
Jake Bauers hit two two-run homers, but it was Aaron Judge who stole the show in the Yankees’ (35-25) 6-3 win over the Dodgers last night.
The Yanks made a few moves before the game. Minor league C Jose Godoy was traded to Baltimore. P Ryan Weber and OF Greg Allen were placed on the IL, and Nick Ramirez and Oswaldo Cabrera flew cross-country to join the Yanks in LA. Cabrera would later HR in the game.
Both Weber and Allen will have MRIs. Weber’s injury is the most concerning. It’s his pitching forearm and you hope it doesn’t mean TJ surgery.
The Yanks got on the board in the top of the second when D.J. Lemahieu hit what appeared to be a single, but the Dodger CF misplayed it into a triple. Bauers followed with the first of his two HR on the evening to put the Yanks up 2-0.
The Dodgers came right back with a run in the bottom of the second when with two out, Yankees’ starter Gerrit Cole hit a batter then the next batter hit one down the LF line that found grass near the foul line despite three Yankees surrounding it.
Bauers hit his second two-run HR (5) of the game in the top of the fourth to put the Yanks up 4-1.
In the top of the sixth, Judge homered (19) to put the Yanks up 5-1.
After six innings, Cole was removed from the game. At first, I was wondering what was going on, since Cole was only at 80 pitches, and was texting friends and asking what manager Aaron Boone was doing. I didn’t see Cole hurt or anything. Here I found out later that Cole was suffering from leg cramps, thus the removal. But it sure seemed scary and confusing at the time because normally you wouldn’t pull an ace who was cruising (1 run, 4 hits) after just 80 pitches over six innings.
It looked worse when Cole’s replacement, Wandy Peralta, had nothing. A single to start the inning, then a ball misplayed in the corner by Cabrera, who had just replaced Bauers in LF for defense. Instead of a double, a run-scoring triple. 5-2. After a walk, Michael King came in for Peralta. King gave up a single that made it 5-3, and the Dodgers had men on first and second, no one out and you were wondering why the pitching change away from Cole (as I mentioned, didn’t know why until later). But King got two lineouts and a strikeout to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, King got a strikeout to start the inning, but the batter reached on a passed ball by Jose Trevino. Judge then made a play that may have saved the game. J.D. Martinez lined one to RF and Judge made the catch while crashing into the fence, saving a double and possibly a run. The bullpen gate broke open upon Judge colliding with it, and the runner was given second because of Judge leaving the field of play (although it wasn’t his fault). Anyway, a tremendous play that probably saved a run and possibly the ballgame. Hopefully Judge is OK for tonight’s game. He said he felt discomfort in a toe (the base of the fence had a couple inches of concrete) and it sure made your heart flutter when he crashed into that fence. The Yanks are just getting back Stanton and Donaldson, have lost Allen and Bader for a while, and don’t need to lose their best player.
In the top of the ninth, Cabrera homered (4) to give the Yanks a 6-3 lead, which was the final score.
The Yanks only had six hits in the game, but four were HR.
Judge solo HR (19) and incredible catch.
Bauers two two-run HR (5), 4 RBI.
Cabrera solo HR (4)
Cole (W, 7-0) 6 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 2 W, 5 K. 1 HBP 2.82
Peralta 0 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. 3.00
King (H, 2) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1.65
Holmes (S, 6) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.96