AAA: SWB (45-22) won 4-1. CF Hoy Jun Park 2 hits, 3 RBI, 2-run HR. 1B Armando Alvarez solo HR. 3B Cristian Perez 2 hits. Greg Weissert 2 scoreless relief innings, ERA 1.15.
AA: Somerset (42-28) lost 7-1. Ken Waldichuk 5 1/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 1 W, 6 K. First loss of season for him. Waldichuk 3-1, 3.89 at AA this year, 2-0, 0.00 at High A. Overall 5-1, 2.13 in fourteen starts. 110 K in 67 2/3 IP.h A:
High A: Hudson Valley (46-25) lost 8-5. CF Elijah Dunham 2 hits, RBI, HR; 1B Chad Bell 3 hits; RF Pat DeMarco 2 hits, RBI.
Low A: Tampa (47-23) won 2-1. RF Aldenis Sanchez 2 hits, RBI. DH Carlos Narvaez HR.
2B Hoy Jun Park 2 hits 3B Andrew Velazquez 3 hits, 3 RBI. 2 HR, a 2-run shot and a solo Shot. CF Socrates Brito 2 hits (should have the nickname “The Philosopher”?) C Donny Sands 2-run HR 1B Aramando Alvarez 2 hits, 4 RBI 3-run HR RF Frederick Cuevas solo HR SS Kyle Holder 2 hits, 2 RBI LF Thomas Milone 2 hits, solo HR
AA: Somerset (42-27) won 7-3. DH Oswald Peraza 2 hits. 1B Dermis Garcia solo HR. C Jason Lopez 2 RBI. RF Isiah Gilliam 2 RBI, solo HR.
High A: Hudson Valley (46-24) lost 3-1. SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits, RBI. 2B Ezequiel Duran 2 hits.
Low A: Tampa (46-23) lost 4-3. OF Aldenis Sanchez 2 hits, RBI. SS Roberto Chirinos solo HR.
Of course, we will have to see if any prospects are used in a trade between now and the trade deadline of July 30. Also, some prospects are untouchable. We’ll have to see which ones are in that category
AAA: SWB (43-22) lost 9-0, getting just three hits, two by Armando Alvarez (both doubles).
AA: Somerset (41-27) won 10-0. Starter Shawn Semple 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 9 K. CF Brandon Lockridge 3 hits, 4 RBI. 2 HR. a solo shot and a 3-run Shot. DH Oswaldo Cabrera solo HR. RF Michael Beltre 2 hits. C Jason Lopez 3 for 3, 5 RBI, 2 HR, a 2-run HR and a 3-run HR.
High A: Hudson Valley (46-23) won 10-9 in 11 innings. SS Ezequiel Duran 4 hits, 3 RBI, solo HR. DH Anthony Seigler 2 hits, RBI. C Josh Breaux a 3-run HR. RF Jake Sanford 2 hits. INF Kyle MacDonald 2 hits, RBI.
Low A: Tampa (46-22) lost 9-3. CF Everson Pereira 3 hits, 2 RBI.
AAA: SWB (42-21) scored 3x in the bottom of the 10th to win 8-7. C Donny Sands 2 hits, 4 RBI. Solo HR and the 3-run walkoff double. 1B Armando Alvarez 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2 solo HR. RF Matt Pita 2 hits. Deivi Garcia 6 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 2 W, 9 K. Gave up 2 HR. 6.89.
AA: Somerset (40-26) lost 9-7. SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits, solo HR. CF Brandon Lockridge 3 hits. DH Dermis Garcia 2 hits. LF Isiah Gilliam 3-run HR, 5 RBI. Starter Janson Junk 6 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.
High A: Hudson Valley (44-23) won 19-1. SS Anthony Volpe 3 hits, RBI 2B Ezequiel Duran 3 hits, 6 RBI. 2 HR; a 2-run HR and a 3-run HR. C Josh Breaux 2 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR. RF Jake Sanford 2-run HR. 3B James Nelson 3 hits 1B Chad Bell 3 hits, 4 RBI. 2 HR, each 2-run shots. CF Pablo Olivares 3 hits, 2 RBI
Low A: Tampa (45-21) lost 12-6. DH Everson Pereia 3 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR. LF Ryder Green solo HR. 1B Pedro Diaz 2 hits, 3 RBI, a 2-run HR.
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.
First the Futures game. Two Yankees prospects were in the game. CF Jasson Dominguez went 0 for 3. Lineout, two strikeouts. Dominguez is just 18, and just started his career about two weeks ago (he is in the Florida Complex League). He is the first player to be in the Futures game without even having played in a full-season league.
Pitcher Luis Medina can hit the high 90’s/ low 100’s with his fastball. He needs control and command. He pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two, but also gave up two hits and a walk.
The MLB draft is on. The Yankees’ first round pick was Trey Sweeney, a lefty-hitting SS.
AAA: SWB (37-20) lost 9-8 in 10 innings. RF Ryan LaMarre 2 hits. DH Socrates Brito 3 hits. LF Greg Allen 2 hits. 3B Armando Alvarez 2 RBI. SS Kyle Holder 2 hits, RBI. 1B Brandon Wagner 2 hits, 5 RBI, a 2-run HR.
AA: Somerset (38-21) lost 1-0 in 10 innings. SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits. RF Thomas Milone 2 hits.
High A: Hudson Valley (39-20) lost 10-3.
Low A: Tampa (40-18) won 6-1. Relievers Edgar Barclay & Nick Paciorek combined for six scoreless and hitless innings and combined for 10 strikeouts. Combined with two other pitchers, Tampa struck out 16 and gave up only 2 hits.
DH Everson Pereira 3 hits. 1B Andres Chaparro 2 for 2, walked 3X, 3 RBI. C Carlos Narvaez 2 hits, RBI.
Game 1: won 3-2. CF Estevan Florial 2 RBI. LF Hoy Jun Park 2 hits (.360. What more does he have to do for a callup?) 3B Armando Alvarez 2 hits. C Rob Brantly 2 for 2.
Game 2: lost 5-0, rain-shortened. DH Socrates Brito 2 of SWB’s 3 hits.
AA: Somerset (36-19) split a DH. Both 7-inning games.
Game 1: Won 6-1. Another great outing for LHP starter Ken Waldichuk. 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4-0, 1.24 in 11 starts this year, and 4-2, 2.14 in 21 total minor league starts in his career. SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits. 3B Oswaldo Cabrera 2 hits, both HR, 5 RBI (2-run HR & 3-run HR). LF Isiah Gilliam solo HR.
Game 2: Lost 4-3. Janson Junk no-decision, 5 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. DH Diego Castillo solo HR. SS Peraza 2 hits.
High A: Hudson Valley (36-19) won 3-2 in 10 innings. Barrett Loseke 4 scoreless relief innings, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 6 K. SS Josh Smith solo HR. CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits. LF Elijah Dunham 3 hits, RBI.
AAA: SWB (31-13) beat Lehigh Valley 10-4. CF Estevan Florial 2 RBI; 1B Chris Gittens solo HR, 2 RBI. DH Derek Dietrich 2 hits, 5 RBI, inc. a 3-run HR; C Rob Brantly 2 hits. 3B Armando Alvarez 2 hits. SS Andrew Velazquez solo HR. SP Matt Krook 4 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 6 K. RP Reggie McClain 2 IP, 0 R, 5 K.
AA: Somerset (31-15) won 3-0. 3B Diego Castillo 2 hits, solo HR. 1B Dermis Garcia 2-run HR. SP Hayden Wesneski 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 W, 7 K. Ron Marinaccio the save, 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K.
High A: Hudson Valley (30-16) won 8-4. Nick Ernst win in relief 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 4 K. SS Josh Smith 3 hits, RBI. C Josh Breaux 2 hits, RBI. DH Anthony Seigler game-winning walk-off grand slam. LF Elijah Dunham solo HR. 1B Chad Bell 2 hits, RBI.
Low A: Tampa (31-15) split a DH.
Game 1: Lost 7-5. CF Pat DeMarco 2 hits. 1B Pedro Diaz 2 for 2, walk, RBI.
Game 2: Won 6-5. SS Anthony Volpe 3 hits, RBI, solo HR (9) (.305, 18 SB). 2B Trevor Hauver 2 RBI. 1B Eric Wagaman 2 hits, RBI.
The Yankees had many chances to blow the game open. But they didn’t. They went 0 for 10 with RISP and left 13 men on base, and this came back to bite them in a 6-5 loss to KC last night.
With the loss, the Yankees are now 38-34, 3rd in AL East, 5 1/2 back.
The main culprits were Giancarlo Stanton, 0 for 3 (did walk twice) left six on, Gleyber Torres 0 for 4, all strikeouts (did walk once, left 3 on), and Clint Frazier (0 for 5, 3 strikeouts, left 6 on ). Torres is something like 2 for his last 33, and his batting average has dropped over 30 points. Where Torres’ power has gone is baffling too. I don’t expect 38 HR as in 2019, but we are close to the halfway point of the season, and Torres has just 3 HR. Something close to Torres’ 2018 rookie year when he hit 24 would be enough and expected.
The Yanks scored first, when Luke Voit, just off of rehab, hit the first pitch he saw 423 feet for a two-out HR, Voit’s 2nd HR of the season. The Yankees went on to load the bases, but Frazier grounded out.
In the second, Kyle Higashioka homered for his sixth HR of the season. It put the Yanks up 2-0. But with two on and one out, Voit popped up and Stanton struck out.
Right then I had a bad feeling. Yes, the Yankees were up 2-0 with their ace, Gerrit Cole, on the mound, but when you leave five men on base in the first two innings and don’t break the game wide open, it often comes back to bite you, and it did for the Yankees last night.
A bad break (literally) for Cole in the third when a couple broken bat hits led to a KC run as the Royals cut the Yanks’ lead to 2-1. Cole gave up a game-tying HR in the fourth. 2-2. Those were the only hits Cole gave up.
The Yanks left the bases loaded in the fourth, when Stanton grounded into a force out. Another blown chance to salt the game away.
In the seventh, the Yanks went up 3-2. Luke Voit tripled. A fan tried to catch the ball (kick him out of the park. I hate when fans reach over the wall. They know better and still do it). There was no interference, and it was unclear if the ball would have cleared the fence anyway. Pinch-runner Tyler Wade then scored on a wild pitch.
Jonathan Loaisiga came in for the eighth inning. Cole had once again done a fine job, but the Yanks didn’t support him enough. Cole is 8-3 this season, but the Yankees are 0-4 when Cole gets a no-decision. Loaisiga has been great this season, but didn’t have it last night, giving up four runs.
D.J. LeMahieu got the Yanks back in the game with a two-run HR (6) in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Royals’ lead to 6-5. Aaron Judge then just missed tying the game up, as he doubled. So the Yanks had the tying run on second with one out. Once again, nothing. Rougned Odor popped up, and Stanton grounded out.
The Yanks got two on in the ninth, but Brett Gardner popped up to end the game.
The lack of getting just one clutch hit to break the game open really killed the Yanks last night. What a frustrating loss.
LeMahieu 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (6) Judge 2 hits Voit 2 hits, triple and a solo HR (2) Urshela 2 hits Higashioka solo HR (6)
If only Stanton, Torres or Frazier had come through just once. Sigh.
Cole 7 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. Two broken bat his and the HR. That was all. 2.33 Loaisiga (L, 7-3; BS, 2) 2/3 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.52 Luetge 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.48
Minor League Notes, and a lot to think about and discuss here:
The 40-man roster creates some problems. Say someone is doing well (see below) but isn’t on the roster? Well, you want to add him, but who does he replace?
AAA: SWB (29-11) crushed Lehigh Valley, 14-5, in a game in which both Darren O’Day and Justin Wilson both started rehab stints. Both pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Hoy Jun Park, a 2B/SS, played CF. Read into that as you wish. He had 3 hits and an RBI, and is hitting .366 for SWB. He hits lefty. Interesting he played CF last night. Meanwhile, the Yanks aren’t getting anything from their lefty hitters. Odor (.193-7-15, OPS+ 78; 100 is average). Gardner .206-2-8, OPS+ 77. Gardner turns 38 in August. But Park isn’t on the 40-man roster. I’ve advocated bringing Park up. But at whose expense, and why did Park play the OF for the first time last night? I do have to wonder. RF Ryan LaMarre 3 hits, RBI. DH Trey Amburgey 3 RBI. Erik Kratz, former big-league catcher, and ex-Yankee, really likes Amburgey, a righty hitter. Amburgey is hitting .360 at SWB. Right now, he may be a better option than Frazier (.187-5-12, OPS+ 77) or Miguel Andujar (.242-5-9, OPS+77). Amburgey, like Park, is not on the 40 man roster, so if you give him a chance, at whose expense? The point is, if someone is raking at AAA, when do they get rewarded with a promotion? And at whose expense? How long do you continue playing someone whose adjusted OPS is 22-23% BELOW league average, as is the case with Odor, Gardner, Frazier and Andujar? These are legitimate questions GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone must decide, especially if the Yankees are to improve.
Besides the rehab stints of O’Day and Wilson, and the continued success and questions about Park and Amburgey, some other notes on SWB’s win: 2B Derek Dietrich 3 hits, RBI. 3B Armando Alvarez 2 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR. 1B Rob Brantly 2 RBI. C Max McDowell 2 hits. SS Andrew Velazquez, 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 2-run HR.
AA: Somerset ppd.
High A: Hudson Valley (26-16) won 12-3. SS Josh Smith 2 hits. C Josh Breaux 2 hits. CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 3-run HR. 3B James Nelson 2 hits, 2 RBI. 1B Chad Bell 3 hits, 2 RBI. RF Frederick Cuevas 2 hits, RBI, solo HR.
Low A: Tampa was up 2-0 when the game was suspended in the top of the second inning.
Aroldis Chapman had walked the first two batters in the top of the ninth. He had a 1-0 count on the next batter. He had thrown 10 pitches, and only one was a strike.
Then he got a 5-4-3 triple play to end the game as the Yankees (38-33, 3rd in AL East, 4 1/2 back) edged Oakland 2-1 on Sunday.
The triple play to end the game was the third triple play the Yanks have turned this season, tying a MLB record. It was the second they turned in less than a week, and was more traditional than last week’s 1-3-6-2-5-6 triple play.
Oakland got their only run in the first inning, when the third batter of the game, Matt Olson, homered.
The pitcher’s duel continued all game long, and the Yankees only got three hits in the game, all doubles, two by Gary Sanchez. They struck out 15x.
In the bottom of the sixth, Clint Frazier led off the inning with a walk, and an out later, was balked to second base. Aaron Judge walked, and Sanchez doubled in both runners. 2-1 Yanks, and thanks to the game-ending triple play, that score held up.
The Yankees have halved the deficit. They are 4 1/2 out now where not long ago, they were 9 back. They get 1B Luke Voit back tomorrow (Tuesday). See below for how he did Sunday. No word on a corresponding move, but I’d expect Chris Gittens to be sent back down. They are off today.
UPDATE: Gittens was, in fact, sent down after Sunday’s game to make room for Voit.
Lucas Luetge gave up a one-out triple in the top of the eighth, but got a strikeout and fly out to escape the inning unscathed.
Sanchez 2 hits, 2 RBI.
Montgomery 5 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.03 Loaisiga (W, 7-2) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1.63 Luetge (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.57 Chapman (S, 16) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 1.98
Minor League Report (Deivi shaky again, Park continues to rake):
AAA: SWB (28-11) won 4-3. CF Estevan Florial 2 OF assists, removed from game after getting HBP. Infielder Hoy Jun Park (2B/SS) 2 hits, RBI, hitting .360 at AAA. He had the GW walkoff HR. RF Socrates Brito 2-run HR. 3B Armando Alvarez 2 hits. Another shaky outing for Deivi Garcia. 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 W, 2 K. AAA ERA 7.81. Yikes.
AA: Somerset (27-14) won 4-0. 1B Luke Voit 2 hits, 2 RBI on rehab. Starter Glenn Otto (W, 4-2, 3.45) 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 W, 5 K.
High A: Hudson Valley (25-16) won 5-2. SS Josh Smith 2 hits. DH Ezequiel Duran 2 hits, RBI. CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits. Starter Jhony Brito (2-2, 2.70) 5 1/3 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 6 K. (C Anthony Seigler with 2 catcher interference’s).
Low A: Tampa (28-14) lost 11-6. DH Austin Wells 2 hits. RF Jake Sanford 2 RBI. CF Pat DeMarco 3 hits, RBI.
