietrich solo HR.

AA: Somerset (26-13) won 8-1. Janson Junk (2-1, 1.03) 6 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1B Luke Voit on rehab: 3 for 4, scored 3, drove in 3, double, solo HR. DH Oswald Peraza 2 hits, RBI. 2B Oswaldo Cabrera 3 hits, 3 RBI. CF Tom Milone 2 hits, solo HR.

High A: Hudson Valley (23-16) split a DH.

Game 1: lost 6-2. SS Josh Smith solo HR.
Game 2: won 2-0. Smith DH, 2 hits, scored both runs. 2B Ezequiel Duran 2 hits, 2 RBI.

Low A: Tampa (27-13) lost both games of a DH.

Game 1: lost 3-1. All 3 runs unearned. RF Juan De Leon solo HR.
Game 2: lost 8-2. Infielder (2B/SS) Jesus Bastidas 2 hits, RBI.

.

Game 53. Messed up in Motown. Yanks get swept by Tigers, 6-2.

The Yanks (29-24, 3rd in AL East, 4 1/2 out) got swept this weekend in Detroit, losing the series finale Sunday, 6-2, to the Tigers.

The TIgers. Who are not a good team at all. Ugh.

Michael King was ineffective as a fill-in starter, the defense made three errors in the same inning, allowing three unearned runs to score, the offense was once again putrid, and the baserunning, especially by Gary Sanchez (again!) was bad. There is nothing good to say about this, and judging by manager Aaron Boone’s postgame press conference, a lot to be p-o’d about.

The Yankees were something like 2 for 24 or thereabouts with runners in scoring position this weekend. Since coming off the IL, Giancarlo Stanton has shown rust, going 0 for 8 with 6 strikeouts.

Before the game, the Yankees brought up Nestor Cortes, Jr. and Nick Nelson and sent down Deivi Garcia and Albert Abreu.

In the top of the first, D.J. LeMahieu singled and Stanton walked, but Aaron Judge GIDP. Typical. The Yanks lead the majors in GIDP, killing rallies.

The Tigers got two runs off of King in the bottom of the first. One strike away from a scoreless inning, King gave up a two-run double.

Things got ugly in the third, when King and Cortes gave up four runs, all but one unearned because of three errors. One, by Gio Urshela, was a tough one, because he had to deal with the main part of a broken bat flying at him. The two others were by Gleyber Torres, who pounded the bench in frustration after the inning was over. Good he didn’t break or sprain a hand doing that.

Meanwhile, the Yankees’ offense was ineffective again. They got their two runs in the eighth. LeMahieu singled, and with one out, Judge walked. With two out, Torres singled in LeMahieu, moving Judge to third. Sanchez then singled in Judge, rounded first, headed to second, then thought better of it and STOPPED between first and second. Poor baserunning. Once you decide to go, you got to go. He tried to retreat, was caught in a rundown and inning over. Instead of first and third. Way to kill a rally, Gary. It’s not the first time Sanchez has made a poor baserunning decision this year.

The Yanks had a chance to tie the game in the ninth, but with the bases loaded, Judge struck out to end the game.

The Yanks have lost five of their last six games, looking ugly in the process. They are now 4 1/2 back of Tampa Bay in the AL East, and 3 1/2 back of second-place Boston. Guess who the next seven games (at home) are against? Tampa Bay and Boston.

The Yanks better right themselves, or they may find themselves at .500 and some 8 or 9 games back when those seven games are up.

LeMahieu 2 hits.
Sanchez 2 hits, RBI. Poor baserunning mistake
Frazier 2 hits.


King (L, 0-2) 2 1/3 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 W, 2 K. 2 HBP 2.86
Cortes 3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 R, 3 H, 4 W, 3 K. 2.45
Nelson 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K. 1 WP 7.84

Game 52. Yanks’ offense feeble in 6-1 loss.

The Tigers are a bad team. The Yanks should be crushing them.

Instead, the Yankees (29-23, 3rd, 3 1/2 out) are making a bunch of pitchers look like Cy Young Award candidates.

The Yanks lost 6-1 to the Tigers, and only got three hits in the game.

Heck, there wasn’t even an RBI. The Yanks loaded the bases with no one out in the second inning and the only run they scored was on a DP ball.

Meanwhile, young Deivi Garcia was spotty, giving up five runs, four earned. He wasn’t helped when Rougned Odor made an error. But the way the Yankees offense has been, it’s like every starter has the pressure of “I better throw a shutout” on his shoulders. Heck, out of the nine Yankees batters in the lineup, FIVE are under .200. They are becoming increasingly boring and difficult to watch. And that being written from a Yankees’ fanatic since 1967.

1967. Hmmm. The team batting average is reminding me of those weak offensive teams from 1965-1969 (when the team batting averages were .235, 235, 225, 214, .235 and a fading Mantle was still the best or one of the best options they had). Things started to pick up in 1970—Thurman Munson’s Rookie of the Year season.

This can’t continue. I am waiting for changes to be made, but wonder what changes they would be.

Here is the problem. The Yanks are near the bottom of the league in runs scored (11th). But they can’t MANUFACTURE runs. They rely on homers that aren’t coming (8th in league). They don’t hit and run. They don’t steal bases (last in the league with 12). They don’t bunt runners over (2 sac bunts, one by Gardner, other by Tauchman, who was traded to SF). So if you aren’t hitting homers, and not getting on base often (.229 team batting average, 11th in league; only their ability to draw walks (2nd in league) is saving them) and when you DO get on base, you aren’t stealing, bunting, hit and running, then things get worse.

I’m wondering if this team needs a re-do. A breakdown. Some contracts won’t let that happen, though.

Garcia (L, 0-2) 4 1/3 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 1 W, 3 K. 6.48
Abreu 3 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.08 Gave up 1 HR. Nice job by Abreu saving the bullpen for another day.

There isn’t much more to say. You keep waiting for an offensive explosion that hasn’t and isn’t coming.

Before the game, Justin Wilson, so disappointing so far this season, was placed on the IL (hamstring).

Games 49 & 50. Yanks split DH with Toronto.

The Yankees (29-21) have to do a better job against teams within their division. They are 6-12 against Tampa Bay and Toronto this season, and 23-9 against everyone else. They have not played Boston yet.

Yesterday, they split a DH against Toronto.

Before the games, Estevan Florial and Albert Abreu were brought up to replace Corey Kluber and Luke Voit, both of whom went on the IL. Nick Nelson was the 27th man for the second game, returned to SWB after the game.

It remains to be seen who goes back to SWB, Abreu or Florial once Giancarlo Stanton comes off the IL today.

UPDATE: Florial was sent back down after the game.

Game 1: Domingo German didn’t pitch badly, but got no support as the Yankees lost 2-0. German gave up back-to-back HRs in the third inning to Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette for the only runs of the game. Remember doubleheader games now are just seven innings long. The Yanks only got two hits off a pitcher making his MLB debut, both of them singles by Miguel Andujar.

Andujar 2 hits.

German (L, 4-3) 5 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR. 1 HBP. 3.06
Luetge 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.66


Game 2: Aaron Judge homered and drove in 3 runs, and Gary Sanchez also homered as the Yanks won the nightcap, 5-3.

The Yanks got a run in the first inning when D.J. LeMahieu singled, and after an out, Aaron Judge walked. Gio Urshela doubled home LeMahieu, but Judge was thrown out at the plate (the Yankees lead the majors in runners thrown out at the plate–what’s up with that? Later in the game, Sanchez was thrown out at home — by plenty—when Florial doubled).

Yankees’ starter Jordan Montgomery gave up a 3-run HR to Bichette in the top of the third inning and Toronto went up 3-1.

In the bottom of the third, LeMahieu singled with one out, and one out later, Judge homered (13) to tie the game.

Sanchez homered (6) in the bottom of the fourth to give the Yanks a 4-3 lead.

The Yankees got an insurance run in the fifth. Tyler Wade reached on an error, and one out later, stole second. Gleyber Torres walked and both runners moved up on a WP. Judge hit a SF to drive in Wade. 5-3.

Chad Green closed out the game because an ill Aroldis Chapman was not available.

LeMahieu 2 hits
Judge 2-run HR (13), SF 3 RBI
Sanchez 2 hits, solo HR (6)


Montgomery 4 2/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.22
Loaisiga (W, 4-2) 1 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.39
Peralta (H, 3) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 5.28 (Combined SF/NYY ERA)
Green (S, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.16

The reason Montgomery wasn’t left in for one more out and a possible win? Man on first, and Bichette, who homered off him earlier, was up.