The Yankees (51-46, 3rd, 8 GB) rallied for four eighth-inning runs to edge Boston 4-3 Saturday.
Jameson Taillon won his fifth straight decision. In turning his season around, he has lowered his ERA by almost a run and a half. Taillon gave up runs in each of the first three innings, but two of those runs were unearned because of two errors by Rougned Odor, who would redeem himself later.
In his last seven starts, Taillon is 5-0, 2.59.
Down 3-0 in the top of the eighth, Estevan Florial led off the inning with a double. Two outs later, Brett Gardner singled in Florial. Giancarlo Stanton hit a ground-rule double, Tyler Wade pinch-ran for him. Odor then tied the game with a double. Gleyber Torres singled in Odor to give the Yanks the lead.
Some shaky moments in the ninth, but eventually Aroldis Chapman closed it out.
The Yanks are 3 1/2 games out of the second wild card spot and would have to jump over Seattle and Oakland.
Gardner 2 hits, RBI Odor 2 RBI Florial 2 hits.
Taillon (W, 6-4) 7 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 W, 4 K. 4.36 Loaisiga (H, 12) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.06 Just back from Covid IL. Chapman (S, 18) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 4.15
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.
Since the Yanks needed to bring up a lot of guys from SWB because of COVID, it had a residual effect. Guys had to be brought up to SWB, etc.
AAA: SWB (41-21) won 7-2. CF Estevan Florial 2 hits, 2 RBI, both solo HR. C Donny Sands (just brought up) 3 hits, solo HR. DH Matt Pita 2 hits, 3 RBI, a 3-run HR.
AA: Somerset (40-23) lost 6-4. SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits, RBI. CF Brandon Lockridge (just recently promoted) 3 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR. RF Michael Beltre 2 hits, solo HR. 1B Max Burt 2 hits.
High A: Hudson Valley (41-23) won 8-7. Recently promoted SS Anthony Volpe (2019 1st round pick) 4 hits, 2 doubles, RBI. LF Elijah Dunham solo HR. DH Josh Breaux 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR. RF Jake Sanford (just promoted) 2 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR. 3B James Nelson 2 hits, RBI.
Low A: 18 year old Jasson Dominguez is the Yankees’ top prospect. Nicknamed “The Martian”, the Yanks signed him two years ago for $5.1MM. His skills, power and speed, have drawn comparisons to Mickey Mantle, Mike Trout and Bo Jackson. He played in the Futures Game before ever even joining Low A. Last night he hit his first professional HR as Tampa (44-19) won 13-4.
Dominguez 2 hits, 2 RBI, a 2-run HR. .438 at Low A so far (7 for 16). He was 4 for 20 in the FL Complex League before going to Tampa, so 11 for 36 so far. It will be interesting to see how fast he rises. Remember, just 18.
Also in this game: 2B Trevor Hauver 2 hits, 2 RBI. CF Everson Pereira 2 hits. RF Aldenis Sanchez 4 hits, 3 RBI. 1B Pedro Diaz 2 RBI. LF Evan Alexander 3 hits, 3 RBI. Nelvin Correa 4 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 5 K.
AAA: SWB (37-19) split a DH. (7-inning games in this and below for the DHs)
Game 1: Lost 6-5 in 8 innings. CF Estevan Florial 2 RBI, solo HR. RF Trey Amburgey 2 hits. 3B Andrew Velazquez 2 RBI.
Game 2: Won 1-0. Brandon Wagner 2 for 2, RBI. Matt Krook (1-1, 3.21) 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. Trevor Lane (S, 2.08) 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.
AA: Somerset (38-20) won 5-0. Starter Glenn Otto (6-3, 3.17) 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 W, 8 K. 3B Diego Castillo 2 hits, RBI. C Donny Sands 2-run HR. LF Isiah Gilliam 2 hits, RBI. RF Aaron Palensky 3 hits.
High A: Hudson Valley (39-19) swept a DH.
Game 1: won 7-1. SS Ezequiel Duran 3 hits, 3 RBI, 2-run HR. Elijah Dunham 3 for 3, RBI, 3 SB. Starting P Mitch Spence (3-1, 3.79) 6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 8 K. gave up 1 HR.
Game 2: Won 5-0 on a combined no-hitter (just 7 IP). C Josh Breaux not only caught the combined, shortened no-no, but he went 3 for 3, drove in all 5 runs, and all 3 hits were home runs.
Sean Boyle 4 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 W, 3 K. 0.00 Nick Ernst (W, 4-0, 4.45) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 WS, 4 K Derek Craft 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.70
Low A: Tampa (39-18) split a DH.
Game 1: Won 14-2. SS Anthony Volpe 2 for 2, 3 walks, 2 RBI. Solo HR. DH Austin Wells 2 RBI CF Everson Pereria 2 HR, 6 RBI. 2-run HR and a Grand Slam RF Jake Sanford solo HR. 3B Jesus Bastidas solo HR.
Game 1: won 3-2. CF Estevan Florial 2 RBI. LF Hoy Jun Park 2 hits (.360. What more does he have to do for a callup?) 3B Armando Alvarez 2 hits. C Rob Brantly 2 for 2.
Game 2: lost 5-0, rain-shortened. DH Socrates Brito 2 of SWB’s 3 hits.
AA: Somerset (36-19) split a DH. Both 7-inning games.
Game 1: Won 6-1. Another great outing for LHP starter Ken Waldichuk. 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4-0, 1.24 in 11 starts this year, and 4-2, 2.14 in 21 total minor league starts in his career. SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits. 3B Oswaldo Cabrera 2 hits, both HR, 5 RBI (2-run HR & 3-run HR). LF Isiah Gilliam solo HR.
Game 2: Lost 4-3. Janson Junk no-decision, 5 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. DH Diego Castillo solo HR. SS Peraza 2 hits.
High A: Hudson Valley (36-19) won 3-2 in 10 innings. Barrett Loseke 4 scoreless relief innings, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 6 K. SS Josh Smith solo HR. CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits. LF Elijah Dunham 3 hits, RBI.
AAA: SWB (34-15) lost 4-3. 1 for 12 w/RISP. Adam Warren (remember him?) 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, 2.96. CF Estevan Florial 2 hits, 2 RBI, a 2-run HR. C Max McDowell 2 hits. Derek Dietrich opted out of his contract. He was just hitting .215 at AAA.
AA: Somerset (34-18) won 10-0. Glenn Otto (5-3, 3.49) 7 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 12 K, 1 WP, 1 HBP. Somerset hit 5 HR. SS Diego Castillo 2 hits, solo HR (.327-10-28). DH Oswald Peraza 2 hits, solo HR. 2B Oswaldo Cabrera 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 3-run HR. C Donny Sands 2 hits, solo HR. CF Michael Beltre solo HR.
High A: Hudson Valley (33-19) split a DH, both 7-inning games.
Game 1: got only 4 hits in a 2-0 loss. 2B Ezequiel Duran 2 hits.
Game 2: Won 2-0. Only got 4 hits again, Duran a solo HR.
AAA: SWB (32-13) absolutely destroyed Lehigh Valley, 19-1. They got 10 runs in the third inning, bashed out 23 hits, and only gave up 2 hits. SWB used eight pitchers. Pitching highlights were the rehab guys. Darren O’Day 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. Justin Wilson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. Adam Warren 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Now for the hitting highlights. This could take a while.
Florial CF 3 hits, 2 RBI Park SS 4 hits, solo HR. 2 RBI. Hitting .360 at AAA. Wish he would replace Odor. (Park also plays 2B) Gittens 1B 4 hits, 8 RBI. 2 HR, double. Solo shot and a grand slam. Amburgey LF 3 hits, all doubles. 2 RBI. Hitting .356. Wish he’d be replacing Frazier. LaMarre RF 2 hits, 3 RBI, 2-run HR. Allen CF 4 hits, RBI McDowell C 2 hits, RBI
AA: Somerset (31-16) lost 5-1. CF Tom Milone 2 hits
High A: Hudson Valley (30-17) lost 14-8. SS Josh Smith 4 hits. 2B Ezequiel Duran 2 hits. C Saul Torres 2 hits. LF Pablo Olivares 2 hits. 3B Chad Bell 3-run HR. 1B Kyle MacDonald 2 hits, 2 RBI. CF Isaiah Pasteur 3 hits, RBI.
Low A: Tampa (32-15) won in a rout, 15-2.
SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits, RBI 2B Trevor Hauver 2 hits, 3 RBI RF Jake Sanford 3 hits, 2 RBI 3B Andres Chaparro 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 2-run HR C Carlos Narvaez 3 hits 1B Eric Wagaman 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 3-run HR CF Pat DeMarco 3 hits, RBI. Solo HR.
AAA: SWB (31-13) beat Lehigh Valley 10-4. CF Estevan Florial 2 RBI; 1B Chris Gittens solo HR, 2 RBI. DH Derek Dietrich 2 hits, 5 RBI, inc. a 3-run HR; C Rob Brantly 2 hits. 3B Armando Alvarez 2 hits. SS Andrew Velazquez solo HR. SP Matt Krook 4 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 6 K. RP Reggie McClain 2 IP, 0 R, 5 K.
AA: Somerset (31-15) won 3-0. 3B Diego Castillo 2 hits, solo HR. 1B Dermis Garcia 2-run HR. SP Hayden Wesneski 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 W, 7 K. Ron Marinaccio the save, 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K.
High A: Hudson Valley (30-16) won 8-4. Nick Ernst win in relief 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 4 K. SS Josh Smith 3 hits, RBI. C Josh Breaux 2 hits, RBI. DH Anthony Seigler game-winning walk-off grand slam. LF Elijah Dunham solo HR. 1B Chad Bell 2 hits, RBI.
Low A: Tampa (31-15) split a DH.
Game 1: Lost 7-5. CF Pat DeMarco 2 hits. 1B Pedro Diaz 2 for 2, walk, RBI.
Game 2: Won 6-5. SS Anthony Volpe 3 hits, RBI, solo HR (9) (.305, 18 SB). 2B Trevor Hauver 2 RBI. 1B Eric Wagaman 2 hits, RBI.
In spring training, Deivi Garcia, still just 22, was competing for a rotation spot for the Yankees. Now, it appears as if he needs a demotion from AAA back to AA.
Last year, Garcia started six games for the Yanks, going 3-2, 4.98. Not great, but decent for a 21 year old. Of course, he started as an “opener” in that playoff game. Bad decision that didn’t work out, especially when Garcia gave up a HR in the first inning then J.A. Happ was ineffective afterwards.
Garcia has started two games for the Yankees this year, going 0-2, 6.48. But it is his performance back at AAA SWB that is most alarming. In nine starts there, he is 1-3 with an 8.80 ERA. Read that again. What’s happened?
In just two innings last night, Garcia gave up 5 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks and only struck out one. He gave up a HR.
AAA SWB (30-13) lost to Lehigh Valley, 6-3. CF Estevan Florial 2-run HR.
AA: Somerset (30-15) won 7-4. Starter Janson Junk, 7 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 3 K. Impressed Luke Voit while Voit was on his rehab stint. (3-1, 1.07). Maybe Junk comes up to AAA and Garcia goes down to AA. We’ll see. SS Diego Castillo 3 hits, RBI on a solo HR. DH Oswald Peraza 2 hits. 2B/3B Oswaldo Cabrera 2 RBI. C Donny Sands 2 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR.
High A: Hudson Valley (29-16) won 11-9. LF Isaiah Pasteur 2-run HR. 2B Ezequiel Duran 3 hits, RBI. C Anthony Seigler 2 hits, 4 RBI. 1B Kyle MacDonald 2 hits, RBI.
Aroldis Chapman had walked the first two batters in the top of the ninth. He had a 1-0 count on the next batter. He had thrown 10 pitches, and only one was a strike.
Then he got a 5-4-3 triple play to end the game as the Yankees (38-33, 3rd in AL East, 4 1/2 back) edged Oakland 2-1 on Sunday.
The triple play to end the game was the third triple play the Yanks have turned this season, tying a MLB record. It was the second they turned in less than a week, and was more traditional than last week’s 1-3-6-2-5-6 triple play.
Oakland got their only run in the first inning, when the third batter of the game, Matt Olson, homered.
The pitcher’s duel continued all game long, and the Yankees only got three hits in the game, all doubles, two by Gary Sanchez. They struck out 15x.
In the bottom of the sixth, Clint Frazier led off the inning with a walk, and an out later, was balked to second base. Aaron Judge walked, and Sanchez doubled in both runners. 2-1 Yanks, and thanks to the game-ending triple play, that score held up.
The Yankees have halved the deficit. They are 4 1/2 out now where not long ago, they were 9 back. They get 1B Luke Voit back tomorrow (Tuesday). See below for how he did Sunday. No word on a corresponding move, but I’d expect Chris Gittens to be sent back down. They are off today.
UPDATE: Gittens was, in fact, sent down after Sunday’s game to make room for Voit.
Lucas Luetge gave up a one-out triple in the top of the eighth, but got a strikeout and fly out to escape the inning unscathed.
Sanchez 2 hits, 2 RBI.
Montgomery 5 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.03 Loaisiga (W, 7-2) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1.63 Luetge (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.57 Chapman (S, 16) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 1.98
Minor League Report (Deivi shaky again, Park continues to rake):
AAA: SWB (28-11) won 4-3. CF Estevan Florial 2 OF assists, removed from game after getting HBP. Infielder Hoy Jun Park (2B/SS) 2 hits, RBI, hitting .360 at AAA. He had the GW walkoff HR. RF Socrates Brito 2-run HR. 3B Armando Alvarez 2 hits. Another shaky outing for Deivi Garcia. 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 W, 2 K. AAA ERA 7.81. Yikes.
AA: Somerset (27-14) won 4-0. 1B Luke Voit 2 hits, 2 RBI on rehab. Starter Glenn Otto (W, 4-2, 3.45) 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 W, 5 K.
High A: Hudson Valley (25-16) won 5-2. SS Josh Smith 2 hits. DH Ezequiel Duran 2 hits, RBI. CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits. Starter Jhony Brito (2-2, 2.70) 5 1/3 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 6 K. (C Anthony Seigler with 2 catcher interference’s).
Low A: Tampa (28-14) lost 11-6. DH Austin Wells 2 hits. RF Jake Sanford 2 RBI. CF Pat DeMarco 3 hits, RBI.
