I have family in CA, outside of LA, and my sister, a Yankees’ fan like me, has the bragging rights in the household for now since the Yankees took the weekend series from the Dodgers with a 4-1 win Sunday night.
The Dodgers won 8-4 Friday night, but the Yankees (36-25) won 6-3 Saturday night then the 4-1 win tonight.
My family members in CA were supposed to go to the Friday night game but had to sell their tickets when something else came up.
The Yanks played the game without Aaron Judge, whose toe was sore after banging it against the fence in making his great catch Saturday night. Hopefully with an off-day Monday, he will be ready to go on Tuesday and not require an IL stint again.
Going to the IL, however, will be Nestor Cortes with a shoulder issue. Hopefully it’s only a start or two.
In the game, Domingo German was excellent, pitching into the seventh. It was a tight pitcher’s duel throughout.
The Yanks struck first, scoring a run in the top of the seventh when Jake Bauers got a one-out single. Isiah Kiner-Falefa bunted, and not only reached but both runners moved up a base on a throwing error by the pitcher. Kyle Higashioka got an RBI broken bat groundout to bring the run in.
With two out and an 0-2 count on J.D. Martinez in the bottom of the seventh, German made his only mistake, and Martinez hit a HR to tie the game.
With one out in the top of the eighth, Anthony Rizzo walked and was doubled to third by Giancarlo Stanton. Oswaldo Cabrera got an RBI groundout to put the Yanks up 2-1.
Neither Higashioka’s nor Cabrera’s groundouts were hit hard, but that may have been a good thing. The slowness of their nubbers enabled the runner to score. Sometimes you just get lucky.
Anthony Volpe ensured the Yankees’ win with a 2-run HR (9) in the top of the ninth.
There were only nine hits total in the game.
Volpe 2 hits, 2-run HR (9)
German 6 2/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.69 Holmes (W, 4-2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.84 Peralta (S, 4) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.84
Aaron Judge hit 2 homers and almost a third (a double off the wall) and robbed a Mariner of a HR in the Yanks’ (33-23) 10-4 win late last night in Seattle.
During the game, Harrison Bader had to be removed due to right hamstring tightness. He will have an MRI today and the IL is a possibility.
The Yanks struck first in the top of the second when Bader singled, stole second, went to third on an error and scored on a double by Jake Bauers.
Yanks’ starter Domingo German gave up a run in the bottom of the second and the game was tied at one.
Judge’s first HR of the game, a 2-run shot, made it 3-1 in the top of the third. Soon after that, Bader tweaked his hammy in beating out an infield hit.
Bauers hit a solo HR (3) in the top of the fourth to put the Yanks up 4-1. German gave up a run via a HR by Julio Rodriguez in the bottom of the inning and it was 4-2.
The Yanks made it 8-2 with four runs in the top of the fifth. Gleyber Torres led off the inning with a single and Judge doubled off the wall, sending Torres to third. Willie Calhoun doubled in two runs to make it 6-2. After an out, Greg Allen (in for Bader) was HBP. After another out, Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled in both runners to make it 8-2.
German struggled with J-Rod again in the bottom of the fifth, as he singled in two runs for Seattle to make it 8-4.
In the top of the sixth, Judge hit his second HR of the game (AL Leading 17th) to make it 9-4.
Ron Marinaccio came in for German in the seventh and got two straight strikeouts with runners on second and third to get out of a jam.
In the bottom of the eighth, Judge went high above the fence and robbed Teoscar Hernandez of a HR.
Kyle Higashioka got an RBI single in the top of the ninth to make the score 10-4, and it ended that way.
Giancarlo Stanton will begin rehab today (Tuesday) with Somerset, joining Josh Donaldson and Tommy Kahnle there.
Torres 2 hits. Judge 3 hits, double and 2 HR (2-run and solo) (17), 3 RBI and he robbed a Mariner of a HR. Calhoun 2 hits, 2 RBI Bader 2 for 2, removed from game with right hamstring tightness. Bauers 3 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (3). Kiner-Falefa 2 hits, 2 RBI. Higashioka 2 hits, RBI.
German (W, 3-3) 6 1/3 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 3 W, 4 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 3.98 Marinaccio 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1 WP. 4.00 Abreu 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 3.58
Gerrit Cole didn’t have his “A” game, but the Yankees’ (32-23) offense picked him up to have Cole improve his record to 6-0 on the season. A seven-run third inning proved to be decisive in a 10-7 win over the Padres.
Cole gave up a HR to the second batter he faced, and San Diego had a quick 1-0 lead.
Aaron Judge tied the game in the bottom of the first inning with his 15th HR of the season. With that HR, he took over the AL lead in HR, even though he missed ten games by being on the IL. Pete Alonso of the Mets leads the majors with 20 HR.
In the top of the third, the Yanks got sloppy. With two out and a man on second, Jose Azocar singled to make it 2-1, Padres. However, errors by Harrison Bader and Kyle Higashioka let Azocar come all the way around on the play and it was 3-1 Padres.
Then, in the bottom of the third, the Yanks exploded for seven runs to take an 8-3 lead. Higashioka led off the inning with a double and scored on an Anthony Volpe single. Volpe took second on the throw home. Gleyber Torres singled Volpe to third, and then Judge singled to tie the game at three, with Torres stopping at second. A single by Anthony Rizzo gave the Yanks a 4-3 lead. Now the Yanks had Judge on second and Rizzo on first. D.J. LeMahieu was robbed of a 3-run HR, but the long flyout enabled Judge to tag up and go to third. Bader grounded into a force out that scored Judge to make it 5-3. Bader’s hustle down the line avoided the inning-ending DP and enabled the inning to continue. The “Gas House Gorillas” procession continued with a double by Willie Calhoun to make it 6-3. A single by Isiah Kiner-Falefa made it 7-3, and Higashioka’s second double of the inning made it 8-3.
Ex-Yankee Rougned Odor hit a 2-run HR in the top of the seventh to cut the Yanks’ lead to 8-5, and after a single, Cole was relieved by Jimmy Cordero, who promptly gave up a double. Second and third, no out, tying run at the plate. Cordero gave up an RBI fielder’s choice, but then got two strikeouts to get out of the inning. 8-6, Yankees.
The Yanks got two runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it 10-6. With one out, Bader homered (6). Calhoun singled, and after a force out, IKF stole second and went to third on an error. Higashioka singled to make it 10-6.
The Padres pushed across a run in the top of the ninth, but the Yanks held on for the 10-7 win.
The next four games will have late starts, since the Yanks are now on the west coast. 9:40 PM Eastern Mon-Wed in Seattle, then after an off day on Thursday, Friday night’s game against the Dodgers has a 10:10 PM Eastern Time start. Saturday is 7:15 PM eastern for Fox, and Sunday night is 7:08 pm Eastern for ESPN. June 5th is an off-day, and the Yanks next play at home on Tuesday, June 6.
Tonight’s game (Monday, Memorial Day) will have Domingo German on the mound, as he returns from his 10-day suspension for too much sticky stuff on his pitching hand. He needs to be careful. The next time, it will be a 50-game suspension.
Judge 2 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (15). Took over AL HR lead. Bader 2 RBI. Solo HR (6) Calhoun 2 hits, RBI. Higashioka 3 hits, 2 RBI.
Cole (W, 6-0) 6+ IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 H, 3 W, 9 K. Gave up 2 HR. 2.93 J. Cordero (H, 4) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.47 Marinaccio (H, 5) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 HBP 4.10 Holmes 1 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 3.27
After Friday night’s game, Randy Vasquez was sent back to SWB and Matt Krook, a lefty reliever, was called up.
There has been a lot of B.S. in Toronto the last few games. In hitting his second HR of the game on Monday night, Aaron Judge was caught glancing into the dugout shortly before hitting the HR. People accused him of picking up a sign and cheating. Judge, as well as manager Aaron Boone, explained that Judge was looking over to see who was still chirping at the umpire after Boone had gotten ejected for arguing a bad call on Judge—a strike that once again, was too low for Judge. Judge wanted to also give a signal that “hey, shut up now, I am hitting here.”
Of course, not everyone bought that explanation, and instead wanted to state that Judge, one of the most loved and respected players in the game—a decent player who doesn’t show up anyone—was cheating.
Judge answered those people with a 2-run HR that broke open a tie game and was the winning blow in a 6-3 Yankees (25-19) win over Toronto last night. This time his eyes didn’t move off the pitcher. Take that!
The game wasn’t above other controversy though. And besides controversy, other problems for the Yanks. Both teams sniped at each other for where their base coaches were standing. It was so petty. One thing is for sure. If I were a third base coach and Judge was at bat, I would not be in the coaches’ box but as far back as legally possible. A foul liner off of Judge’s bat, if it hit me in the head, could kill me. The B.S. about where the coaches were standing was juvenile.
The scoring started when the Yanks scored two runs in the top of the third. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (IKF), who had a huge night, walked to start off the inning. Jose Trevino, who also had a big night, singled IKF to third. Gleyber Torres singled in a run. After Judge struck out, Harrison Bader hit a grounder that turned into a DP (Torres’ baserunning last night left something to be desired) but Trevino scored before the out on Torres at third so the Yanks were up 2-0.
Yankees’ starter Domingo German retired each of the first nine batters he faced but was ejected before the bottom of the fourth inning due to having too much stickiness on his hand. This is similar to the situation Max Scherzer of the Mets had last month, and Scherzer got a 10-game suspension out of it along with the ejection. We can expect the same for German. German had trouble with this same umpiring crew regarding rosin last month. Now it happened again. German claimed it was rosin on his hand. The umpires claimed it was something else that was stickier than rosin. One thing is for sure, and that is that German crossed the line, but MLB needs to define better what the line is as far as rosin is concerned. David Cone, a former pitcher, had a good video recently showing that in trying to wipe off rosin, that alcohol with water (I may be wrong here as far as what all it was) made the rosin even stickier in trying to get rid of the rosin. There is something going on, and MLB has to be better at defining what the line is, and in having something to remove rosin without making things worse.
Anyway, no German for a while. While the Yanks will be getting Luis Severino back shortly (see my minor league report for how Sevy did last night), the Yanks were shorthanded in the rotation to begin with, and a German suspension doesn’t help. You can’t call up someone from the minors just because of a suspension. Expect a couple of bullpen games while German is out.
To make matters worse, the pitcher who replaced German in the game was Ian Hamilton, who had to be pulled a bit later because of right groin tightness, and he is bound for the IL. I’d expect Greg Weissert to be recalled. If not him, then maybe Matt Krook or Nick Ramirez.
Back to the game. In the top of the fifth, IKF, not one for power, hit his first HR of the season to give the Yanks a 3-0 lead. But Ron Marinaccio gave up the lead as the Blue Jays scored three times in the bottom of the fifth.
That led to Judge answering the critics with his 2-run HR (11) in the eighth. The Yanks added another run in the ninth on a double by IKF, who came around on a couple of flyouts, with Torres getting the SF.
The win moved the Yanks into a virtual tie for third in the AL East with Toronto (Toronto is percentage points ahead), 7 1/2 back of Tampa Bay.
Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole is on the mound tonight for the Yankees.
Torres 2 hits, 2 RBI but also out twice on the basepaths with baserunning mistakes. Judge 2-run HR (11) Take that, critics! Kiner-Falefa 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (1). Trevino 3 for 3.
German 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 9 up, 9 down. but ejected & 10-game suspension coming up. 3.75 Hamilton 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 2 K. 1.23 IL stint coming up. Marinaccio (BS, 3) 1 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.74 Weber (W, 1-0) 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. 5.06 Holmes (H, 3) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.86 Peralta (S, 3) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 1.65 Has he replaced Holmes as closer?
Quick notes: Great job by Weber. Also, Bader’s defense is unreal.
The Yanks (21-18) lost Thursday night to Tampa Bay, 8-2.
Domingo German pitched well, but …. I ‘ll get to that in a moment.
He gave up an unearned run in the top of the fifth. Anthony Rizzo made a two-out error, then a double put the Rays up 1-0.
In the top of the sixth, manager Aaron Boone made a move that had me screaming. German got the first two guys out, then gave up a walk. Boone had the quick hook again. Remember when he pulled German with one out in the ninth, a 2-0 lead, man on, German having pitched a two-hit shutout to that point, and it all backfired into a 3-2 loss?
Well, in 8 starts this year, Boone has pulled German in the middle of an inning 5 times. And it’s basically backfired each time. 10 runs, not all charged to German, have ensued. You think Boone would learn his lesson. Nope.
So instead of leaving German in to get one more out and get out of the inning, he brought in Ron Marinaccio. It backfired again. Marinaccio gave up a hit, HBP and then a bases-clearing double. 4-0 Rays, and with the way the Yanks were hitting (or not hitting) last night, game over.
Boone’s move may not have made a big difference anyway, because the Yanks didn’t score until two outs in the ninth on a Gleyber Torres single.
Meanwhile, Marinaccio wasn’t the only bullpen guy who didn’t have it. Tampa Bay got a run off of Albert Abreu, then three off of Ryan Weber, who was brought up earlier in the day when Deivi Garcia was sent back down.
But Boone? If German is doing well, next time… .leave him in to finish the inning.
Torres 2 RBI Bauers 2 hits.
German (L, 2-3) 5 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 W, 3 K. 4.00 Marinaccio 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 HBP 2.70 Abreu 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 W, 0 K. 5.09 Weber 2 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 13.50 Season debut.
So far Aaron Judge has been ok, but not AARON JUDGE. 39 K in 102 at bats. 6 HR. A bit of a hangover after last year’s greatness? Hopefully he gets back to being AARON JUDGE soon.
Harrison Bader didn’t start yesterday’s game, but he decided it.
His 2-run eighth inning single was the game winner in a 3-2 Yankees (18-16) win.
Yankees’ starter Domingo German gave up two first inning runs (more on that in a moment), then settled in. But the way the Yankees’ offense has been, you wondered if those two runs were going to be two runs too many.
Getting back to the bottom of the first. With two on and two out, German threw a nasty 2-1 pitch that was strike two. Catcher Kyle Higashioka started to go toward the dugout as if it were strike three. On the next pitch, German gave up a two-run double that ate up Yankees’ 3B D.J. LeMahieu. After the inning, Anthony Rizzo had a good talking-to with the embarrassed Higashioka. The wipeout pitch that was used to hopefully get out of the inning was already used and now the batter was ready for it if it was thrown again. Higgy’s mistake may have been the cause for the next pitch being the one that gave up two runs. You don’t know, but Higgy heard about it in the dugout after the inning.
Higgy made up for it later in the game with a key caught stealing at a crucial moment in the game. It turned out to save a run.
Jake Bauers later made a fine defensive play, throwing out a runner at third. These plays enabled the Yanks to stay in the game and proved crucial in their comeback win. Tampa Bay threatened a few times after the first inning but couldn’t add on.
Meanwhile, the Yanks offense wasn’t doing anything. But in the top of the eighth, Rizzo singled with one out. Gleyber Torres followed with a single, moving Rizzo to second. A double by LeMahieu cut the Rays’ lead to 2-1. After another out, Bader, who didn’t start the game, flared a 2-run single to give the Yanks the lead, 3-2, and they hung on for the win.
After Bader’s single, Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled, but for the second time in the game, Aaron Hicks left men on second and third. Even though the game was in Tampa, Hicks heard a lot of boos from the Yankees fans who were at the game. The Yanks are going to have to something about Hicks. It’s like the Gallo situation they had last year.
Getting the save wasn’t the struggling Clay Holmes, but instead Ian Hamilton.
The win was huge. It meant being 9 back instead of 11 back, and with ace Gerrit Cole going today for the Yanks, hopefully they can shave another game off of Tampa Bay’s lead. The rest of the division looks tough, even the Orioles, who are playing good ball. Boston, who most people had finishing last in the division this year, has won eight in a row. The Yanks need to keep pace.
It looks like Aaron Judge will return to the lineup on Tuesday. Luis Severino is headed to SWB to begin rehab.
LeMahieu RBI double. Bader 2 for 2, 2 RBI, and didn’t even start the game. Kiner-Falefa 2 hits.
German 5 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 W, 5 K. 1 HBP. 4.35 Peralta 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.25 Marinaccio (W, 1-1) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.76 Holmes (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.09 Hamilton (S, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.42
Side note: Yesterday was Willie Mays’ 92nd birthday. The legend is the oldest living Hall-of-Famer.
It will be interesting to see what the media says about tonight’s game. I think they will mirror my opinion.
As far as I am concerned, there are some major mistakes Aaron Boone made tonight in the Yanks’ 3-2 loss to Cleveland that drops to Yanks to .500 (15-15).
Memo to Boone. When someone does as well as Domingo German did tonight, you let him win or lose his own ballgame. Can you imagine a manager coming out to the mound to take out a Gibson or Seaver when Gibson or Seaver had a 2-hit shutout going with only two outs to go? You would have had to drag them off the mound. Maybe German should have told Boone to **** off. Heck, Cole probably would have. German was dealing. His pitch count was low. It’s his game to win or lose.
Instead, Aaron Boone interjected himself into the game and blew it.
Memo #2 to Boone. If you are going to bring in a reliever, why not the reliever you had warming up for two innings who dominated a few days ago (Michael King)?
Memo #3 to Boone. Clay Holmes isn’t Goose Gossage or Mariano Rivera. Stop treating him as if he is. He’s shaky.
The Yanks had a 2-0 lead entering the ninth. Jose Trevino hit a solo HR (3) in the third inning and later that inning, D.J. LeMahieu had an RBI single.
German took a one-hit shutout with a low pitch count into the ninth. After an out, he gave up a hit.
Then Boone pulled him for Holmes. I checked Twitter and the reaction was just like mine from many people. It was “NOOOOOOOO!”
And it backfired. Three runs for Cleveland. Maybe German gets a DP ball and the Yanks win. He was dealing. But it was HIS game to win or lose there.
Boone overmanaged as far as I and many others are concerned.
LeMahieu 2 hits, RBI. Trevino solo HR (3).
German 8 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 6 K. 4.46 Holmes (BS, 2; L, 0-2) 0 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. Made one HUGE error. 3.72 Peralta 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K. 2.53
Judge to 10 day IL, backed up to April 28. Jonathan Loaisiga surgery to remove bone spur from elbow. Back August or September. Lou Trivino going for more tests. 13 Yanks on IL. Hoo boy.
Aaron Judge celebrated his 31st birthday with 3 hits and 3 RBI but also gave Yankees fans a scare in the Yankees (14-11) 12-6 win over the Twins Wednesday afternoon.
In the top of the second, Gleyber Torres doubled to lead off the inning and went to third on an error. Willie Calhoun’s infield single drove in Torres, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa got a bunt single. One out later, Oswaldo Cabrera walked to load the bases. Anthony Volpe singled in a run, then Judge hit a 3-run double, his second double of the game.
But then Judge was caught trying to steal third, and appeared to injure his right hand on a awkward slide.
Domingo German had a strange game. He went 6+ innings and struck out 8, giving up just 5 hits, but 3 of those hits were HR. German gave up six runs.
One of the homers came in the bottom of the second and cut the Yankees’ lead to 5-1.
The Yanks exploded for six runs in the top of the fourth. Kyle Higashioka led off the inning with a single, and Oswaldo Cabrera got a bunt single, with both runners moving up on an error on the play. Volpe doubled in two runs. We were holding our breath to see if Judge would hit or be PH for. Did he injure himself, and if so, how badly? Judge came to bat and walked (he would single later in the game). Anthony Rizzo ripped a 2-run double to make the score 9-1. One out later, Gleyber Torres homered (3) to make it 11-1.
German then gave up a 2-run HR in the bottom of the fourth that cut the lead to 11-3.
With two out in the bottom of the sixth, German hit a batter and then gave up a 2-run HR to Joey Gallo (why didn’t WE see Gallo do that more often?). 11-5.
A triple leading off the bottom of the seventh chased German, and the runner came in to score. 11-6.
The Yanks added a run in the top of the eighth. Volpe walked, and one out later, was singled to third by Rizzo. D.J. LeMahieu was robbed of a HR but got the SF to make it 12-6.
The Yanks now head to Texas.
Volpe 2 hits, 3 RBI Judge 3 hits, 3 RBI and one heck of a scare. Rizzo 2 hits, 2 RBI Torres 2 hits, 2 RBI 2-run HR (3) Calhoun 2 hits, RBI
German (W, 2-2) 6+ IP, 6 R, 5 H, 2 W, 8 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 3 HR. 5.54 Hamilton 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1.84 Holmes 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.72
Even though Tampa Bay is 17-3, the team I fear most in the AL East is Toronto. After all, it seems like Tampa Bay has played the Bad News Bears for most of their games so far this season (they opened vs. the Tigers, A’s and Nationals). We will see how the Rays do when they meet tougher competition.
Anyway, the Yanks (12-8, 5 games back, tied for 3rd in AL East with Toronto) got a look at Toronto last night and lost, 6-1. The Blue Jays got all the runs they would need after just three batters. George Springer hit Domingo German’s first pitch of the game for a double, and one out later, Vlad Guerrero Jr. (more on him in a bit) hit a 2-run HR.
German settled in a bit after that, but the Yanks only got one run on five hits for the game.
The Yanks’ only run came on a Oswaldo Cabrera HR (1) in the bottom of the second inning.
German gave up a 2-run HR to Brandon Belt in the sixth. Belt got a 2-run double off of Albert Abreu in the eighth.
Today is a battle of aces. Alek Manoah (who has struggled so far this season) vs. Gerrit Cole (who has been great so far).
So Vlad Jr. says he won’t play for the Yankees ever—even if dead. He joins Ken Griffey, Jr. in acting that way. I don’t know if it is the Yankees’ grooming policy (no Brandon Marsh or Matt Strahm look on the Yankees!) that ticks them off or what. It may be other Yankees’ rules or the way the Boss used to treat their fathers. While I have respect for their fathers as well as the Juniors as far as talent, the way the Juniors act kind of signifies to me that for all the talent they have that I respect, that, growing up as the talented and privileged sons of a couple of good MLB players (one a Hall of Famer), that they were a pair of spoiled brats (and that goes for Barry Bonds as well).
Cabrera solo HR (1).
Although the Yanks are second in AL in HR (28), they are tenth in runs scored, last in doubles, and tenth in batting average .229. I know no Bader, Donaldson…..and now Stanton, but bats have to pick up. ERA of 3.17 is third in AL, and that is without Rodon, Severino, Montas, Effross, Loaisiga, Trivino.
German (L, 1-2) 6 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 2 HR. 4.50 Abreu 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 4 K. 1.80 Weissert 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 1 HBP 0.00
Domingo German retired the first 16 batters he faced and set a personal best with 11 strikeouts in the Yankees’ (9-6) 6-1 win over the Twins Saturday afternoon.
The win came with some controversy over the rosin (a legal substance) German was using. The controversy caused Twins’ manager Rocco Baldelli to be ejected.
Kyle Higashioka gave German all the runs he would need with a 2-run HR (2) in the second inning.
Anthony Rizzo made it 3-0 with a solo HR (4) in the bottom of the third.
In the bottom of the fifth, Anthony Volpe walked, stole second, and scored on a single by D.J. LeMahieu.
Volpe had three stolen bases in the game (6), becoming the youngest Yankee to steal three in a game. It was the first time in over ten years that a Yankee had stolen three bases in a game. The last time it was done was by the oldest Yankee to do it—Ichiro Suzuki in September of 2012.
After a double by Aaron Judge, the Yanks had men on second and third with no one out but didn’t add on.
Michael King relieved German in the top of the seventh, and allowed an inherited runner to score but got a DP to work out of a jam.
A 2-run double by Giancarlo Stanton in the bottom of the seventh made the score 6-1 and that is how it stayed.
LeMahieu RBI single Judge 1 for 2 (double), two walks. Rizzo solo HR (4). Stanton 2 RBI Higashioka 2-run HR (2) Volpe 1 for 2, 2 walks, 3 SB (6).
German (W, 1-1) 6 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 11 K. 3.86 King 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.86
With Rodon, Severino and Montas out, the Yanks need German (and also Brito and Schmidt) to step up.
Ace Gerrit Cole is on the mound today for the Yanks.
The Sommer Frieze 
