#16. Whitey Ford. 1928-2020.

Yesterday morning, the sad news came that the greatest pitcher in Yankees’ history, Whitey Ford, passed away Thursday evening. Ford was 13 days short of his 92nd birthday.

Ford pitched for the Yanks in 1950 (when he wore #19), then 1953-1967 (wearing the now retired #16). He missed 1951 and 1952 due to Army service during the Korean Conflict.

Ford is the all-time Yankees’ leader in wins (Pettitte had more overall wins, but Andy spent three years in Houston, so his Yankees’ total is less than Ford’s), innings pitched, shutouts (45). He and Pettitte are tied for most starts by a Yankees’ pitcher.

Ford has the highest winning percentage for any pitcher post-1900 who had 200 or more wins (Clayton Kershaw is higher right now, but with 175 wins).

Ford was a 10x All-Star who pitched for 11 AL Pennant winners and 6 World Champions. He has World Series records for most wins (10), losses (8), games started (22), and once threw 33 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in WS play.

With expanded playoffs, and more chances to get knocked out of those playoffs before reaching the World Series, his WS records for wins, losses and games started may stand forever.

He led the league in wins 3x (1955, 1961, 1963) MLB in 1961
25 wins 1961, 24 in 1963
Led league in winning percentage 1956, 1961, 1963 (MLB 1961)
Led all of MLB in ERA 1956, 1958
Led league in Games started 1961, 1963 (MLB 1961)
Led league in complete games 1955 with 18
Led league in shutouts 1958, 1960 (MLB 1958)
Led league in innings pitched 1961, 1963 (MLB 1961)
Led MLB in ERA+ 1958

Won CYA 1961 when only one award was given for all of MLB (25-4, 3.21). Of course, his great 1961 season was overshadowed by his teammates, Maris and Mantle in their HR chase.

1961 World Series MVP.

Besides 1961 CYA, finished 3rd in 1956 and 3rd in 1963.

Got MVP consideration 9x, finished 5th in 1961 (Maris) and 3rd in 1963 (Howard). Two top-five MVP years for a pitcher is something.

236-106, ERA 2.75. ERA+ 133 (33% above league average for time he pitched).

162 game average 17-8, 2.75.

10-8 in 22 World Series starts. 2.71 ERA

As a hitter, hit .173 with 3 HR. 4 for 49 in WS play.

He was a second ballot Hall-of-Famer, getting 67% his first year but 77.8% (75% needed) his second year. In a way it was nice because with his 1974 induction, he went in at the same time as teammate Mickey Mantle.

Game 48. 6 HR, 20 runs. Yanks move into 2nd with 20-6 win.

The Yankees (27-21) moved back into second place in the AL East with a 6-HR, 20-run drubbing of Toronto Tuesday night. The final score was 20-6.

As it now stands, with 12 games left in the season, the Yanks would be the #5 seed in the AL and would head to Minnesota to play a familiar postseason foe, the Twins.

Before the game, the Yanks sent down to the alternate site Clarke Schmidt, Miguel Andujar and Mike Ford. Coming off the IL were Giancarlo Stanton, Gio Urshela and Jonathan Loaisiga.

After the game, Thairo Estrada was sent back, so it appears as if Aaron Judge comes off the IL tonight.

Deivi Garcia pitched a strong seven innings to pick up his seventh MLB win in his fourth MLB start. Other than Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Lourdes Gurriel, Jr., Garcia didn’t have much trouble with the rest of the Blue Jays lineup.

Luke Voit hit two of the Yankees’ six HR in the game to take over the MLB HR lead at 18. He is a strong MVP candidate.

Guerrero hit a HR off of Garcia in the top of the second to make it 1-0 Toronto.

The Yanks came back with seven in the bottom of the second. With one out, Urshela, who had a great game just coming off the IL, doubled. Clint Frazier reached on an error (Toronto RF Derek Fisher had an awful night), moving Urshela to third. Brett Gardner singled in Urshela to tie the game. After an out, Tyler Wade singled in Frazier to make it 2-1. D.J. LeMahieu singled Gardner to make it 3-1. Luke Voit then hit a 3-run HR (17) to make it 6-1 and Aaron Hicks made it back to back HR with his fifth. 7-1 Yanks.

The Yanks added five more in the bottom of the third to go up 12-1 and the game was basically over. Urshela walked, went to second on a balk, and Frazier walked. Gardner walked to load the bases. Sanchez was HBP, forcing in a run. Wade walked, forcing in another run. LeMahieu cleared the bases with a 3-run double. 12-1.

Garcia gave up a 2-run HR to Gurriel in top of the fourth that cut the lead to 12-3.

The Yanks came right back with four in the bottom of the fourth to make it 16-3. Urshela doubled, Frazier walked, and after an out, Sanchez hit a 3-run HR (8). After another out, LeMahieu doubled, and Voit singled in LeMahieu.

Voit hit a solo HR in the bottom of the sixth (18). 17-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, Urshela singled and Frazier hit a 2-run HR (6). 19-3.

In the bottom of the eighth, LeMahieu hit a solo HR (7). 20-3.

Michael King gave up 3 runs in the top of the ninth. It does appear he needed minor league time this year, but alas, no minors this COVID year, so he is getting a bit of a rude awakening on the MLB level.

LeMahieu 4 hits, solo HR (7), 5 RBI. .363
Voit 3 hits, 2 HR (MLB leading 18), 5 RBI.
Hicks solo HR (5)
Urshela 3 hits
Frazier 2 hits, 2-run HR (6)
Sanchez 4 RBI, a 3-run HR (8)
Wade 2 RBI

Garcia (W, 2-1, 3.28) 7 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 2 HR
King 2 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 1 K. 6.75

Gerrit Cole pitches for the Yankees (who have won six straight) tonight. There are 12 games left in this shortened season.

Games 31 and 32. Yanks go extras in both games, sweep Mets in DH.

The Yankees (19-13) used a miraculous comeback to win the first game of a DH, then struggling Gary Sanchez hit a grand slam to enable the Yankees to gain the sweep in Game 2.

Both games were won in 8 innings, extra innings what with the 2020 Covid rules for a DH. (7-inning games, extras start w/man on second).

Game 1

Down 7-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Yanks scored five in the bottom of the seventh and once in the eighth to win 8-7.

In the bottom of the first, D.J. LeMahieu walked, was doubled to third by Luke Voit, and scored on a groundout by Mike Tauchman.

The Mets got two in the top of the fourth to go up 2-1, but the Yanks tied it in the bottom of the inning when Mike Tauchman walked and Mike Ford doubled him home.

Ex-Yankee Robbie Cano hit a 2-run HR in the top of the fifth to put the Mets up 4-2. The Mets got three more runs in the top of the sixth to go up 7-2.

Then, in the bottom of the seventh, the comeback. Ford reached on an error, and got back to the bag safely to avoid being doubled up when Brett Gardner lined out. Gio Urshela flied out for the second out. Down 7-2, things looked dire. Ford advanced to second on defensive indifference and Tyler Wade walked. Thairo Estrada was HBP to load the bases. Luke Voit singled to make it 7-4. Estrada should have been out at third to end the game but the 3B dropped the ball. WHEW. A WP made it 7-5. Aaron Hicks then tied the game with his third HR of the season.

In the bottom of the eighth, with the new rules, Tauchman started the inning at second base. Gary Sanchez flied out and Ford walked. After Brett Gardner flied out, Gio Urshela singled in Tauchman to win the game.

Voit 2 hits, 2 RBI
Hicks 2-run game-tying HR (3)
Urshela GW hit

KIng 3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 W, 3 K.   6.23
Kriske 1 1/3 IP, 5 R, 2 H, 3 W, 4 K.  2 WP.    20.25  Gave up 1 HR.
Heller 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 4 K. 1.93
Green (W, 3-2, 3.45) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K.

Game 2

Deivi Garcia was brilliant in his MLB debut. At 21, he was the youngest Yankee starter since Phil Hughes in 2007.

The Yanks went up 1-0 in the top of the third (Mets home team in this one) when Tyler Wade hit his first HR of the season.

Garcia took a shutout into the bottom of the sixth. The Mets tied it up on a single after Luke Voit made a two-base error.

In the top of the eighth, Brett Gardner started the inning at second, and Clint Frazier walked. After a flyout moved both runners up, Tauchman was intentionally walked. Sanchez, now hitting just .134, PH for Erik Kratz and hit a grand slam for his sixth HR of the season. Of Sanchez’ 11 hits this year, six are HR.

The Mets got a run in the bottom of the eighth and had the bases loaded but the Yanks held on to win 5-2.

Sanchez Grand Slam (6)
Wade solo HR (1)

Garcia 6 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 W, 6 K.   MLB DEBUT
Holder (W, 1-0, 2.25) 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K.
Cessa (S, 1) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  4.09

 

 

 

Games 28 and 29. Yanks’ bullpen implodes as both DH games lost. Losing streak hits 7.

The Yankees’ bullpen is supposed to be a strength. Yesterday it turned out to be their downfall—twice.

I do have to ask. Earlier this week, Lucas Giolito of the White Sox tossed a no-hitter, and it was not in a 7-inning DH shortened game. A true 9-inning no-no.

So why is it that Yankees’ starters have to get pulled after 65-70 pitches (except for Gerrit Cole) EVEN WHEN THEY ARE DOING WELL?

I like Aaron Boone as a manager, but feel as if he’s cost them a couple of games lately. By losing BOTH games of a DH yesterday, the Yanks fall to 16-13 on the season, and have a 7-game losing streak. They fall 4 games back of Tampa Bay in the AL East, and worse yet, are only 1/2 a game ahead of third place Toronto.

Mets’ announcer Bob Murphy used to describe the “happy” recap after Mets wins. For Yankees’ fans, this will be one sad recap.

First off, another Yankee could be DH bound. Gio Urshela, with bone spurs in his elbow. The Yanks lineup is starting to look like a spring training lineup. Heck, Estevan Florial made his MLB debut. To show how shocking that is, Florial has not even played in AA yet. The lefty hitter is 22 years old.  Another heck. Gary Sanchez, hitting .130, had to be the cleanup hitter.

The Yanks brought up Jordy Mercer. Just tured 34, righty hitter. Mostly a SS, some 2b. Has played for the Pirates (2012-2018), Tigers (2019-2020). 162 game average .257-12-54, OPS+ 91 (average is 100). Pirates’ full-time SS, 2013-2018. 7 postseason games, 2 for 14.

Game 1:

In this game, the Yanks took a 4-0 lead by scoring twice in both the bottom of the first and second innings.

In the first, Luke Voit, hitting leadoff (!) singled, and scored on a double by Clint Frazier. Brett Gardner bunt singled, Frazier going to third. Gary Sanchez walked, and there was a wild pitch enabling Frazier to score.

In the second, with two out, Voit doubled and Frazier homered (3). 4-0.

Jordan Montgomery took a shutout into the fifth. With two out, the loss of Urshela bit the Yanks. A HBP, then an error at 3b by Miguel Andujar. A WP by Montgomery. A gift run for the Mets.

Montgomery started the sixth. He gave up back-to-back singles, then Boone had a quick hook. Out after 68 pitches. It seems like Boone is trying to shorten an already shortened game, by bringing into the game, in the sixth inning, guys used to coming in in the eighth inning. It’s backfiring on him.

That or he doesn’t trust starters to go through the order a third time. Being old school, I’m shaking my head seeing pitchers leave after 5 innings of no runs or one-run given up, and only 65-70 pitches thrown. I’d love to talk to, say, Bob Gibson about that.

Anyway, Boone brings in Chad Green (and I understand he didn’t want lefty Montgomery facing Alonso), who gave up the HR to Freddie Freeman that cost the Yankees a 2-1 loss to the Braves on Wednesday. So what does Green do here? Give up not only a 3-run HR to tie up the game, but two more HR after that. 6-4 Mets, which wound up the final score.

The Yankees struck out 13x. In a 7-inning game.

Voit 3 hits
Frazier 2 for 2 with a walk, 3 RBI, a 2-run HR (3)
Florial First MLB hit.

Montgomery 5+ IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 W, 6 K.  4.44
Green (L, 2-2; BS, 2; 3.68) 1 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 3 HR
Holder 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.   2.61

Game 2

Jonathan Loaisiga gave up a run in the bottom of the first (Mets home team in this game) but the Yanks came back with three in the third.

Mercer walked. Thairo Estrada singled him to third. 40 yr. old backup C Erik Kratz singled in a run (is it a stretch to say that Kratz, hitting .357 in his limited time, is outperforming the .130 hitting Sanchez?). After an out, Frazier walked to load the bases. Aaron Hicks singled in one run and Sanchez walked to make it 3-1 Yankees.

I like Loaisiga. With Paxton out, he may help in the starting role, but once again, the Yanks need more from their starters. Loaisiga did a good job but needs to be stretched out more. Pulled after 39 pitches.

Rookie Nick Nelson gave up a run in the fifth.

The Yanks took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh. In came Aroldis Chapman. Walk, then a walk-off 2-run HR. Ballgame. Yanks lose, 4-3.

Frazier 0 for 3, struck out 3x. Did have a walk.
Hicks 2 hits, RBI

Loaisiga 3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 3 K.  2.81.    Stretch him out more.
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.  3.60
Nelson (H, 1) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K.  7.27
Cessa (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.   4.22
Chapman (L, 0-1; BS, 1; 27.00) 0 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.  Gave up GW walkoff HR.

Between the IL and the 7-game losing streak, the Yanks are hurting.

Some guys have to start hitting.

Sanchez 10 for 77. .130. Half of his hits HR, but with Judge and Stanton out, his troubles are now magnified. OPS+ 62.

Andujar 4 for 31. .129. All singles. With Urshela day to day with a bone spur, Andujar has to step it up, defensively as well as offensively.  OPS+ -20 (MINUS 20).

Brett Gardner is only hitting .183, Aaron Hicks .205, Mike Ford .170.

With guys on the shelf, some other guys, especially Sanchez and Andujar, have to pick it up.

Not only that, but no Yankees’ starter other than Cole is averaging 5 innings/start. That needs to change, too.

 

Game 21. Oh Happ-y day, Yanks Ford Tough in 4-2 win.

After a couple of really bad starts to the season, J.A. Happ finally came through, and along with a big night by Mike Ford, the Yanks (15-6) beat Boston 4-2 Sunday night.

With one out in the bottom of the first inning, Gio Urshela singled, then a single by Mike Tauchman, and a two-out single by Ford made it 1-0, Yankees.

In the second, Brett Gardner walked, and with two out, Aaron Hicks doubled to make it 2-0, Yankees.

In the top of the third, a solo HR by Boston cut it to 2-1, Yankees.

The Yanks got it to 4-1 in the bottom of the third on a 2-run HR (2) by Ford.

The Yanks gave up a run in the ninth, held on to win, 4-2. They are 9-0 at home this year and 5-0 vs. Boston.

Tauchman, 2 hits.
Torres 2 hits
Ford 2 hits, 3 RBI, a 2-run HR (2)

Happ (W, 1-1, 6.39) 5 2/3  IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 3 K.  Gave up 1 HR.
Ottavino (H, 2) 2/3  IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K.   1.08
Green (H, 5) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 0.71
Britton (S, 8) 1 IP, 1R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.    1.08

Chapman should be back tomorrow.

D.J. to IL. Andujar back up.

Game 17. Yanks hold on, bomb Braves, 9-6.

Maybe it’s the strange year, delayed start, summer camp, but it’s hard to tell, the last two games, if a pitcher is losing it.

James Paxton was sailing along the other day with a 3-0 lead, only to lose it suddenly and the Yanks wound up losing 4-3.

Last night, Jordan Montgomery was sailing along with an 8-0 lead, only to have the Yanks (11-6) have to hang on to win 9-6.

The Yanks started early, getting three runs in the first on a three-run HR by Luke Voit (5).

In the third, D.J. LeMahieu was HBP and Aaron Judge walked. A single by Aaron Hicks loaded the bases. Luke Voit lined out but a throwing error in trying for a DP allowed LeMahieu to score. After another out, Mike Ford doubled in two runs to make it 6-0.

In the fifth, Judge led off the inning with his 9th HR of the season. Hicks walked, Voit was HBP and Gleyber Torres walked to load the bases. A run scored when Ford GIDP.

Montgomery gave up a 3-run HR in the top of the sixth, and it was 8-3.

Some sloppy fielding by the Yanks let the Braves score a run in the top of the seventh and it was 8-4.

The Yanks got a run back in the bottom of the seventh, when with one out, Torres walked and Ford doubled him in.

More sloppy fielding helped the Braves to two runs in the eighth, and it was 9-6, but the Yanks held on from there.

Judge solo HR (9)
Voit 3-run HR (5)
Ford 2 hits, 3 RBI

Montgomery (W, 2-1, 5.17) 6 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 W, 4 K. 1 WP
Hale 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W,  1 K.   3.00
Ottavino 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.  1.35
Cessa 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K.  2.45
Green (H, 3) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  0.90
Britton (S, 6) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.   1.35

 

Games 14 & 15. Yanks split DH with Rays, but lose a couple to the IL.

The Yankees (10-5) split a doubleheader to the Rays, but also lost a couple players to the injured list.

They won the first game 8-4, behind three home runs.

But before that game, Kyle Higashioka was put on the IL. 40 year old Erik Kratz was brought up to be the backup catcher. Chris Ianetta retired. That’s the catchers, and remember, starting catcher Gary Sanchez is struggling mightily. In the second inning of the first game, he struck out again with the bases loaded. Sanchez is now 3 for 35 with 20 strikeouts.

Thairo Estrada was called up briefly (sent back then, Ben Heller up), and the Yanks DFA’d Nick Tropeano. Albert Abreu was made the 29th man for the DH.

Got all that? More to come.

In that first game (both seven-inning affairs), the Yanks got four runs in the top of the third when with one out, Aaron Judge singled and Mike Ford hit a 2-run HR, his first of the season. Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres each walked, and after Mike Tauchman struck out, Gio Urshela doubled in two runs to make it 4-0.

Stanton hit his third HR of the season, a solo shot, in the top of the fifth to put the Yankees up 5-0.

Gerrit Cole struck out ten, but the Rays made him work, as he threw 107 pitches. He didn’t get the win because he only went 4 2/3 innings, one out short of qualifying for the W. He gave up three runs in the bottom of the fifth, and that cut the Yanks’ lead down to 5-3.

Speaking of, if a starter has to go five for a W in a nine-inning game, why is it the same for a seven-inning game? Shouldn’t it be then cut to four? Just asking. No biggie.

The Yanks got two back in the top of the sixth when D.J. LeMahieu singled and Aaron Judge hit a 2-run HR, his 8th of the year, to put the Yanks up 7-3.

The Rays got a run in the bottom of the sixth, 7-4.

In the top of the seventh, Tauchman doubled, stole third and scored on a SF by Urshela. 8-4, and that was the final score.

Judge 3 hits, 2 RBI. A 2-run HR (8).
Ford 2-run HR (1).
Stanton 2 hits, solo HR (3).
Urshela 2 his, 3 RBI.

Cole 4 2/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 W, 10 K.  Gave up 1 HR.  3.22
Green (W, 2-0, 0.96) 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K. 1 WP.
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R,  0 H, 0 W, 2 K   1.50

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Walks and two-out hits killed the Yankees in game two of the doubleheader, which they lost 5-3. Michael King made his first MLB start, and gave up only one hit in 3 2/3 IP, but walked five. The Yanks walked nine total.

In the bottom of the first, King gave up a leadoff double, then got two outs. He couldn’t get out of the inning scoreless, walking three in a row to force in a run before getting the third out.

The Yanks tied it in the top of the fourth. With one out, Giancarlo Stanton walked and moved up to second on a WP. The slump-ridden Gleyber Torres singled Stanton to third. A single by Luke Voit brought in the run, but Torres was thrown out at third.

But on that advance on the WP, Stanton hurt is hamstring and most likely is headed to the IL.

The Rays came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Once again, walks killed the Yanks and they couldn’t close the inning out. King got the first two batters of the inning out. Then two straight walks. In came Luis Avilan, and HE walked the first batter HE faced to load the bases. Then he gave up a single that brought in two runs, another walk to reload the bases, before he got the third out of the inning.

The absence of Chapman has had a snowball effect. Britton, a lefty, is now the closer, and Avilan, another lefty like Britton and Chapman, assumes Britton’s spot. It may have hurt the Yanks in this case.

Albert Abreu made his MLB debut in the bottom of the fifth and gave up two runs to put the Rays up 5-1. He gave up a single, HBP, got two outs, but just like the other two times in this game, the Yanks couldn’t get out of the inning—the Rays scoring their runs with two outs. A two-run single in this case.

The Yanks tried for the comeback in the top of the seventh. Voit singled but Tauchman GIDP. That GIDP was a killer, because after that, Urshela singled, Kratz doubled him to third, and LeMahieu singled in two runs to make it 5-3, with the tying run at the plate in Aaron Judge. Judge flied out to end the game. Judge just missed hitting a double earlier in the at bat, and his drive to LCF was caught in the middle of the warning track. He just missed a game-tying HR.

Both manager Aaron Boone and hitting coach Marcus Thames were ejected in the fifth inning.

LeMahieu 2 RBI
Voit 2 hits, RBI

King (L, 0-1, 7.59) 3 2/3 IP, 3 R, 1 H, 5 W, 4 K.
Avilan 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 0 K.  3.60
Abreu 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2 W, 2 K. 1 HBP   13.50   MLB DEBUT
Heller  2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.   5.40

 

Game 2. Yanks fall, 9-2.

Not a good night for the Yankees’ pitchers as the Yanks (1-1) fell to the defending champion Nationals, 9-2 Saturday night.

James Paxton only got three outs, as he gave up three runs in the second and was pulled without recording any outs in the second inning.

The Yanks couldn’t hold the fort after that.

Giancarlo Stanton hit his second HR of the season, a solo shot. He had 2 hits.

Thairo Estrada and Mike Ford, neither of whom started, were each 1 for 1.

Slow starts so far for Gleyber Torres, Luke Voit, Gary Sanchez and Brett Gardner. All are still looking for their first hit of the season.

Paxton (L, 0-1, 27.00) 1 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 1 W, 1 K.
King 3 1/3 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR.  10.80 (2nd MLB game)
Holder 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.   0.00
Hale 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.  0.00
Heller 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.  9.00  Gave up 1 HR.
Avilan 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 9.00  Gave up 1 HR.

The Yanks signed Fernando Abad. There will be a lot of in season moves early on, especially when they have to reduce to 28 then 26. As of now, the roster is 30, and it doesn’t include Tanaka, Montgomery or Chapman.

 

 

Exhibition Game 22. Yanks, Phils “tie” 2-2.

Strange things have happened this year, and a strange thing enabled the Yanks to “tie” the Phils last night, 2-2, in an exhibition game. It’s the last one, as the regular season finally gets under way Thursday. Yanks at Washington. Between spring training and this Covid-19 enforced summer camp, the Yanks were 13-8 with at least one tie.

Young (21 year old) prospect Deivi Garcia started for the Yanks and was not sharp, giving up two runs in less than two innings of work.

In the fifth, the Yanks were retired, but Phillies’ manager (and ex-Yankees’ manager) Joe Girardi wanted his starter, Vince Velasquez, to face one more batter. That batter, Aaron Judge, homered. The inning then ended. So Judge’s HR came after the third out. They counted the run (it’s only an exhibition game). Hence the quotes around “tie.”

In the bottom of the ninth, Mike Ford hit a PH HR to tie the game. Both teams decided not to continue.

Pitching line:

Garcia 1 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 W, 1 K.  HBP, made an error.
Hale 2 2/3 0 R, 2 H, 3 W, 1 K.
Nelson 1 2/3 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Kriske 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Zych 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H< 0 W, 1 K.

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On a personal note, I’m writing this on about four hours sleep. I lost my beloved mother last evening, so if I am out of commission for a while, you know why.

S.T. Game 15. Late rally leads to 7-4 Yanks win, but Sanchez has sore back.

When will it end? Apparently now Gary Sanchez (1 for 17 in S.T. so far) will be shut down for a few days because of a sore back.

As for today’s game, the Yanks (9-5-1) scored six in the eighth to pull out a 7-4 win.

Brandon Lockridge had a bases-loaded triple.

Mike Ford had 2 doubles.

Kyle Holder, known more for his glove than bat, had 3 hits.

Pitching line:

Loaisiga 2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up a 2-run HR.  2.57
Nelson 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 2 K.  0.00
Tropeano 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H 1 W, 2 K.  5.40
J. Holder (W, 1-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  0.00
Lyons 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  0.00   Battle him and Avelan for a spot?
Otero 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K.  2.25

BTW, my guess, and ONLY a guess, is Mid to late May for a Judge return. Hopefully I am wrong and it’s sooner.