A raw, rainy day in NY was only made more miserable with a 3-1 Yankees (97-61) loss and a tough day for Aaron Judge.
If Judge is going to break Roger Maris’ AL and Yankee record of 61 HR in a season, #62 will have to come in Texas, where the Yanks play 4 games in 3 days, starting tonight. (DH on Tuesday).
Maybe it would be a good thing. Maybe the pressure of trying to hit the HR in front of the home fans was daunting. One thing for sure, the weather (high of 84 to 86 degrees and sunny) in Texas will be much nicer than what Judge faced yesterday.
Judge was 0 for 3 with three strikeouts and a walk, dropping his batting average to .311. He is four points behind the Twins’ Luis Arraez, and unless Judge gets really, really hot in the next three games, will probably NOT win the Triple Crown, especially since Arraez has sat out a few of the last couple of games, and the Twins will try to protect Arraez’ lead.
Chi Chi Gonzalez was brought up to start the Yanks’ home finale and Jacob Barnes was DFA’d to make room for Gonzalez. Gonzalez pitched into the fifth and pitched well, giving up just one run. Baltimore got that run in the top of the first inning.
The Yanks got their only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. The Aarons, Hicks and Judge, led off the inning with back-to-back walks. After an out a WP moved the runners up, with Hicks scoring on a throwing error on the play, Judge remaining at second.
The Yanks only got four hits in the game and were 0 for 7 w/RISP.
In the seventh, Aroldis Chapman once again proved why he is no lock for the postseason roster and why he can’t be trusted. A single, two walks, a strikeout and yet another walk forced in what proved to be the winning run. Ron Marinaccio relieved Chapman and gave up another run on a SF. Chapman threw 26 pitches. Only 12 were strikes. That’s been Chapman’s problem for a while now. You just can’t keep giving free passes.
Gonzalez 4 2/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 3 W, 3 K. 5.87 (3-team ERA). Could be his only game as a NYY. Luetge 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 HBP. 2.72 Chapman (L, 3-4) 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 3 W, 1 K. 4.58 Marinaccio 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.05 Loaisiga 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.21 Schmidt 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 3.23
Nestor Cortes’ last regular season start could not have gone much better. The best Yankees’ starter this season (sorry, Gerrit Cole) pitched 7 1/3 one-hit, shutout baseball as the Yankees defeated Baltimore 8-0 Saturday afternoon. Cortes was dominating, striking out 12.
Cortes ends his season 12-4, with a superb 2.44 ERA.
Aaron Judge went 0 for 2, with 2 walks and a HBP as we still wait and see if he can get #62 to set a new AL and Yankees record. He has a couple of things working against him. For one, the weather forecast is not good for Sunday. Should the Yankees be rained out on Sunday, the game, meaningless in the standings, would not be made up. So, Judge has one less game in order to hit #62. The Yankees next four games are on the road in Texas. One game Monday, a doubleheader Tuesday and the regular season finale on Wednesday. There may be a window to play today, but the game may be delayed for a very long time until that window arrives. There appears to be only a one-hour rainless window around 2 pm today, and a window from about 7 to 10 pm. That’s it, and with the Yankees needing to travel to Texas, it does not look good for a game today. Do they really sit in a clubhouse (and make the fans wait) six hours to start the game at 7 PM when they have to travel to Texas for a game tomorrow? For a game that means nothing in the standings, but only for one player. I don’t think so.
Also, you can’t hit a HR if every pitch is 2 inches off the ground and 4 inches outside. Since hitting #60, Judge is 7 for 27, with that 61st HR, but SEVENTEEN walks and the HBP.
Yesterday, as mentioned above, Judge was 0 for 2, both strikeouts, with a HBP and 2 walks. His batting average is at .313, two points below Luis Arraez of the Twins .315 as Judge also attempts to win the Triple Crown. It appears to be a two-man race for the batting title. Xander Bogaerts of Boston has dropped to .305.
The Yanks got on the board quickly yesterday scoring 3 runs in the first inning. Judge was HBP but forced out at second by Anthony Rizzo. Gleyber Torres doubled in Rizzo and went to third on the throw home. Josh Donaldson hit a SF to make it 2-0, then Giancarlo Stanton smashed a 447-ft. HR (29) to make it 3-0. For the badly slumping Stanton, who was hitting .156 since June 1, he needed that badly.
Kyle Higashioka homered for the Yanks in the bottom of the second (9) to make it 4-0.
In the seventh, Judge walked to lead off the inning, with the pitcher, who appeared to be avoiding Judge, drawing a great deal of derision. The Yanks made him pay for that. Rizzo singled Judge to second. Torres singled in a run to make it 5-0, both runners moving up on the throw. Donaldson singled in both runners to make it 7-0, and he moved up on the throw. Two outs later, Harrison Bader doubled to close out the scoring at 8-0.
Before the game Jacob Barnes up from SWB. Zack Britton to IL.
If there is a game today, Chi Chi Gonzalez is supposed to start. No word as far as a corresponding move to get Gonzalez on the roster.
Luis Severino is to go on Monday. Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon will go in Tuesday’s doubleheader, and Domingo German closes out the regular season on Wednesday. The Yanks would then be off for six days, with Game 1 of the ALDS being at Yankee Stadium on October 11. Opponent to be determined.
Game 2 would be after another off day on October 13. Then another off day. Game 3, October 15. Games 4 and 5 October 16 and 17 if necessary.
The Yankees would only need 3 starters for this series. Most likely Cole, Cortes and Severino. With the off days, the Game 1 starter could come back for Game 4, and the Game 2 starter for Game 5, but the Game 2 starter would be doing so on 3 days’ rest. Severino would probably go Game 3. But who goes in Game 1 and who in Game 2 between Cole and Cortes?
I think Cole would be better on his regular rest, so he lines up for 1 and 4. I think Cortes can adapt better to go on three days’ rest, so I’d have him Game 2. Taillon and German for middle relief if needed.
Usually, I start at the highest level and work my way down. Not today.
AA Somerset won the third and deciding game of the Eastern League Finals in commanding and historic fashion, scoring 9 runs in the bottom of the first inning on way to a 15-0 blowout victory.
In doing so, they threw a combined no-hitter. What a way to win the Eastern League title.
Somerset starter Randy Vasquez (I thought they’d go with Clayton Beeter, but they went with Vasquez) retired the first 19 batters he faced before giving up a walk. Vasquez pitched 8 innings, and Carson Coleman finished up for the combined no-hitter.
Jasson Dominguez (“the Martian”), the Yankees 19-year-old #2 prospect, hit 2 HR, one from each side of the plate, and drove in 6 runs in the victory.
AAA SWB lost the completion of a suspended game, and that coupled with a win by Durham, dropped SWB’s tragic # for being eliminated to 1. SWB did win the regularly scheduled game.
But SWB (82-66) is now 2 games out with 2 games left in the season.
COMPLETION OF SUSPENDED GAME--Lost 5-4 in ten innings. Was suspended at 1-1 in the sixth inning on August 7.
Since then, Peraza and Cabrera now with Yankees, Andujar now with Pirates.
PR/SS Tyler Wade solo HR (2) C Josh Breaux 2-run HR (5) #22 prospect Overall .219-19-50
Spence 5 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.79 Rich Rodriguez 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 8.31 Mujica 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gaveup 2 HR. 4.37 Shreve (BS, 1) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 9.00 Bard (L, 0-1) 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.68
REGULAR GAME–Won 8-7 in 11 innings. SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits, solo HR (3) #1 prospect Overall .248-21-65, 49 SB DH Ryan LaMarre 2 for 2, 3 walks. 1B Ron Guzman 2 RBI. 2-run HR (16) 3B Armando Alvarez 3 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (18)
Spence 4 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 W, 6 K. gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP 3.86 (remember game listed above he started Aug 7) Albert Abreu2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.86 REHAB M. Gomez (BS, 1) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.92 Deivi Garcia (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 7.96 #26 prospect. Overall: 4-5, 6.89 Barnes (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.70 Cordero (BS, 1) 1 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.15 Bristo (W, 3-3) 2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 4.56
First off apologies. The milb.com site had that the Eastern League (AA) Finals were to start tonight, and that is what I previously reported. But with both semi-finals ending in 2-game sweeps, Game 1 of the Finals was moved up and began last night. Sorry. The remaining games are as previously reported. Game 2 will be Tuesday, with Somerset needing to win to stay alive.
AAA: SWB lost 1-0 to Lehigh Valley. A tough loss, because it dropped SWB 1 1/2 GB with only a few games left in the season.
SWB only got one hit.
Chi Chi Gonzalez 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 W, 4 K. 4.03 M. Gomez 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 5.03 Banda (L, 0-2) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 3.60 Barnes 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.92
AA: Somerset lost Game 1 of the Eastern League Finals (best-of-3) to Erie, 6-5.
CF Jasson Dominguez “The Martian” 2 hits #2 prospect See below. C Austin Wells 2 hits, 2 RBI #4 prospect 3B Tyler Hardman 2 RBI
Will Warren 4 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 W, 7 K. Gave up 2 HR. #8 prospect. Semple 1 2/3 IP 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. Minnick (BS) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. McGarity (L) 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 4 K. Coleman 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Dominguez made a fielding error which enabled the winning run to score.
Chi Chi Gonzalez 3 1/3 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 2 W, 3 K. 1 WP 4.54 Chasen Shreve 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00 Mujica 2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR 4.17 Banda 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00 Barnes (W, 1-1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K 2.79 Cordero (S, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.97
AA: #2 prospect Jasson Dominguez was promoted to AA. Dominguez is still only 19 years old. Overall this year, 3 levels: .277-15-58 with 36 SB
Somerset (81-50; won 1st half division title) lost in 11 innings, 10-9. DH Dominguez 0 for 5, R, struck out 2x CF Harrison Bader 0 for 3, R, struck out 2x REHAB LF Oliver Dunn 2 for 2, RBI C Austin Wells solo HR (11) #4 prospect. Overall .280-19-62, 15 SB C of future? SS Trey Sweeney 2 hits. #6 prospect .243-15-54, 30 SB. Just promoted to AA. SS? Needs new position? With Volpe and Peraza, and also Sweeney, some need to find a new position. All can’t play SS. 1B Andres Chaparro 2 hits, 4 RBI. 2 HR (Solo & 3-run HRs) (18) LF/CF Brandon Lockridge Solo HR (14) #28 prospect .227-14-49, 16 SB
Yoendrys Gomez 3 2/3 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 2 W, 4 K. 4.50 Gave up 1 HR #12 prospect, Overall: 1-0, 2.53 Minnick 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.86 Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 0.00 REHAB Jennings (BS, 2) 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 0 W, 2 K. 4.25 McGarrity 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.63 Coleman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.95 Myatt (L, 3-2) 2 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 W, 0 K. 4.39
High A Hudson Valley and Low A Tampa seasons are over. Neither made the playoffs.
Low A: Tampa (61-66) were supposed to play a DH. One game was postponed. They lost the one they did play, 9-8, in 10 innings. C Juan Crisp 2 hits, 3 RBI. 1st game at Low A. 1B Anthony Garcia 2 hits, 2 RBI
Y. Castro 2 2/3 IP, 6 R, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.59 Will Brian 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K. 0.00 First game at Low A. Paciorek 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 25.07 Bustamante (BS, 1) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 3 W, 2 K. 1 WP 2.08 Anderson 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 4.26 Watson (L, 5-5) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 4.01
High A: Hudson Valley (69-55) won 13-2. DH Jasson “The Martian” Dominguez 2 hits, RBI. #2 prospect. Overall .277-12-52, 35 SB C Anthony Seigler 2 RBI 1B T.J. Rumfield 2 RBI CF Grant Richardson 2 hits, 3 RBI RF Aaron Palensky 2 hits, RBI 2B Benjamin Cowles 2 hits, RBI
Abeyta 4 2/3 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 H, 4 W, 2 K. 4.28 C. Gomez (W, 2-3) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 HBP 3.47 Diaz 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1 HBP 4.58 Santana 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K. 0.00 (high A stat only)
Low A: Tampa (60-61) completed a game from September 1 that was suspended TWICE. Luis Severino and Zack Britton on rehab. They won 3-1. The game was finally called in the top of the sixth.
DH Spencer Jones solo HR (3). #7 prospect. This year’s #1 draft pick. Overall .378-4-11, 12 SB. 20 games.
Yulie 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.95 Luis Severino (W, 1-0) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 0.00 REHAB Zack Britton (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.86 REHAB Y. Castro (S, 1) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.28
The regularly scheduled game was ppd.
STANDINGS
AAA: SWB 68-59 4th in IL East, 3 1/2 GB
AA: Somerset 76-47. Won 1st half Eastern League Northeast title with 44-25 record. 2nd Half: 2nd place, 32-22, 2 GB
High A: Hudson Valley 69-55. First Half: 3rd in SAL North, 34-32, 9 GB 2nd half: 35-23, FIRST by 1/2 a game.
Low A: Tampa (60-61) last IN FIRST HALF (Fla. St. League, West) at 27-39, 15 GB 2nd Half: 33-22, 2nd, 1/2 GB
The Sommer Frieze 
