Games 68 & 69. Yanks lose suspended game, win makeup game.

First off, the remainder of the suspended game from May 15. The Yanks and Nationals resumed the game in the top of the sixth, with the score tied at 3. Tyler Austin, now in the minors, had hit 2 HR and drove in all 3 runs for the Yanks in that game.

Chad Green “started” today, and I won’t get into numbers, because the suspension of the game really throws things off. For example, Juan Soto, who made his MLB debut on May 20, hits his “first” MLB HR of the year in the bottom of the sixth to give the Nationals the 5-3 win, but it isn’t counted as his first MLB HR, and his “MLB debut” came five days after the start of this game, and the first HR after that is counted as his first MLB HR. You may recall that last week, the teen sensation hit 2 HR at the Stadium against the Yanks. The suspension and completion throws everything out of whack. Confused? I am, and I am not going to get more confused.

And I ain’t going back to make this game #41 and renumbering every game after that. Let’s just say result #68 and go from there.

Before the game, the Yanks sent down Ronald Torreyes and brought up Clint Frazier because of concerns over Brett Gardner’s sore knee. Giovanny Gallegos was player #26 for the other game.

Anyway, Chad Green lost the suspended game by giving up the two-run HR by Soto in the bottom of the sixth. The Yanks had a threat in the eighth, but couldn’t get it done.

As for the regular game, a makeup of a May 16 rainout, the Yanks won 4-2, making their record 47-22.

In the first, Hicks doubled and Stanton singled him in.

Sonny Gray gave up runs in the second and fourth. Gleyber Torres made a big play to keep another run from scoring in that second inning.

Aaron Judge made a nice play in the third.

In the fifth, Romine singled, Gray tried to bunt him over but bunted into a force play. Hicks then hit a 2-run HR (9) to put the Yanks up 3-2.

In the seventh, Clint Frazier, pinch-hitting, was hit by a pitch and went to second on an errant pickoff throw. After a walk to Judge, Stanton hit a double to make it 4-2.

In the meantime, Jonathan Holder had shut down a potential Nats rally in the sixth.

Dellin Betances was dominant in the eighth, but Aroldis Chapman ran into trouble in the ninth and was helped on a great play by Judge to end the game.

Hicks 2 hits, 2-run HR.
Judge 2 nice defensive plays.
Stanton 4 hits, 2 RBI

Gray (W, 5-4, 4.89) 5+ IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 W, 7 K.
Holder (H, 4) 1 IP, 0 R,  0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.19. Great job getting out of a jam.
Robertson (H, 11) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.  3.58
Betances (H, 10) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.09. Dominant.
Chapman (S, 21) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. Struggled, helped by Judge D.   1.14

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Game 65. The “Lasagna” was good. Yanks win 5-0.

Before his MLB debut tonight, Jonathan Loaisiga already had a nickname that I saw on various sites. “Johnny Lasagna”.

The lasagna was very good tonight.

Loaisiga, who started tonight’s game with only 10 games of minor league experience above Low A ball under his belt, and NONE at the AAA level, pitched five scoreless innings in the Yanks’ 5-0 win tonight, and earned his first MLB victory.

Not only that, but Seattle, down 6-3 to Boston, came back to win 7-6.

Yankees 45-20 — but winning pct. .692
Boston 48-23 —- (tied this way, but.. ) winning pct. .676

Meaning the Yanks have played six less games than Boston, but if the Yanks go 4-2 in those six games, they have a 1 game lead. 3-3 means they are even.

In the third inning, Didi Gregorius hit HR #14 off of ex-Yankee Nathan Eovaldi to put the Yanks up 1-0.

In the sixth, Aaron Judge doubled, went to third on an infield hit by Didi, and scored on a SF by Giancarlo Stanton.

The Yanks put it away in the eighth. With one out, Judge singled. Didi singled and went to second on the throw trying to get Judge at third. Stanton was intentionally walked. After Bird struck out for the second out, Sanchez, dropped to sixth in the lineup because of his slump, doubled to clear the bases.

About time Sanchez went the other way.

Judge 2 hits.
Didi 3 hits, solo HR.
Sanchez 3 RBI.

Loaisiga (W, 1-0, 0.00) 5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 4 W, 6 K.  MLB DEBUT.
Holder (H, 3)  1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.28
Robertson (H, 10) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.69
Betances (H, 9 ) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.19
Warren 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.31

 

Game 64. Gleyber helps German to 1st MLB win, 4-3.

First off, thank you to all for understanding that I couldn’t post as often as I wanted to, especially on the minor league stuff, because one of my uncles passed away and that I had a viewing and funeral to attend.

Thank you all for your patience, understanding and consideration.

Unfortunately, given the age and health of my mom, aunts and uncles, this seems to be more of a pressing issue now than before. I hope and pray for your understanding and consideration. Thank you.

As for tonight’s game, Game #64, Domingo German finally gets his first MLB win, thanks to Gleyber Torres.

I like German’s stuff, but as a rookie, it seemed that he was 1) pitching in bad luck, not getting enough run support 2) would pitch great except for one bad inning that would cost him the game and 3) would pitch five good innings but have that one, as an inexperienced rookie, that he could not get out of,  and would cost him the game.

So it is good to see him get his first MLB win.

In the top of the first, on the very first pitch of the game, German gave up a HR. I don’t know if it was a “get me over” fastball, but HR. Down 1-0 already. He struck out the side for the rest of the inning, but already down to a pitcher who was 8-3, 2.30.

A two- out double by Andujar and walks to Austin and Torreyes loaded the bases in the bottom of the second for Walker, who struck out.

With one out in the third, a single and walk for TB. A lineout to Judge in RF. Then a single to Stanton that brings in one run, but the other is thrown out at the plate for out #3. If Gardner was out in LF, I don’t think ANY run would have scored. But down 2-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, with one out,  the Yanks scored all their runs for the game. The Yanks had two on, two out in the fourth and did nothing, but in the fifth, Hicks led off with his seventh HR of the year.

This week, Hicks has been taking a lot of called strike threes. So I was wondering if he needed to re-establish his strike zone. Nice HR there.

After Hicks made it 2-1,  Judge singled. He moved up on a WP, but Stanton struck out for the second out of the inning. The struggling Sanchez drew a walk. Torres then hit a 3-run HR (13) to put the Yanks up, 4-2.

Nice list on the game by FS1. Youngest players 21 or under (before 22nd b/day) to 13 or more HR: Gleyber, 13 now. Mantle, age 19 in 1951, 13; Mantle, age 20 in 1952, 23. Mantle, age 21 in 1953, 21. DiMaggio, age 21 in 1936, 29. How about THAT company?

The Yanks, through sloppy D, gave the Rays a run in the top of the sixth. Walk, K. Dropped foul pop by Sanchez. K, WP. Man on second, two out. Single, SB. K to get out of the inning. 4-3, which would be the final score.

Bad move by Carlos Gomez of the Rays in the top of the seventh. A double with one out, then a CS trying to steal third.

The win puts the Yanks at 44-20, with Boston out in Seattle with a late game tonight.

Not to be a downer on a 44-20 team, but with all the HR, you do wonder about the strikeouts and batting average for the Yankees. How it will play in the postseason. Average for a lot of guys not too hot. A lot of K, a lot of striking out, but oh, those HR.

German (W, (first MLB Win)  (W, 1-4, 5.23) 6 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 10 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Green (H, 10) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.89
Betances (H, 8)  1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.30
Chapman (S, 19) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.21

Hicks solo HR
Judge 2 hits.
Torres 3-run HR

Yanks’ pitchers combine for 15 K.

 

Game 62. Didi and CC lead Yanks to 3-0 win.

CC Sabathia pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and Didi Gregorius homered twice in the Yanks 3-0 win over Washington Tuesday night.

The win enables the 43-19 Yankees to stay 1/2 game ahead of Boston in the AL East.

The Yanks got two in the second when Didi, with one out homered to make it 1-0. Hicks then walked, and Walker singled Hicks to third, Walker going to second on the throw. Romine’s SF made it 2-0 Yanks.

Didi’s 2nd HR of the game, and #13 on the season, made it 3-0 in the sixth.

Sabathia (W,4-1, 3.27) 5 2/3 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 3 W, 3 K.  1 HBP
Green (H, 9) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.95
Betances (H, 7) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.    1 HBP    3.41
Chapman (S, 18) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  1.26

Jonathan Loaisiga (already nicknamed Johnny Lasagna) will start Friday for the Yanks. A few things on him. Before this year, never pitched above Low A. 4 starts High A this year, 6 in AA, none more than 5 innings. Nice K/BB ratio this year of 58/4.

Game 60. Yanks comeback to beat Mets, 4-3. Tanaka to DL.

Domingo German settled down after giving up 2 HR and 3 runs in the first inning, and the Yanks (42-18) came back to beat the Mets 4-3 Saturday night. It keeps the Yanks 1/2 game ahead of 44-21 Boston.

The Yanks got a double by Hicks to lead off the game, but couldn’t score him. In fact, Hicks was picked off of second to end the inning.

In the bottom of the first, with one out, ex-Yankee Todd Frazier homered off German, Brandon Nimmo tripled, and Asdubral Cabrera hit a 2-run HR. 3-0 Mets already.

But to his credit, German was great after that, keeping the Yanks in the ballgame.

Gleyber Torres homered (11) in the third to cut it to 3-1.

German got out of a second and third, two out jam by striking out Jay Bruce in the bottom of the third.

The Yanks loaded the bases for Aaron Judge in the fifth, but Judge grounded out. He’d redeem himself later.

Miguel Andujar tied the game in the sixth with a 2-run HR (8).

Judge homered (18) in the eighth for the game-winning run. 4-3, Yanks.

Judge solo HR, Game-winning hit.
Andujar, 2 hits, 2-run HR that tied the game.
Gregorius 3 hits
Torres solo HR.

German 6 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 0 W, 9 K. Gave up 2 HR. 5.32. Settled down after 3-run first inning.
1 WP by German, 1 HBP.
Robertson (W, 5-2, 3.94) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Betances (H, 6) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1-2-3, all strikeouts. 3.54
Chapman (S, 17) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K.  1.30

Before the game, Masahiro Tanaka was put on the DL and Ronald Torreyes brought up from SWB. We’ll have to see how long Tanaka is out and who replaces him in the rotation.

Game 59. Late blasts lead Yanks to 4-1 win over Mets.

Late HRs by Brett Gardner and Giancarlo Stanton broke open a pitcher’s duel and enabled the Yanks (41-18) to beat the Mets 4-1 Friday night. The win, coupled with Boston’s 1-0 loss, puts the Yanks 1/2 game up on the 43-21 Red Sox. So the Yanks have played five less games than Boston, meaning if the Yanks go 3-2 in those five games, they are one game better.

Masahiro Tanaka gave up a HR on the second pitch he threw tonight, but after that was great.

In the top of the sixth, the Yanks tied the game but lost Tanaka. Tanaka reached on an error. Now he had to run the bases. Torres singled, Gardner walked to load the bases and Judge hit a SF, scoring Tanaka. But Tanaka’s hamstrings tightened up running the bases and he had to leave the game.

Hasn’t MLB learned the lesson of Chien-Ming Wang a few years ago? Haven’t they learned that it is grossly unfair for AL teams to play one way for 153 games a season but to have their pitchers do something completely different for 9 inter-league games a year?

It is inevitable, and make it happen soon. Make the NL adopt the DH. The NL, and one league in Japan, are the ONLY leagues (and that includes the minors) that don’t implement the DH. With the high cost of some AL pitchers’ salaries, isn’t it time the NL adopts the DH or is forced to do so?

Besides, who the hell pays a ticket to watch pitchers hit?

Anyway, tie game, Tanaka out and the bullpen takes over. We’ll find out tomorrow how bad it is and if Tanaka has to miss a start or go on the DL.

In the top of the eighth, with two out, Torres singled and Gardner hit a 2-run HR (5) that bounced off the top of the fence and over the wall. 3-1 Yanks over DeGrom who pitched a great game against the Yanks tonight.

Giancarlo Stanton got HR #15 off a Mets reliever in the top of the ninth.

The Mets, struggling lately, found out before the game that their closer, Familia, went on the DL and that one of their best starters, Syndergaard, will not face Severino Sunday night. Seve faces Seth Lugo instead, and I and friends will be at the Sunday night game.

Torres 2 hits.
Gardner 2 hits, 2-run HR.
Stanton solo HR.

They had all five of the Yankees’ hits.

Tanaka 5 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 H, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.58
Holder 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.61
Green (W, 4-0, 2.03) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Betances (H, 5) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.67
Chapman (S, 16) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 HBP. 1.35

Golden State swept the Cavs for the NBA title, and last night, the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup.

Game 58. Yanks blank Jays in 13, 3-0.

The game was scoreless in the top of the thirteenth inning when Aaron Judge hit a 2-run HR (17) and Giancarlo Stanton followed later with a solo one (14) to enable the Yankees to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 and stay one game behind Boston in the AL East. The Yanks are 40-18, Boston 43-19. (The Yanks have played four less games. If they go 3-1 in those four games, then the teams are tied).

Sonny Gray was fabulous. This is the Sonny Gray the Yanks traded for last year and hope to have for the rest of the season.

Gardner 2 hits.
Judge 2-run HR
Stanton solo HR.

Gray 8 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 W, 8 K. 4.81
Green 2 iP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.10
Betances 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.81
Robertson (W, 4-2, 4.08) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Chapman (S, 15) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.40

The Yanks are off Thursday. They play the Mets in Queens in a three game series this weekend. I’ll be at the Sunday night game.