Rays win AL wild card over A’s, 5-1.

Tampa Bay hit 4 HR, 2 by Yandi Diaz, and beat Oakland 5-1. The Rays will play the Astros in the ALDS.

The NLDS series, Cards/Braves and Nationals/Dodgers, will begin today (Thursday).

The ALDS starts Friday. Rays/Astros and Yankees/Twins.

Game 139. Offense and Bullpen waste a Tanaka gem. Yanks lose, 7-0, and are shutout for first time in 220 games.

Transaction news, first. From MLBtraderumors.com:

Edwin Encarnacion will be joining the Yanks tomorrow. See the minor league report for how he did today for SWB.

Also, the Yankees have traded minor league right-hander J.P. Feyereisen to the Brewers  in exchange for minor league infielder Brenny Escanio and international bonus pool space, per announcements from both clubs. Both Feyereisen, 26, and Escanio, 16, were eligible to be traded by virtue of the fact that neither has been on a 40-man roster at any point in 2019.

Feyereisen, like Ryan McBroom who was traded yesterday, needs to be added to the 40-man roster this winter, lest he be eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft, and this trade likely signifies that the Yankees didn’t feel they had room to do so.

That’s not for any lack of performance on the part of Feyereisen; to the contrary, in fact, he’s had a terrific season with the Yankees’ top affiliate in Scranton. Through 61 1/3 innings, the righty has pitched to a 2.49 ERA with 13.8 K/9, 4.6 BB/9, 0.88 HR/9 and a 36.7 percent ground-ball rate. That’s Feyereisen’s third tour in Triple-A, but he’s yet to receive a call to the bigs despite owning a collective 3.12 ERA and 195-to-76 K/BB ratio in 164 2/3 frames at that level.

…

The amount of bonus money acquired by the Yankees wasn’t specified, though international allotments must be traded in blocks of at least $250K. The international funds acquired here were the primary get for the Yanks, as Escanio was a relatively low-profile signing just two months ago on July 2 when this year’s international signing period kicked off. The Yankees spent the vast majority of their international pool to sign top outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez, and their lack of additional funds acquired to this point ultimately cost them the opportunity to sign another well-regarded outfield prospect: Jhon Diaz.

While it was reported on July 2 that Diaz had agreed to a roughly $1MM bonus with the Yankees, the organization needed to acquire additional pool allocations in order to make that agreement a reality. Just last week, though, Diaz signed with the Rays for a similar amount. With the Yankees having dedicated roughly $5MM of their $5.398MM pool to Dominguez, today’s deal will help them to further explore the market for remaining talent.

After a rain delay of 2 hours and 45 minutes, the game began and Masahiro Tanaka only gave up two runs in six innings, but a lack of offense and an off performance by Nestor Cortes, Jr. out of the bullpen doomed the Yanks (90-49) to a loss to Texas on Monday, Labor Day, 7-0.

It was the first time the Yanks were shutout in 220 games, second-longest steak all-time. The Yanks from August 1931 to August 1933 had a streak of 308 games.

Tanaka gave up a couple of hits and a SF in the first inning, and a HR in the fifth.

In the eighth, Cortes, who had struck out the side in the seventh, gave up four runs, three on a HR ball. All four runs scored with two out.

Tyler Lyons, a Sept. callup, gave up a HR in the ninth (NYY debut).

Tauchman 2 hits. The Yanks only had six total.

Tanaka (L, 10-8, 4.42) 6 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Cortes, Jr. 2 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR.    5.03
Lyons 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.  Gave up 1 HR.  10.80.

The magic # remains 15. The AL East lead is now 9. They fell into a tie with Houston (Houston would have the tiebreaker, having gone 4-3 against the Yanks) for best record in the AL.

Game 83. Yanks’ HR streak ends in 4-2 loss.

You figured the record HR streak would end (at 31 games) in an interleague game where the Yanks lose the DH.

That’s what happened in the Yanks (54-29) 4-2 loss to the Mets Tuesday night. The loss reduced the Yanks’ AL East lead to 5 1/2 over Tampa Bay, 10 over Boston.

One thing I didn’t know is that the Yanks are just 4-17 in games in which they have scored less than four runs. That may not be a good thing come October, where they’ll face better pitching.

I was worried about this game, and am worried about this two game series, for a couple of reasons.

For one, it is sandwiched between two more important series (sorry Mets fans, but our division rivals, who have better records, have more importance), that being against Boston last weekend, and against the Rays this upcoming weekend.

Second, the jet lag after coming back from England. Yes, Monday was a day off, but … (and that is taking nothing away from the Mets or a nice performance by trade target Zack Wheeler).

Third, Domingo German comes off the IL to start today, and who knows how fresh he’ll be?

As for yesterday and yesterday’s game, a couple moves before the game. Nestor Cortes, Jr. up, Chance Adams down. Luke Voit to the IL and the Yanks call up Mike Ford.

James Paxton pitched well for the Yanks and even drove in a run.

The Yanks got both of their runs in the second inning. Didi Gregorius, Edwin Encarnacion and Gleyber Torres had consecutive singles to score the first run, and with men on first and third, one out, Paxton put down a bunt that Encarnacion scored on. 2-0 Yanks. Don’t ask me when the Yanks last squeezed a run home.

But the Yanks could not hold the lead. Paxton gave up a HR in the sixth, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Then in the eighth, Adam Ottavino gave up a run and left the bases loaded for Zack Britton. Britton’s first pitch was ripped for a 2-run double, and the Mets had a 4-2 lead and the ballgame.

There was a great defensive play by Torres in the game.

But there were also a couple of bad plays. Aaron Hicks thought he hit a HR, didn’t run hard out of the box and what should have been a triple was only a double. A couple of batters later, Didi Gregorius’ long fly only moved Hicks to third where it should have been a SF for a run.

Also, the game almost ended on a caught stealing. With two out in the top of the ninth and the tying run at the plate, Didi stole second…barely. You can’t end the game that way.

D.J. LeMahieu’s hitting streak ended at 14.

Gregorius 2 hits (the Yanks only had 6).

Paxton 6 IP, 1 R, 8 H, 2 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR.   4.09
Kahnle (H, 16) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  3.27
Ottavino (BS, 4; L, 3-3,  1.91) 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER,  2 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Britton 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.  2.50

Yesterday was international signing day and the Yanks got two of the top 30 players.

#1 Jasson Dominguez, OF. The switch-hitter is considered #1 not only of this year, but maybe the best International signing EVER. Just 16, scouts rave about him, comparing his skills to that of Mike Trout and Mickey Mantle. High praise. We’ll see what happens over the next few years. Signing bonus $5.1 MM.

#18 Jhon Diaz. OF. $1.2 MM.

 

 

Minor League Report. DH shutout sweep for SWB.

AAA: SWB (33-23) swept a DH, winning both games by shutouts.

Reg. sched. game: Won 3-0. Good to see Rehabbing DH Didi Gregorius find his stroke with 2 hits. LF Trey Amburgey 2 hits. 2B Breyvic Valera 2 hits, RBI.

Adams (W, 4-1, 3.35) 7 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K.

Makeup of 4/19 postponement: Won 4-0 on a 1-hitter. Valera (.431) a 2-run HR. C Kyle Higashioka solo HR.  1B Ryan McBroom 2 for 2 w/a walk.

Cortes (W, 2-2, 3.86) 6 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 8 K.
Feyereisen 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  2.93

AA: Trenton (33-21) won 7-2 despite striking out 18x. 3B Wendell Rijo 2 hits, 2 RBI. C Kellin Deglan 3 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR. CF Rashad Crawford 2 RBI. Starter Deivi Garcia 4 1/3 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 4 W, 4 K. 2.97.

High A: Tampa (24-34) lost 7-3. 3B Angel Aguilar 3-run HR.

Low A: Charleston (32-27) won 2-1. Solo HR Canaan Smith (.311) in the top of the 9th. Solo HR in the 7th by 1B Mickey Gasper.

Vizcaino 7 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 2 W, 7 K.  3.16
Diaz (W, 3-1, 4.35) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.

Minor League Report. Lots of Rain.

AAA: SWB PPD.

AA: Trenton PPD.

High A: Tampa off.

Low A: Charleston (20-16) won 13-5. CF Brandon Lockridge 3 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR. 2B Kyle Gray 3 hits, 4 RBI, 2-run HR. LF Canaan Smith 4 hits, solo HR. RF Frederick Cuevas 2 hits, 3 RBI. 3B Ricky Surum 2 RBI. SS Eduardo Torrealba 2 hits. Wellington Diaz 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings for the win.

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (9-8) shut out Rochester 5-0. DH Mandy Alvarez 4 hits. LF Trey Amburgey 2 RBI. 1B Ryan McBroom solo HR. CF Billy Burns 2 hits, RBI.

Finally the Chance Adams of a few years ago. 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, and 9 K. (W, 1-1, 6.75). J.P. Feyereisen 3 scoreless relief innings.

AA: Trenton (10-7) lost 7-2. LF Jhalen Jackson 2 hits, solo HR. C Francisco Diaz 2 hits.   Albert Abreu (L, 0-2, 7.31) 4 IP, 6 R.

High A: Tampa (8-12) lost 5-3. LF Isiah Gilliam 3 for 3, RBI. C Jason Lopez 2 hits, RBI. Deivi Garcia 5 2/3 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 10 K.

Low A: Charleston (8-12) lost 2-1. CF Isaiah Pasteur 2 hits, C Josh Breaux 2 hits, RBI. They had all of Charleston’s hits.

Orozco (L, 1-2, 2.21) 6 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 W, 4 K.
C. Espinal 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W,  4 K.  0.00
Higgins 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K   2.25

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB was rained out. DH today. For news on the Mike Ford call-up, see the major league report.

AA: Trenton (8-3) won 7-6 in 11 innings. C Francisco Diaz 2 hits, 2 RBI. DH Wendell Rijo 2 hits. Adonis Rosa 5 scoreless relief innings. Kaleb Ort added two more.

High A: Tampa (4-9) lost 11-6. DH Dermis Garcia 2 HR, 4 RBI. SS Oswaldo Cabrera 2 RBI. CF Pablo Olivares a hit, drew 3 walks.

Low A: Charleston (6-7) gave up two in the top of the ninth and lost 4-3. RF Josh Stowers 2 hits. LF Canaan Smith 2 RBI. CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits.

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (7-4) won 9-5. 2B Thairo Estrada 2 hits, RBI. 1B Mike Ford 2 hits, 3 RBI. HR.  (.471=5-14). Doing much better than Greg Bird right now. DH Ryan McBroom solo HR. SS Gosuke Katoh 2 hits, RBI. LF Zach Zehner 2 hits. C Kellin Deglan 2 run HR.

Gio Gonzalez 5 IP, 2 R, 8 H, 2 W, 8 K. Interesting call coming up for the Yanks soon.  I really don’t know if he has pitched well enough to be brought up to the big league club yet. Opt out date, April 20.

AA:  Trenton won 10-0 to go to 6-3 on the season. SS Kyle Holder 2 hits, 2 RBI. RF Ben Ruta 3 hits, 3 RBI. C Francisco Diaz 2 hits, RBI. Despite 3 pitchers giving up 6 hits and 8 walks, an ugly shutout. The other team was 0 for 15 w/risp and stranded 13.

High A: Tampa (4-7) won 4-3 DH Dermis Garcia 2 hits, 2 RBI. RF Isiah Gilliam 2 hits, 2 RBI, HR. Rony Garcia 5 shutout IP.

Low A: Charleston (5-6) lost 11-2, getting just 4 hits.

 

WS Game 4. Boston takes 3-1 lead in Series as LA blows late 4-0 lead.

A few years back, the Yanks were having some problems and I recommended that they bring up a certain journeyman who was tearing it up at SWB. A certain writer for a NY paper (who now works for MLB) criticized me for suggesting it.

Sometimes, all you need is to be given a chance.

The players’ name was Steve Pearce. Last night, Pearce drove in 4 runs to enable Boston to go up 3 games to 1 over the Dodgers in the World Series.

Funny how things turned out.

It’s a painful loss for L.A. Not only are they one loss from losing the WS for the second year in a row, but they blew a late 4-0 lead in losing 9-6.

They scored 4 runs in the sixth, highlighted by a 3-run HR by Yasiel Puig. Boston entered the top of the seventh with only one hit.

Then they woke up. Rich Hill, pitching so great to that point, walked the first batter, struck out the next, and was pulled from the game. The Dodgers’ bullpen imploded.

A walk. Another pitching change. A popup.

And once again, Boston struck with two out. PH Keith Moreland hit a 3-run HR to make it 4-3.

Ryan Madson has allowed EVERY inherited runner to score in this WS. So why was he on the mound with two on in a 4-0 game only to give up a 3-run HR?

Yes, Hill may have been tiring in the seventh. But he was still working on a one-hit shutout!

I swear, sometimes teams—in every sport—don’t win games as much as the other team’s coach or manager blows it.

In the eighth, Dodgers’ closer Kenley Jansen gave up a game-tying HR for the second straight night. Pearce’s blast tied the game.

Then Boston put it away with five runs in the top of the ninth, highlighted by a bases-clearing 3-run double by Pearce. Pearce’s double, and another hit that drove in Pearce after that, came with…. you guessed it, two out.

Enrique Hernandez hit a 2-run HR for L.A. in the bottom of the ninth, but the final was 9-6, Boston.

WS MVP if Boston wins tonight? Interesting. Pearce has to be considered, but as of now, I might go with Boston reliever Joe Kelly as a frontrunner. He has pitched in all four games, has one win (in last night’s game 4), has pitched five scoreless innings and has struck out seven.

Kelly the winning pitcher last night, Floro the loser.

Seattle’s Edwin Diaz won the Mariano Rivera Award for best reliever in the A.L., and Josh Hader of Milwaukee won the Trevor Hoffman Award for best N.L. Reliever.

Once the WS is over, I’ll take a look at how Yankees’ prospects are doing in the Arizona Fall League.

 

Minor League Report. SWB gets walkoff win in Game 1 while Trenton loses.

AAA: Mark Payton hit a walkoff HR as SWB beat Lehigh Valley 3-2 in Game 1 of their division series. Payton had 2 RBI in the game. SS Gio Urshela 3 hits. 2 hits for C Francisco Diaz.

Swanson 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Lail 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Sheffield (BS) 1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 W, 1 K.
R. Espinal 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 4 K.
J. Harvey 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.

AA: Trenton lost Game 1 of their series, 8-0. SS Kyle Holder 3 hits. C Jorge Saez 2 hits. 3 hits for 3B Angel Aguilar.

Keller (L) 7 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 W, 6 K
Reeves 2/3 IP, 4 R, 1 H, 3 W, 1 K.
Harris 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K.