Game 137. Slumping Yanks blanked by Jays, 8-0.

The Yanks, after a 13-game winning streak, have now lost seven of their last nine games, losing on Labor Day to Toronto, 8-0.

The Yanks are still in second place in the AL, 8 1/2 behind Tampa Bay, with 25 games to go. It’s a foregone conclusion that Tampa Bay will win the division, barring a monumental collapse.

The Yanks are fighting for their playoff lives.

Right now, they have the top wild card spot, but barely. But if this slump continues, they could fall out of playoff contention.

Yankees 78-59 — top wild card
Boston 79-61 – 1/2 2nd wild card
Toronto 74-62 -3 1/2 3 behind Boston
Seattle 75-63 – 3 1/2 3 behind Boston
Oakland 74-63 -4 3 1/2 behind Boston

Toronto won the first of the four games against the Yanks, and could really make a statement.

The Blue Jays got back-to-back HRs in the top of the first inning against Yankees’ starter Jameson Taillon from Marcus Semien (36) and Vlad Guerrero Jr. (40). It was all the Blue Jays needed as the Yankees’ offense came up empty.

Taillon settled down after that, not allowing another run until the seventh.

The Yankees’ bullpen is beaten up. So much so that the Yankees were forced to use Brooks Kriske to pitch the ninth inning. Kriske gave up a solo HR to Teoscar Hernandez (25) and a grand slam to Semien (37).

I’ll just present the facts here, nothing else. You can draw your own conclusions. Kriske has pitched in 12 MLB games, for a total of 11 1/3 innings. His career record is 1-1 with an ERA of 15.09. He has given up 20 runs, 19 earned.
Enough said.

On the radio, John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman lamented the losses of Britton and now Loaisiga. Let’s not forget Darren O’Day, who missed most of this year and whose career could be over, as well as Michael King, whose career stats are better in relief than as a starter.

Also, while trading Justin Wilson (7.50 ERA for Yanks this year, 6.28 overall) was one thing, trading Luis Cessa (2.82 ERA this year, 2.56 overall) was another. Right now, the Yanks could use Cessa (as well as O’Day and King).

Rizzo 2 hits (the Yanks only had five for the game). The Yanks made 3 errors in the game.

Taillon (L, 8-6) 7 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR. 4.41
Luetge 1 1P, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.81
Kriske 1 IP, 5 R, 3 H, 3 W, 1 K. Gave up 2 HR. 15.26

Game 100. Yanks edge Rays in 10, 3-1. Finalizing deal for Gallo.

Well, I can’t copy my posts to Facebook for a while, since I’m in Facebook Jail for a while. For something I posted MONTHS ago. They really must be stopped. (Badge of honor?). But thanks for reading, and fight to protect our First Amendment rights.

The Yanks are finalizing a dealing for Joey Gallo. Since all deals, particulars are NOT final, nothing more on that for now. It appears as if 5 minor leaguers of the Yanks top 30 are going to Texas, none of the top 13.

The Yanks (53-47, 3rd, 8 1/2 back) nipped Tampa Bay 3-1 last night in ten innings.

Tampa got a run off of Yankees’ starter Nestor Cortes in the fourth inning.

The Yanks tied it in the fifth when Gio Urshela reached on an error, went to third on a Greg Allen double and scored on a SF by D.J. LeMahieu.

In the tenth, the Yanks had that “ghost” runner on second. Greg Allen was HBP, and Aaron Judge singled in a run with Allen going to third. A WP brought in Allen.

With a couple of runners on in the bottom of the tenth, LeMahieu had to make a circus catch to end the game. I don’t know if the ball was lost in the roof, hit one of those dumb catwalks or what, but a scary moment.

With Wilson and Cessa traded, Florial and Abreu back.

Cortes 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 5 K. 1 HBP. 1.93
Luetge 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K. 3.06
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 6.75
Green (W, 4-5) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.29
Chapman (S, 20) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 WP. 3.93

Game 99. Yanks sting Rays, 4-3; trade Cessa and Wilson.

The Yanks (52-27, 3rd, 9 GB; 2 1/2 out of playoff spot) beat Tampa Bay 4-3 Tuesday night, then made another trade that makes you wonder if something bigger is forthcoming.

First, the game. Jordan Montgomery was in and out of trouble, but pitched five scoreless innings, throwing 102 pitches in doing so.

The Yanks for whatever reason, haven’t been giving Montgomery much run support, and after missing out on a couple of early opportunities, finally got a run in the fifth. Greg Allen led off the inning with a double, and D.J. LeMahieu singled him home.

The Yanks got two more runs in the top of the sixth to make it 3-0. Gleyber Torres singled to lead off the inning, and Rougned Odor then singled. Gio Urshela doubled both runners home.

Chad Green gave up a 2-run HR in the bottom of the sixth and Tampa Bay cut the Yanks’ lead to 3-2.

Ryan LaMarre homered (2) for the Yankees in the top of the eighth to put the Yanks up 4-2, but Tampa Bay got a run off of Zack Britton in the bottom of the eighth to cut it to 4-3. Britton got a DP with runners on first and third to end the inning.

The Yanks got the first two batters on in the ninth but could get any insurance runs. In the bottom of the ninth, after getting the first two hitters, Aroldis Chapman gave up a walk before striking out Nelson Cruz to end the game.

Before the game, Aaron Judge and Kyle Higashioka came off the Covid-IL. Estevan Florial and Albert Abreu were sent down. I feel bad for Abreu, who has pitched well. Michael King was moved to the 60 day IL. Just acquired Clay Holmes was added to the active roster. Minor leaguer Yoendrys Gomez went on the Covid-IL list.

LeMahieu 2 hits, RBI
Torres 2 hits,
Urshela 2 hits, 2 RBI
LaMarre solo HR (2)

Montgomery (W, 4-5) 5 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 3 W, 5 K. 3.78 1 WP, 1 Balk.
Green (H, 14) 1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 W, 2 K. 3.35 Gave up 1 HR.
Loaisiga (H, 13) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.76
Britton (H, 4) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 7.56 1 WP
Chapman (S, 19) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 4.04

The Yanks traded Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson to the Reds for a player to be named later.

Cessa was 3-1, 2.82 (ERA+ 154) this year for the Yanks. He’s 10-13, 4.19 (ERA+ 105) in his MLB career, all with the Yankees (2016- present).

Wilson was in his second stint with the Yankees, and this year was 1-1, 7.50, ERA+ 58. He is 33-23, 3.44 (ERA+ 118) in his career, in which (2012-present) he has pitched for the Pirates, Yankees, Tigers, Cubs, Mets and Yankees again.

So Cessa and Wilson are gone, and Clay Holmes is in. Holmes was acquired for two minor leaguers, Diego Castillo and Hoy Jun Park the other day. Park was hitting .327 for SWB. Holmes was 3-2, 4.93 (ERA+ 85) for Pittsburgh this year and is 5-7, 5.57 (ERA+ 76) for his career.

The trade deadline is Friday at 4 PM. All I can say is that I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. Something is up.

Game 95. Bullpen woes cost Yankees. Lose 5-4 in 10.

The Yankees had a short bullpen, with the IL and COVID IL having O’Day, Peralta, Cortes, Loaisiga & King on it, and both Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman were unavailable due to recent usage.

Next man up, but….

those men didn’t deliver as the Yanks blew a 3-1 lead in the 9th, then a 4-3 lead in the tenth as the Yanks (50-45, 3rd, 8 GB) lost 5-4 in Boston. Another late inning bullpen meltdown, and the Yanks have had too many of those lately.

Poor Jordan Montgomery pitched well and once again got little run support. The Yanks only got four hits all game long.

They did go up 1-0 in the fourth. Brett Gardner and Giancarlo Stanton walked to lead off the inning. After an out, a passed ball moved both runners up, and Gardner scored on a groundout by Gleyber Torres.

There was a 55 minute rain delay in the fifth inning.

Boston tied the game, helped by an error by Tyler Wade, in the seventh.

The Yanks went ahead 3-1 in the eighth. D.J. LeMahieu and Gardner both walked to lead off the inning, then Stanton singled to make it 2-1. Rougned Odor bunted both runners over and Torres hit a SF.

Luis Cessa pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, but manager Aaron Boone went to his closer for the night, Chad Green, for the ninth. Strikeout, single, single, lineout, and the Yankees were one out away. Instead, a double tied the game before Green then got the last out.

In the top of the tenth, Tyler Wade was the ghost runner at second. He moved up to third on a ground out and scored on a SF by Gardner.

Then to a wild, terrible bottom of the tenth. Brooks Kriske came in to pitch, and FOUR wild pitches by Kriske basically gave Boston the game. Boston had their ghost runner. WP moved him to third. Another WP and the game was tied, and Boston did nothing to earn that. A walk. A WP moved the winning run to second. Another WP moved him to third. A strikeout. A SF to win the game. What an ugly way to lose.

Torres 2 RBI

Montgomery 5 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, 6 K. 3.96 1 WP
Romano (H, 1) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 5.06 (Combined Cin/NYY; see below)
Luetge (BS, 2) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.20
Cessa (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.82
Green (BS, 2) 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.06
Kriske (L, 1-1; BS, 1) 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 10.80 FOUR wild pitches.

Before the game, the Yanks DFA’d Asher Wojciechowski and brought up Sal Romano. Romano was with the Reds 2017 through this year and going into this game, had a career record of 15-19, 5.15 (ERA+ 85). 83 games, about half of which were starts.

Kriske was sent down after the game.

Game 93. Yanks do big (4 HR) and small things in beating Phils, 6-4.

When you look at the Yankees’ win (6-4) over the Phillies last night, it’s easy to look at the four homers that were hit. But to me, most impressive was the little things that Greg Allen and rookie Estevan Florial did in the victory.

Both players are filling in while others are on the IL or Covid-IL.

Florial was brought up earlier in the day when Trey Amburgey (hamstring) had to go on the IL. This was his third MLB game.

The Phillies struck first when Rhys Hoskins hit a HR in the second inning off of Yankees’ starter Domingo German.

The Yanks tied it in the bottom of the third. Allen tripled, and Florial got him in with a groundout to second. Just doing the little things to get the run in.

The Phils got a run in the fourth to go up 2-1. They were helped by a balk by German, and ex-Yankee Ronald Torreyes doubled in the run.

The Yanks went up 3-2 in the fifth. Allen walked and stole second. He moved up to third when Florial flied out (doing the little things). I would have liked to have seen Tyler Wade squeeze home the run there, but he swung away and lined out to SS (to ex-Yankee Didi Gregorius). Gregorius tried to double Allen off of third but made a throwing error that allowed Allen to score. Brett Gardner followed that with a HR (4).

Gary Sanchez homered (17) in the sixth to make it 4-2 Yankees.

In the top of the seventh, Chad Green got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam with a couple of strikeouts, the last one to Didi.

In the bottom of the seventh, Giancarlo Stanton homered (16) to put the Yanks up 5-2.

The Phillies got a run in the top of the eighth to cut it to 5-3, and it was Torreyes who got the inning going for them.

In the bottom of the eighth, Florial hit his first MLB HR to put the Yanks up 6-3.

Aroldis Chapman gave up a HR in the ninth to Andrew McCutchen (another ex-Yankee playing for the Phils, managed by, you guessed it, ex-Yankee Joe Girardi) that made the score 6-4 before closing out the game.

With the win, the Yanks, 49-44, are in a virtual tie for third, 7 games back. After tonight’s game with the Phils, they have four games at Fenway against Boston, followed by three in Tampa Bay. These games are right before the trade deadline.

I won’t write about rumors, but if the Yanks do make deals, I’ll write about the deal and my reaction to it.

Gardner solo HR (4)
Stanton 2 hits, solo HR (16)
Sanchez 2 hits, solo HR (17)
Florial 2 RBI, solo HR (1) FIRST MLB HR


German 4 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 W, 5 K. 1 Balk. Gave up 1 HR. 4.71
Cessa (W, 3-1) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K. 2.89
Luetge (H, 3) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 WP. 3.25
Green (H, 13) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.76
Britton (H, 2) 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 6.00
Chapman (S, 17) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.41

The Yanks are bringing up Asher Wojciechowski for a spot start tonight vs. the Phils.

Game 85. Yanks edge Seattle, 5-4, behind bullpen.

Domingo German was supposed to start, but an emergency root canal changed that. Nick Nelson started instead, but German, once he felt ok again, was available in the bullpen. He would be needed in a 5-4 Yankees’ (44-41, 4th in AL East, 8 1/2 back) win.

The Yankees jumped on the board early, getting three runs in the first inning. With one out, Aaron Judge walked. Gary Sanchez also walked, and with two out, Luke Voit singled in a run, both runners moving up on the throw to the plate. Gleyber Torres singled in Sanchez and Voit and it was 3-0. Gio Urshela’s drive bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double, costing the Yanks a run (had it not, Torres would have scored) and the Yanks had to settle for three runs that inning.

To be kind, Yankees’ emergency starter Nick Nelson spit the bit in an awful outing. He struck out the first batter, but then was all over the place. A HBP, a walk, a lineout that moved a runner up. Another walk which included a WP that allowed a run to score. Yet another walk that loaded the bases. Nelson was then pulled for Luis Cessa, who got a forceout to end the inning. Cessa went on to right the ship.

The Yanks got two in the second inning. Tim Locastro hustled what should have been just a single into a double. D.J. LeMahieu just missed a HR, flying out deep to move Locastro to third. Judge then hit a 429-ft. HR (20) to make it 5-1. Later in the inning, Gleyber Torres just missed a three-run HR, as he, like LeMahieu, flied out to just before the fence. Gio Urshela also just missed in the third inning.

It stayed 5-1 until the sixth, when German gave up a 3-run HR. That made it 5-4 but the Yanks hung on to win.

Judge 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-Run HR (20)
Stanton 2 hits.
Voit 2 hits, RBI
Torres 2 RBI
Locastro 2 hits, both doubles


Nelson 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 3 W, 1 K. 1 HBP. 1 WP. 9.95 Just an awful outing.
Cessa (W, 2-1) 3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.00 Saved Yanks.
German (H, 1) 3 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.33
Loaisiga (H, 11) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.15
Green (S, 3) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.23 Can’t trust Chapman right now to save it.

Game 80. Yanks score 7 in 1st, but give up 7 in 9th, lose 11-8. Brutal.

There were two rain delays totaling about an hour and 40 minutes. By the time the second rain delay was over, the game resumed around 11:30 PM and ended after 1 AM.

I’m glad I didn’t see the ending. My blood pressure would have caused another PE or a heart attack.

After last night, stick a fork in the Yankees. They are done. Sure, comebacks (think 1978) happen. But do any of you think it will happen with this team? They are now 41-39, 4th in the AL East, and 8 1/2 back.

And last night’s loss? Just excruciating. The Yanks scored 7 runs in the first inning, just one the rest of the game, took an 8-4 lead into the ninth, and gave up 7 runs in the top of the ninth to blow it and lose 11-8. Pathetic.

Before the game, controversy. The Yanks get swept in Boston last weekend. Their GM says “They suck.” The manager says that “the season is on the line.” But in a game with Ohtani on the mound, both Aaron Judge and Gio Urshela are out of the lineup. Where is the urgency? This “looking at the big picture stuff” as far as resting players right now is BS. What big picture? The playoffs (Cue Jim Mora here) that you won’t qualify for the way you are playing right now? What are you saving them for? Manager Boone says they are banged up. A lot of us remember a crippled, banged up Mickey Mantle playing through hellish injuries. Same with a banged up Thurman Munson. What crap. You should have heard the Michael Kay show on the YES network yesterday. Boy were they criticizing the Yanks over this.

Before the game, Justin Wilson up off of rehab, Albert Abreu sent down.


A slumping Domingo German gave up a 2-run HR in the top of the first inning to Phil Gosselin, and the Yanks were down 2-0 right away. I don’t know what it is with Yankees’ starters that they can’t make it out of the first inning unscathed. The homer came with two out and two strikes on Gosselin. Of course it did.

Shockingly, Angels’ star Shohei Ohtani had nothing as his control was off. The Yankees knocked him and his bat (the Angels forgoed the DH what with Ohtani and his 28 HR starting) out of the game after just 2/3 of an inning.

D.J. LeMahieu walked. Luke Voit walked. A passed ball. Gary Sanchez walked to load the bases. Giancarlo Stanton singled in a run, Gleyber Torres singled in another. After Rougned Odor struck out, Miguel Andujar made it 3-2 with an RBI groundout. Clint Frazier was HBP to reload the bases. Brett Gardner walked to force in a run, force Ohtani from the game, and make it 4-2. LeMahieu doubled to clear the bases. 7-2. Yankees’ fans were feeling good, not knowing what was to come later. What was to come later was just one more run, and a shocking defeat.

German gave up a run in the second. He was pulled after the first rain delay. Jared Walsh (we will hear from him later) homered in the fifth off of Luis Cessa to make it 7-4.

Brett Gardner homered in the eighth (3) to make it 8-4 Yankees. Game in the bag, right? Wrong.

In his first 23 games this season, Aroldis Chapman gave up just 1 earned run for an ERA of 0.39. That is through June 9. Starting on June 10 (when he gave up two 2-run HRs in the bottom of the ninth to blow a game), Chapman has given up 12 runs, 11 earned, in just 5 2/3 innings. It would be worse than that except for a triple play that saved his bacon. That ERA has gone from 0.39 to 3.77.

He walked the bases loaded, then gave up a game-tying grand slam to Walsh. Lucas Luetge came in and gave up three runs to complete the implosion. Ugh.

There aren’t any words. Well, yes, there are, but none you would use around children.

LeMahieu 3 RBI
Stanton 2 hits, RBI
Gardner 2 for 2, 2 walks, scored 2x, 2 RBI. Solo HR (3)

German 3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 3 W, 2 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 4.50
Wilson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 5.65
Cessa 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. gave up 1 HR. 3.31
O’Day (H, 4) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.70
Loaisiga (H, 10) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.32
Chapman 1/3 IP, 4 R, 1 H, 3 W, 0 K. Gave up Game-tying grand slam. 3.77
Luetge (L, 2-1) 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.15

Game 77. Yanks fall into 4th place after getting swept in Fenway, 9-2.

What a lost weekend. Hal Steinbrenner needs to channel his father. You can only imagine how the old man would have reacted after the Yankees got swept in Fenway this weekend. Couple this with the Red Sox sweeping the Yankees at the Stadium three weeks ago, and the Yankees are 0-6 vs. the Red Sox this season.

Pair that up with Tampa Bay, and the Yanks are 5-14 vs. those two teams this year. Sunday’s 9-2 loss dropped the Yankees to 40-37, and down to 4th place in the AL East, 6 1/2 out.

The weekend was embarrassing. Even Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole was affected. Cole gave up a HR on the very first pitch he threw, and gave up another HR, a 3-run 451 ft. shot, before the inning was out. After one inning, the Yanks were down 4-0, and it seemed like all the air was out of the balloon. In that inning, Miguel Andujar, still learning the outfield, made a bad defensive play.

With two on and one out in the third inning, and a chance to get back into the game, the Yanks came away with nothing. In the bottom of the third, Cole gave up a leadoff HR to J.D. Martinez, which was another bomb, and an error by Gleyber Torres helped lead to another run. After three innings, Boston led 6-0.

Cole settled down after that, at least giving the Yankees some innings (5), but even if he had pitched well, once again he received little support. The only runs the Yankees got came via a two-run HR by Aaron Judge (17) in the top of the sixth that cut the score to 6-2. They struck out 13x. The Yanks loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, came away with nothing. Boston, meanwhile, got a run in the bottom of the seventh to make it 7-2.

Brooks Kriske, who has not pitched well for the Yankees this year (5 games, 7 R in 5 IP, ERA 12.60) gave up two runs in the eighth, including a solo HR, to make it 9-2, the final score.

Later this week, the Yanks hit the halfway point of the season. Over the 4th of July weekend, I will give “mid-term grades” out. As you may guess, it won’t be pretty.


LeMahieu 2 hits
Judge 2-run HR (17)


Cole (L, 8-4) 5 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 8 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 3 HR. 1 WP. 2.66
Cessa 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.13
Kriske 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 12.60

Game 75. Yanks lose to Boston, 5-3.

For those of you who may have watched the game on the MLB network (I watched on YES), some words from David Cone last night. He was talking mostly about Domingo German, last night’s starter, but it also applies to Michael King and tonight’s starter, Jordan Montgomery, as well.

They have to change up their pre-game routine. They are too often putting the Yankees into an early first-inning hole.

Last night, German gave up three first-inning runs. The Yanks did come back to tie it up in the second, but that was all the offense did in a 5-3 loss up in Boston last night.

In the first inning alone, German has an ERA of 7.71 this year. Montgomery’s is 6.43. King’s is 14.40. You can’t have your team keep coming from behind so often.

With the loss, the Yankees are 40-35, 3rd in AL East, 5 games back (and if the season ended today, 4 1/2 out of the last wild card spot). They are 5-8 against Tampa Bay, and 0-4 against Boston. So 5-12 against the teams above them in their division. Doing simple math, if they were 9-8 or 8-9 against those teams, the Yanks would be much more in the thick of things. Only a game or two out.

So German gave up the three runs in the first inning. The Yanks tied it in the second when Giancarlo Stanton walked, Luke Voit singled. After an out, Gio Urshela reached on an error (more on Gio later) to load the bases. After Miguel Andujar struck out, Clint Frazier walked to force in a run, and D.J. LeMahieu singled in two more. Aaron Judge grounded out to end the inning.

The Yanks got two on with one out in the top of third, but Gleyber Torres, 2 for his last 39, GIDP.

German helped lose his own game in the fourth. A walk to lead off the inning, then a WP. After an out, German couldn’t field a comebacker and everyone was safe. A SF, which should have been the third out, instead put Boston up 4-3.

In the top of the fourth, a huge mistake by Yankees’ 3B coach Phil Nevin. I am all in favor of replacing Nevin, NOW, as third base coach. How many Yankees have we seen, and are going to see, get thrown out at the plate this season? Gio Urshela led off the inning with a double. Miguel Andujar singled, but Urshela was thrown out at the plate. Let’s remember something here. Gio has been dealing with leg injuries. He was HBP on the shin a few days ago and had missed the two games prior to this one! No excuse (and all commentators on the YES postgame show said as much) for sending Gio there. Instead of first and third, no out, the Yanks had man on first, one out. Frazier then flied out, a ball that would have been a game-tying SF. But no.

In the bottom of the eighth, Zack Britton had to leave the game as it appeared he tweaked his hamstring. We’ll see if he goes back on the IL (most likely) and who replaces him on the roster. Boston went on to score an insurance run in the inning to go up 5-3.

The Yanks got singles in the top of the ninth by Urshela and Andujar, so down two runs, they had first and second, no out. But Frazier struck out, then LeMahieu GIDP to end the game.

LeMahieu 2 RBI
Voit 2 hits
Urshela 2 hits
Andujar 3 hits


German (L, 4-5) 4 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1 WP. 4.32. Made a crucial error.
Luetge 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K. 2.37
Loaisiga 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K. 2.43 a WP led to a 4K inning, 3rd time in Yankees history.
Britton 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 4.15
Cessa 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.03

Before the game, Boston retired #15 for 2B Dustin Pedroia.

Game 69. Ex-Yanks’ prospect beats Yanks, 5-3.

A few years back, James Kaprielian was a top Yankees’ prospect. Then injuries slowed his development, and he was traded to the A’s with others for Sonny Gray. We know how poorly Gray turned out.

Last night, Yankees fans got a taste of what might have been. Kaprielian and the A’s shut down the Yankees (36-33, 3rd in AL East, 6 back) 5-3.

James Taillon started for the Yanks, and gave up a HR on a two-out, 0-2 pitch to put the A’s up 1-0 in the first inning. I feel as if the Yanks need to make a deal for a starter (two, preferably) ASAP. Taillon, in 13 starts this season, has only thrown 58 innings, an average of only 4 1/2 innings per start. Only twice in those 13 starts has he gone more than 5 IP. He has ONE win. The ERA is 5.59. He is coming off two TJ surgeries in his career, as well as overcoming cancer. But he isn’t cutting it. Also, Michael King is better as a reliever and not a starter. He also isn’t providing length (since replacing the injured Corey Kluber in the rotation, King is averaging less than 4 innings/start in his 4 starts). King’s ERA in 13 relief appearances in his career is 3.93 but it is 7.28 in eight career starts.

But the Yanks don’t have replacements handy. Luis Severino’s return has been delayed because of the groin injury. Deivi Garcia has been horrible at AAA. Clarke Schmidt has not thrown a pitch yet. Promising youngsters are at AA, or below, not at AAA.

I don’t believe the Yanks can make up ground with Taillon and/or King in the rotation. GM Brian Cashman needs to make a trade ASAP.

Taillon gave up a run in the top of the third to make it 2-0, Oakland.

The Yanks tied it up in the bottom of the third when with two out, Brett Gardner walked and D.J. LeMahieu followed with a 2-run HR (5). The Yanks only got 4 hits in the game.

The Yanks took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Rougned Odor homered (7).

But Wandy Peralta gave up a 3-run HR in the top of the sixth that put Oakland up 5-3, and that stayed as the final score.

Looking at Peralta’s ERA (5.28 as a Yankee), I think manager Aaron Boone trusts him too much. The Yanks will get help here. Both Darren O’ Day (who was doing well before getting hurt) and Justin Wilson (who wasn’t) should be back soon.

LeMahieu 2-run HR (5)
Odor solo HR (7)


Taillon 4 2/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP. 5.59
Peralta (L, 3-2; combined SF/NYY record) 1 1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR 5.32 (combined SF/NYY ERA)
Luetge 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1 HBP; 1 WP 2.91
Cessa 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.10

Minor League Notes (VOIT ON REHAB):

AAA: SWB (27-11) won 7-5. Nick Nelson 4 1/3 IP, 1 R; Albert Abreu 2 IP, scoreless, 5 K (in his brief time with Yanks, 4 games, Abreu has done well this year). CF Greg Allen 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2 -run HR. Two hits, RBI. LF Trey Amburgey 2 hits, RBI. Amburgey is hitting .372 at SWB. Former Yankees C Erik Kratz likes him. Neither Clint Frazier or Miguel Andujar is lighting it up. Why not give Amburgey a chance? 1B Rob Brantly 2 hits, 3 RBI, solo HR. 3B Derek Dietrich solo HR.

AA: Somerset (26-13) won 8-1. Janson Junk (2-1, 1.03) 6 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1B Luke Voit on rehab: 3 for 4, scored 3, drove in 3, double, solo HR. DH Oswald Peraza 2 hits, RBI. 2B Oswaldo Cabrera 3 hits, 3 RBI. CF Tom Milone 2 hits, solo HR.

High A: Hudson Valley (23-16) split a DH.

Game 1: lost 6-2. SS Josh Smith solo HR.
Game 2: won 2-0. Smith DH, 2 hits, scored both runs. 2B Ezequiel Duran 2 hits, 2 RBI.

Low A: Tampa (27-13) lost both games of a DH.

Game 1: lost 3-1. All 3 runs unearned. RF Juan De Leon solo HR.
Game 2: lost 8-2. Infielder (2B/SS) Jesus Bastidas 2 hits, RBI.

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