Game 22. Yanks, one strike away from winning in 12, win in 14, 4-3.

An error and a wild pitch helped the Yanks (12-10) win a marathon, 4-3, over the Angels Monday night in a game that lasted 14 innings and ended after 2 A.M. Eastern Time.

The Yanks were one strike away from winning 3-2 in 12, but Aroldis Chapman hit a batter and gave up a game-tying single after that.

The Yanks got the first run of the game in the first on a Luke Voit HR (5).

J.A. Happ gave up a 2-run HR in the second to Jonathan Lucroy and the Angels took a 2-1 lead. Happ was good, otherwise. Maybe he is coming around after a rough beginning to the season.

Kyle Higashioka opened the third for the Yanks with a double and later scored on a SF by Gleyber Torres (after a couple of walks) to tie the game at two.

That’s where it stood until the twelfth, when Clint Frazier doubled to lead off the inning, advanced to third on a groundout, and after a walk to Mike Ford, Gio Urshela hit a SF to put the Yanks up 3-2. Urshela would be heard from again later.

But in the bottom of the twelfth, with two out, a man on second, and two strikes, Chapman hit the batter, then gave up the game-tying single. On we go.

In the 14th, Gleyber Torres struck out but reached on a throwing error by Lucroy. After Frazier struck out, Torres reached second on a WP. (Thanks, Angels for the gifts). Mike Tauchman struck out and the Angels intentionally walked Ford, once again, to get to Urshela, and once again, their strategy backfired. Torres stole third, and Urshela then singled him home with what proved to be the game-winning run.

Urshela is known for his glove, not his bat, and he has made a couple nice defensive plays this year, including last night. But he is hitting well for the Yanks so far. (.297). So it’s funny to see the Angels walk Ford (.071, just one MLB hit since being called up) twice to get to Urshela. At least Gio delivered both times.

Urshela 2 hits, 2 RBI.

Happ 7 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 5.96
Ottavino 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.77
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  2.16
Cessa 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K.  1.74
Chapman (BS, 1) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 HBP.  3.00
Holder (W, 1-0, 5.54) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K.

It’s early, but one thing I’m concerned about already is Ottavino. He’s pitching well, but it seems like, with Betances out and Green and Holder (until last night) struggling, that Ottavino is in there everyday. I’m worried about Ottavino burning out eventually.

After opting out of his contract, the Yanks did give Gio Gonzalez his release.

The Yanks did sign Brad Miller for depth, mostly a SS/2B/1B, the lefty hitter, 29, is a .240 hitter who does have some pop. He hit 30 HR for Tampa Bay in 2016. I hate to say this, but with this move, and also with the earlier move in getting Mike Tauchman, you have to wonder if the Yanks aren’t all that high on Tyler Wade, who still hasn’t proven he can hit MLB pitching. Otherwise, if they were sold on Wade, why would they make these moves? Eventually a player runs out of chances, and you have to wonder if Wade and/or Greg Bird is reaching that point. Just being honest, here.

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Game 16. Yanks belt Boston 8-0 behind Paxton and 3 HR. Bird to DL, Ford up.

James Paxton and Mike Tauchman hadn’t done too much in their brief stints as Yankees before last night but that all changed in an 8-0 win for the Yankees (7-9) over Boston.

Paxton showed the ace-like quality he may possess in pitching eight innings of shutout baseball, giving up just two hits and striking out 12.

This is the Paxton the Yanks traded for. There were rumors that earlier this season he was tipping his pitches. Well, he sure corrected that last night in a dominating performance.

Tauchman, a reserve OF pressed into service because of all the injuries, drove in four runs and hit his first MLB HR.

The Yanks got two in the third on a double by Gardner, who scored on a two-out single by LeMahieu. After a walk to Judge, Voit singled in LeMahieu.

Clint Frazier led off the fourth with his fourth HR of the season. Two outs later, Austin Romine singled and scored on a double by Tauchman.

Tauchman hit a 3-run HR in the sixth, his first MLB HR, to make it 7-0, and Gleyber Torres homered in the seventh (4) for the final score of 8-0.

Aaron Judge had 2 hits, and Gio Urshela made a great defensive play.

Paxton (W, 2-2, 3.91) 8 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 12 K. 1 HBP
Harvey 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 0 .00

 

Earlier in the day, Greg Bird was placed on the DL with a torn plantar fasciitis. It’s been a rough go for Bird, who always appears to be injured. He’ll be out a while. He was struggling this season, going just 6 for 35 (.171) with only one extra base hit. His HR was his only RBI. In his 35 at bats, he had struck out 16x.

Sad to say, but eventually the Yanks have to wonder what to do with Bird. If he’s always hurt, he isn’t helping you. Eventually, the Yanks may have to cut the cord with him.

To replace Bird, the Yanks called up Mike Ford, lefty-hitting 1B, from AAA. Ford is a “Yankee Doodle Dandy” born on the 4th of July who turns 27 this July. In 10 games for AAA SWB this season, Ford was hitting .410 with 5 HR and 14 RBI.

Last season, in 102 games for AAA SWB, Ford hit .253-15-52. In 2017, between AA/AAA, he hit .270-20-86 and drew 94 walks. (126 games, 101 at AA).

For Mike Ford, opportunity knocks.

Games 13 & 14. Yanks lose Friday, win Saturday on 1-hitter. CC back, but bad Betances news.

This will be brief, because I was out of town Friday night and all day Saturday.

The Yanks lost Friday night 9-6. J.A. Happ (0-2, 8.76, took the loss Friday) and Chad Green (0-2, 11.81) have been disappointing so far and both didn’t pitch well at all Friday night. They have to improve.

Greg Bird has to also. 6 for 35, 16 whiffs. Only one hit for extra bases.  James Paxton is 1-2, 6.00.

As for Bird, when guys get healthy, then someone has to be sent down, and if your numbers aren’t there, then….

It’s just the nature of the business. If he wants to stay in the majors, he’ll have to pick it up. Voit is only hitting .200, but Voit does lead the Yanks with 13 RBI.

The Yanks are in 2nd in the AL East, but 4 1/2 back of the Rays. It’s early but don’t discount Tampa Bay. Boston, like the Yanks, has been struggling so far. (5-10).  For the Yanks to get better, some players (see above for an example) must play better, as well as others have to get healthy.

The Yanks (6-8) snapped their four-game losing streak on Saturday. CC Sabathia returned from the DL (Stephen Tarpley sent down) and combined with three relievers on a one-hit shutout as the Yanks won 4-0.

Aaron Judge hit his 4th HR of the year in this game.

Tyler Wade squeezed home a run. I love to see that. With all the injuries, the Yanks have to find different ways to win. With Wade’s speed and bunting ability, this is one of them.

I can’t remember the last time the Yanks squeezed a run home.

If short on power because of the injuries, then pitching and defense and speed.

Dellin Betances’ shoulder isn’t better. Bone spur. Cortisone shot. Shut down 6-7 weeks, probably out 3 months.

Saturday’s pitching line:

CC 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K
German (W, 3-0, 1.38) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K.
Britton (H, 3) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.05
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.00

CC is now 11 strikeouts short of 3000 for his career.

 

Game 10. Bullpen can’t hold lead, Yanks lose 4-3. Severino has setback.

For six innings, Masahiro Tanaka outpitched Houston’s Justin Verlander. He left with a 3-1 lead.

Unfortunately, the bullpen couldn’t hold it and Houston, aided by some luck on a little dribbler, beat the 5-5 Yankees, 4-3.

Aaron Judge had 2 hits, inc. a HR (3) and walked twice.

Clint Frazier had 2 hits and an RBI.

Not a good night for Greg Bird, who took the “golden sombrero” 0 for 4, 4 strikeouts.

Tanaka 6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR.  1.47
Britton 2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K.  3.86
Ottavino (L, 1-1, 1.29) 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 4 K.

Luis Severino will be sent to NY for more tests on his shoulder. According to manager Aaron Boone, Severino “feels OK but he is not where he needs to be.” He’ll have another MRI. Concerning news.

Game 4. Yanks win 3-1 on combined 2-hitter, but Stanton & Andujar go on I.L. Andujar could be lost for the season.

The Yanks evened their record at 2-2 with a 3-1 win over the Tigers, but the injured list grew even bigger when before the game, the Yanks had to put Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Andujar on the injured list for 10 days each.

Stanton has a strained bicep, suffered on a funky swing he took. Andujar’s injury could, and appears to be more serious, since he (per MLB.com) has a small labrum tear in his right shoulder and the team will handle him conservatively for two weeks, MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch reports. But Andujar could soon undergo season-ending surgery. In any case, he’ll be out much longer than 10 days.

To replace them, the Yanks called up Clint Frazier (for Stanton) and Tyler Wade (for Andujar).

Unfortunately, neither was an “April Fool’s Joke.”

The duo joins an injured list that includes Jordan Montgomery, Luis Severino, CC Sabathia, Dellin Betances, Aaron Hicks (still no where close to returning), Didi Gregorius and Jacoby Ellsbury.

As for the game, the Yanks struck first when Gary Sanchez hit his second HR of the year to make it 1-0 in the second.

With two outs in the third, Luke Voit walked and Greg Bird singled. When OF Christian Stewart made an error on Bird’s single, Voit came all the way around to score while Bird took second. 2-0 Yanks.

With two on in the fourth, a WP by Yankees’ starter Domingo German moved the runners up, and a throwing error by Sanchez enabled the lead runner to score. 2-1, Yanks. It’s Sanchez’ third error of the season already, all throwing, but in seeing the play, it appears that Gleyber Torres needs to make a better play in keeping the ball in front of him. The throw wasn’t too bad. It was a bang-bang play and Torres may have “heard footsteps” or may have been spiked on the play.

Brett Gardner led off the fifth with his first HR of the season, making it 3-1 Yanks, which was the final score. Gardner had two of the Yanks’ five hits.

It almost wasn’t the final score, however. With two on and no one out in the eighth, Aaron Judge made a diving catch to save the day.  It was a play that put your heart in your throat, because it was a play where Judge could have hurt his wrist really bad if he fell on it wrong. Fortunately, nothing happened. The Yanks can’t afford to lose anyone else right now, ESPECIALLY Aaron Judge.

Domingo German was a bit wild, but pitched great and four relievers backed him up.

German (W, 1-0, 0.00) 5 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 5 W, 7 K.
Green (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.50
Britton (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00
Ottavino (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 0.00
Chapman (S, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.

OF Jim Holt, a member of the 1974 WS Champion Oakland A’s, passed away recently.

Game 3. Yanks fall 7-5.

It’s early, but there is no excuse for sloppy play and losing 2 of 3 to the putrid Orioles.

The Yanks fall to 1-2 on the season.

J.A. Happ gave up 2 HR and 4 runs in 4 innings and put the Yanks behind the 8-ball right away by giving up a 3-run HR in the first inning—an inning that began over 3 hours later than expected due to a rain delay.

Things went downhill from there in the Yanks’ 7-5 loss.

Stephen Tarpley gave up a HR.

Tommy Kahnle walked the bases loaded with no out in the ninth but somehow wiggled out of it.

The bad outweighed the good. Aaron Judge had 2 RBI, but struck out 4x, stranding 6.

In the sixth, 1st and 2nd, one out, both Judge and Stanton struck out. First and 2nd, one out in the eighth, down 7-4, Judge struck out again.

Gary Sanchez hit a HR (1), but made his second throwing error of the season, and struck out 3x.
Giancarlo Stanton drew 3 walks, but struck out twice when the Yanks really needed a big blow from him. 4th inning, 1st and 3rd, two out, a strikeout.

 

Luke Voit stranded 7. Down 4-0 in the third, bases loaded, he struck out. Down 7-4 in the eighth, bases loaded, two out, he grounded out.

Greg Bird walked 2x, but was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

The team had two on and the winning run at the plate with two out in the bottom of the ninth, but PH Troy Tulowitzki struck out.

As you can see, chances were there and the Yanks did not capitalize on them.

The team was 2 for 12 with RISP and stranded 14.

Happ (L, 0-1, 9.00) 4 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 2 HR
Cessa 3 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 W, 5 K. 2.70
Tarpley 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K.  13.50   Gave up 1 HR
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 W, 2 K.  0.00

Gleyber Torres had 2 hits, and D.J. LeMahieu was 2 for 2 with 2 walks and an RBI.

It’s never too soon to right the ship.

 

 

 

 

Game 1. Luke no fluke? HR, 4 RBI on Opening Day. Yanks win 7-2.

After the way he ended last season for the Yanks, it’s normal to wonder if Luke Voit is the next Kevin Maas or Shane Spencer—that is, a short-term wonder.

Today, Voit drove in 4 runs, 3 on a HR, to lead the Yanks to an Opening Day 7-2 win over the Orioles.

In less than 40 games with the Yanks, he’s hit 15 HR.

Bird hit his 3-run HR in the bottom of the first.

The Yanks loaded the bases on a single and two walks in the third and scored a run on a GIDP by Miguel Andujar.

Andujar just missed 2 HR in the game, and Sanchez one, because the wind was blowing in from LF.

Baltimore scored an unearned run in the fourth to cut it to 4-1.

In the fifth, Voit was HBP with the bases loaded to make it 5-1, and Andujar hit a SF to make it 6-1.

The O’s cut it to 6-2 with a run in the sixth.

In the bottom of the eighth, Greg Bird, who had struck out in his previous three at bats, homered on an 0-2 pitch to make it 7-2.

Every Yankee in the starting lineup got a hit except for Brett Gardner. Each Yankee got on base.

Judge 2 hits, 2 walks, scored 3 runs.
Voit 3-run HR, 2 walks, HBP,  4 RBI
Bird solo HR.
Gleyber Torres a fine defensive play.

Tanaka was good, and the bullpen shut things down.

Tanaka (W, 1-0, 1.59) 5 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 0 W, 5 K.
Ottavino 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 0.00
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 0 .00
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00

The Yanks are off on Friday. Paxton starts on Saturday.