Game 161. Yanks win, but Boston’s win relegates Yanks to WC.

The Yanks (91-70) won 2-1 today, thanks to a bomb by Aaron Judge (HR # 52), but Boston beat Houston, so the Red Sox win the division and the Yanks are relegated to the top wild card seed.

CC Sabathia got the win, #237 of his career, and that passed Whitey Ford on the all-time wins list. It ties CC with one-time Yankees Waite Hoyt and Clark Griffith. Griffith, of course, is remembered best not for playing or managing the Yankees, but for being the owner of the Washington Senators for many years (Griffith Stadium).

In the fourth, Judge hit his bomb, a drive that cleared the LF bleachers and was estimated at 484 feet. Another Judge drive this year, maybe more towards CF, didn’t clear the bleachers and was measured at 495. Anyway, another bomb and #52 for the season.

With the HR, Judge and Sanchez set a record for most HR hit by a pair of teammates 25 or younger at 85 (Judge 52, Sanchez 33).

After the HR, with one out, Didi singled, went to second on a WP and scored on a single by Castro.

Toronto got a run in the eighth on a SF, but nothing more.

Judge HR (52)
Todd Frazier 2 hits.
CC ties Severino for team lead in wins this year.

Ellsbury or Hicks Tues. night? Interesting question. Hicks has the better OF arm, and since coming off the DL this week, robbed a guy of a grand slam and has hit 2 HR. He has 15 HR this year despite missing two months, while Ellsbury has 7 HR. I’d say Hicks.

With a righty on the mound, Frazier 3B, Bird 1B, Headley DH. I think Ellsbury and Holliday are on the bench. We’ll see. Ellsbury can, of course, PR, and Holliday can PH against a lefty pitcher if needed.

Sabathia (W, 14-5, 3.69) 5 2/3 IP, 0 R,  4 H, 0 W, 6 K.
Green (H, 9) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.83
Kahnle 0 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.59
Robertson (H, 8) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1.84
Chapman (S, 22) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.22

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Game 156. Yanks win 11-3. Judge sets new rookie record for HR with 50.

Ok, there will be a lot of history in this post. A lot of it.

The Yanks (87-69) won 11-3 in a makeup game against the Royals Monday afternoon (game rained out in May) to reduce their magic # for hosting the wild card game to 1.

First off, Aaron Judge hit 2 HR, giving him 50 for the season, and it sets the all-time record for HR in a season by a rookie.

He is the fifth Yankee to hit 50 in a season, following Babe Ruth (who did it 4x), Mickey Mantle (2x), Roger Maris, and A-Rod.

In addition, CC Sabathia got the win, and #236 of his career ties Whitey Ford on the all-time list.

In the first, Gardner singled, and after Judge flied out, Sanchez doubled. Didi got the run home with an RBI groundout.

Gardner walked and Judge hit his first HR of the game, #49, to tie McGwire’s 1987 mark for a rookie and make it 3-0.

In the sixth, Didi singled and Holliday doubled him home. Bird hit a 2-run HR (7) to make it 6-0. Do not discount how hot Bird is getting and how important he can be.

The Royals hit back-to-back HR off of CC in the seventh to cut it to 6–3.

The Yanks came right back on back-to-back HR by Judge (the record-setting 50th HR by a rookie) and Sanchez (#33).

In the eighth, Torreyes doubled and went to third on an error. Gardner doubled in a run to make it 9-3. Judge walked, and was replaced by PR Clint Frazier. Sanchez singled to load the bases. Didi singled to make it 10-3 and Holliday hit a SF.

Gardner 2 hits, RBI.
Judge 2 HR, setting a rookie HR record of 50. 3 RBI.
Sanchez 3 hits, RBI, HR #33. (27 as catcher, 5 DH, 1 1B)
Gregorius 3 hits, 2 RBI.
Holliday 2 Rbi.
Bird, HR, 2 RBI.
Torreyes 3 hits.

Sabathia (W, 13-5, 3.84) 6+ Ip, 3 r, 6 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up back-to-back HR in the 7th.
Green (H, 8) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1.87
Robertson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1.93. Struck out the side.
Kahnle 1 Ip, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.48

Just an aside. I am SO SICK and DISGUSTED of the NFL (and others) right now.

Game 151. Yanks beat Twins, 5-2. Reduce Magic Numbers.

The Yanks beat the Twins 5-2 Tuesday night, and in so doing, reduced their magic numbers to make the playoffs and host the wild card game.

They remain 3 back of Boston in the AL East with 11 games to go. The division title is still within reach, but it seems like the top wild card berth is what they will get.

The magic # for hosting the wild card game is now 6 over the Twins. The Angels lost last night as well, so the magic # for just making the playoffs and being the road team in that sudden death wild card game is 5.

The game’s start was delayed a little over an hour by rain. CC Sabathia gave up a run in the first inning. It could have been worse. A single and two bunt singles (wonder how CC feels about those), and the Twins had the bases loaded with no one out. A DP brought the run home and then a groundout and CC minimized the damage.

In the second, Castro walked, and two outs later, Bird walked. Gardner doubled home a run to tie the game.

CC gave up a HR in the top of the third, 2-1 Twins, but that was it for Minnesota.

The Yanks took the lead in the fourth and never looked back. Ellsbury, who has raised his average some 30 points lately, doubled. After an out, Bird walked. Gardner singled in a run to tie the game. After a WP, Judge hit a SF to put the Yanks up 3-2.

In the fifth, with one out, Headley was HBP. Castro singled, and Ellsbury grounded out, moving up the runners. Todd Frazier walked to load the bases. Bird hit a grounder that 1B Joe Mauer muffed, everyone safe, Yanks up 4-2.

In the sixth, Judge and Sanchez singled, and after two out, Castro singled to make it 5-2.

Gardner 3 hits, 2 RBI.
Judge 2 hits, RBI.
Castro 3 hits, RBI.

Sabathia (W, 12-5, 3.81) 6 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Green (H, 6) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 1.93
Robertson (H, 5) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1.99 Struck out the side.
Chapman (S, 20) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.50

For CC, it was career win #235, putting him one behind Whitey Ford on the all-time list.

Minor League Report. SWB loses Governor’s Cup, 3 games to 1.

AAA  SWB lost the Governor’s Cup (International League finals) three games to one by losing Game 4 Friday night 6-4.

DH Mike Ford 3 hits, 2 doubles.

Lail (Loss) 5 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 W, 5 K.
Holder 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Gomez 1 IP,  0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Rumbelow 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.

The way Rumbelow has pitched, he should be called up to help the Yanks over the next two weeks. He wouldn’t be eligible for the postseason, but any help over the next 15 games….

Minor League Report. SWB advances to International League Championship Series.

AAA SWB won 1-0 to win their semifinal series over Lehigh Valley three games to one to advance to the International League’s championship series. 1B Mike Ford homered for the only run of the game.

Cortes (Winner) 7 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 1 W, 8 K.
Holder (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Rumbelow (S) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.

SWB will face the Durham Bulls for the Governor’s Cup.

 

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB’s game was suspended due to rain with the score tied 4-4 in the top of the fourth. It’ll be completed today.

AA: Trenton (84-43) won 8-0 on a two-hitter, with 14 K. DH Mike Ford 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI. 2 RBI C Francisco Diaz. CF Rashad Crawford & 2B Nick Solak 2 hits each.

Mesa (W, 3-0, 1.11) 6 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 8 K.
Espinal 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 0.75
Brewer 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W 3 K. 1.27

High A: Tampa (76-49) lost 2-1. Matt Holliday, on rehab, 1 for 3 with an RBI. Since mid-June, Holliday has been either on the DL, on rehab, or struggling (.140 only 3 HR in majors since then). His troubles, as well as Judge’s slump, and Castro’s two DL stints, have really affected the Yanks’ lineup.

2B Hoy Jun Park 2 hits, 3B Angel Aguilar 3 hits.

Keller (L, 4-3, 2.73) 6 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 W, 6 K.
Lane 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.71
Harvey 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 1.21

Low A: Charleston rained out.

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (79-47) won 3-0. 3 hits, inc. HR 3B Miguel Andujar, triple short of the cycle. 2 RBI. 2 hits, RBI RF Jake Cave. DH Starlin Castro 1 for 4.

German (W, 5-2, 2.91) 7 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 2 W, 9 K.
Gallegos (S, 5) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1.54

AA: Trenton (82-43) won 2-0. Both RBI DH Mike Ford. LF Jeff Hendrix 3 hits.

Carter 5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.77
Tarpley (W, 1-0, 0.00) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Sosebee (S, 1) 2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 W, 3 K. 0.00

High A: Tampa (76-48) won 3-2. DH Matt Holliday 0 for 4, 2 strikeouts. SS Kyle Holder 3 hits. CF Trey Amburgey and C Donny Sands 2 hits each.

Abreu 3 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 W, 4 K. 4.73
Hebert (W, 1-1, 5.40) 4 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 W, 2 K, gave up 1 HR.
Frawley (S, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K, 2.20

Low A: Charleston (69-56) lost 3-1. SS Oswaldo Cabrera 2 of Charleston’s 4 hits.

Nelson (L, 2-11, 4.73) 4 2/3 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 3 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Diehl 4 1/3 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.32