Game 69. Yanks snap losing streak, beat Angels 8-4.

The Yanks snapped their seven-game losing streak, beating the Angels 8-4 Wednesday night.

More woes for Tyler Clippard, though. The struggling Clippard faced two batters and gave up a double and HR. It’s looking like his role will be reduced.

The win puts the 39-30 Yanks back in first place by 1/2 a game over the Red Sox.

In the second, the Yanks jumped out in front 2-0 on a 2-run HR by Didi Gregorius (8).

Martin Maldonado hit the first of his two two-run HRs in the fourth to tie it up for the Angels.

Matt Holliday made it 3-2 Yanks in the fifth with his fifteenth HR of the season.

In the sixth, Sanchez singled, and Headley walked. Romine doubled in two runs, and Romine scored on a single by Hicks. 6-2 Yanks.

In the seventh, Holliday doubled and scored on a Castro single. Castro later scored on a single by Headley.

Put into a low leverage situation, up 8-2 in the ninth, Clippard faced two batters, gave up a double and HR, and was pulled. It has been a tough time for him lately. Aroldis Chapman then closed out the 8-4 Yankees’ win.

Holliday double, HR (15), RBI
Sanchez 2 hits.
Gregorius HR (8), 2 RBI
Romine 3 hits, 2 RBI.

Montgomery (W, 5-4, 3.74) 5 2/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Green (H, 3) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.31
Betances 1 Ip, 0 R,.0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 0.40
Clippard 0 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.77. Gave up 1 HR.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.07.

Ex-Yankees’ PR announcer James Hall passed away recently.

 

Game 65. West Woes continue as Yanks lose another close one, 7-6.

The Yanks (38-27) AL East lead is down to one after a 7-6 loss Friday night in Oakland. The West coast trip has been hellish.

Gary Sanchez and Aaron Hicks are day to day with the injuries, and Adam Warren was put on the DL, joining CC. Giovanny Gallegos was sent down, Mason Williams (for Hicks) and Kyle Higashioka (for Sanchez) were brought up. It’s hard to keep up with the moves lately.

Once again the Yanks had a lead, and once again the B-listers (anyone not Warren, Chapman, Clippard or Betances) of the bullpen blew it. Chapman is supposed to return Sunday (see the minor league report for his rehab stint), Warren is now on the DL and the others aren’t getting the ball to Betances.

In the four-game losing streak, the Yanks have lost three games by one run, and two in extra innings. Excruciating. The losses have been by Shreve, Herrera (MLB debut), Gallegos (rookie on the NYY-SWB shuttle with 9 MLB games under his belt) and now Holder, another rookie.

The close losses have really affected their Pythagorean record. According to runs scored vs. runs allowed, the Yanks should be five wins better than they are right now. But close losses like these and big blowouts like last weekend against Baltimore skew that Pythagorean record. It’s a sign of what a team should be doing, and after all it’s the real record that counts anyway.

Luis Severino had one bad inning, giving up four runs in the second.

But the Yanks came back, and took a 6-4 lead late in the game. Aaron Judge started the comeback with a 3-run HR (23) in the third.

Gardner and Didi were getting days off. Sanchez and Hicks are hurt, day to day. As a result, the lineup had Refsnyder in left, Mason Williams (20 MLB games before last night) in CF. Romine was catching and Torreyes was at SS. So half the lineup was backups, who did OK.

In the fifth, the Yanks tied it on Torreyes’ double and a single by Williams.

Chris Carter hit a HR (8) in the sixth to put the Yanks up 5-4.

In the seventh, Judge tripled, Holliday walked and Castro singled to put the Yanks up 6-4.

Then the roof caved in.

The A’s got a run in the seventh off Shreve to cut the lead to 6-5. They then got two off of Holder in the eighth to win the game 7-6.

When Holder ran into trouble in the eighth, I wondered if Girardi would turn to Betances for a multi-inning save. Nope, and the Yanks lost because of it, but I can see you can’t just burn Betances out. With Warren and Chapman on the DL, the rest of the bullpen isn’t picking up the slack, and some guys are a bit fried right now. Clippard has been in a slump.

Judge 2 for 3, scored 2, 3 RBI, HR, triple. Walked twice.
Castro 2 hits, RBI.
Torreyes 2 hits.

Severino 6 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 4 W, 6 K. Uncharacteristically wild, all 4 hits in same inning.
Shreve (H, 1) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1.86
Holder (BS, 2; L, 1-1, 3.49) 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 0 K. First MLB loss.

 

Game 64. Road trip from hell continues as Yankees lose in 10, 8-7, more players hurt.

Before the game, the Yankees made moves, sending down Ron Herrera and putting CC Sabathia on the DL. They brought back Ben Heller  Domingo German (my mistake) and called up Luis Cessa.

After the game, an 8-7 Yankees’ loss in 10 innings, the Yanks may have to make more moves, like maybe bringing up Dustin Fowler, Kyle Higashioka and a reliever.

The road trip from hell continued with not only a Yankees’ loss,  their third in a row, but now more players may be headed to the DL.

In the minors, the Yankees have shut down Greg Bird, who now has a knee injury on top of trying to get over the ankle injury. Poor guy appears to be like Nick Johnson. So much potential, but injuries keep eating him up.

We don’t know when Ellsbury is coming back from that concussion. That’s important because last night Aaron Hicks had to be taken out of the game because of an Achilles injury.

Gary Sanchez had to be taken out because of an abductor muscle injury. Adam Warren wasn’t available because of a sore trap muscle in his pitching arm.

We’ll see if these injuries are day to day or if they require DL stints. But geez…

The loss puts the Yanks at 38-26, and they maintain a 2-game lead in the AL East. It was a tough loss, because the Yanks came back in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth and took the lead in the tenth.

In the tenth, Giovanny Gallegos got the first two outs, then gave up two hits and an intentional walk before a blooper just extended past Starlin Castro’s reach, tipped off his glove, found grass, and gave the A’s their 8-7 walkoff win.

The Yanks left the bases loaded in the first, not scoring. They left two on in the fourth.

Jordan Montgomery gave up a solo HR in the first to Jed Lowrie and a 2-run double in the second to put the Yanks in a 3-0 hole.

The Yanks tied it in the sixth when with one out, Castro singled, Sanchez walked and Didi (17 g. hitting streak) singled to load the bases. Headley singled in two runs, Carter tied the game with a single.

The A’s got a run in the bottom of the sixth to go up 4-3 on a Yonder Alonso HR. The Yanks tied it in the seventh. With two out, Castro singled, stole second, and scored on a Gary Sanchez double.

The A’s scored in the bottom of the seventh, going up 5-4. The Yanks came back again to tie it in the eighth on a Chris Carter HR (7).

Once again, the Yanks couldn’t hold the A’s, as the A’s got a run in the bottom of the eighth. The Yanks tied the game at six in the top of the ninth when Castro doubled with one out and Sanchez singled him home. Sanchez was having a big game when he got hurt.

In the tenth, with one out, Gardner and Refsnyder (in for the injured Hicks) each singled. Judge walked to load the bases and Castro hit a SF.

Then came the bottom of the tenth when Gallegos got the first two batters but couldn’t salt the game away.

Gardner 2 hits.
Castro 3 for 5, scored 3, 1 RBI. (.328)
Sanchez 3 for 3, 2 walks, scored 1, 2 RBI. He raised his average to .297 before the injury.
Headley 2 hits, 2 RBI
Carter 2 hits, 2 RBI, HR
Montgomery 5 2/3 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 1 W, 5 K. 3.78. Gave up 2 HR
Green 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.70
Clippard 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.30
Betances 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 3 K. 0.42
Gallegos (BS, 1; L, 0-1; 7.15) 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K.

 

Game 63. Herrera’s MLB debut results in 7-5 Yanks’ loss.

That first game in the majors has to be exciting. Unfortunately for Ronald Herrera, it resulted in a loss.

Herrera was called up from AA Trenton earlier in the day when Ben Heller was sent back to the minors.  The Yanks needed a fresh arm. He gave up a late 2-run HR that doomed the Yanks as they lost 7-5 to the Angels Wednesday night. The loss cuts the Yanks’ (38-25) AL East lead to two games since Boston beat the lowly Phillies.

It started out good. In the first, Gardner singled, and with one out, Judge singled. Judge stole second and Matt Holliday just missed a 3-run HR as he hit a SF. After Castro was HBP, Sanchez hit a 3-run HR (11) to make it 4-0.

But Michael Pineda didn’t have much tonight, giving up a run in the first, two in the second and two more in the third. He did gut out six innings.

That run in the first that Pineda gave up could have been more. Aaron Hicks took a grand slam away from Luis Valbuena. It went as a SF instead.

In the second, the Yanks wasted a one-out triple by Rob Refsnyder. I would have loved to have had Gardner squeeze in a run, but as readers of this blog know, the one criticism I have of Girardi is that he never squeezes home a run. This, and other things, contributed to the loss. Instead, Refsnyder was left stranded.

Didi Gregorius (.337) extended his hitting streak to 16 games, but was hit by a batted ball on a single by Chase Headley in the fourth when the Yanks got three hits but no runs.

In the fifth, with two out, Judge reached on an error and Holliday and Castro both singled. Judge was thrown out at the plate however, on a bad send by 3B coach Joe Espada. Judge hadn’t even reached third when the LF fielded the ball and Judge was out easily.

The Yanks did tie the game in the sixth when Sanchez singled and went to second on an error. After Didi struck out, Headley singled to tie the game at five.

In the seventh, Hicks laid down a beautiful bunt for a hit. I wish Gardner had done that with Refsnyder on third in the second.

After Pineda went six innings, Girardi brought in Herrera. I was a little surprised at that because of the flight to CA (figure you’d give a guy a chance to rest a day after the flight before bringing him in… flight could take something out of you, esp. cross-country, and esp. after a 3:30 AM wakeup call to tell you you’ve been promoted) and also that Herrera was doing great as a STARTER at AA Trenton. You don’t know how he would do as a reliever. That’s a different area. Herrera gave up a 2-run HR to Andrelton Simmons in the seventh which decided the game.

It seems as if Girardi was looking long term (at least, according to a NY Post article) and willing to sacrifice one game for the long term benefit of his bullpen, which he described as “fried.”

The Yanks got a break in the ninth, when with two out, Hicks’ long drive seemed to be caught against the wall by the RF. The call was overturned and Hicks was given a double, meaning Judge was up as the tying run. Although he hit the ball hard, Judge grounded out to third to end the game.

Gardner 2 for 5. Hicks 2 for 5 (.314). Sanchez 3 for 4, scored 2 runs, 3 RBI, HR. Headley 2 hits, RBI.

Pineda 6 IP, 5 R, 10 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.71. Gave up 1 HR.
Herrera (L, 0-1, 9.00) 2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR.

CC was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Still no word on how long he’ll be on the DL. CC says he feels good and hopes to miss just one start, but this could put him out until mid-August.

Aroldis Chapman is expected to return to the Yanks on Sunday after a couple of rehab stints.

 

 

 

Game 60. You have heard of Boston Massacre? How about Baltimore Blitz? Sweep. 38-8 over 3 games! Sanchez 450 and Judge 495 Ft. HRs in 14-3 rout.

You have heard of the Boston Massacre. What do you call this, the Baltimore Blitz? For the Yanks swept Baltimore this weekend 38-8 in three games, and during their five game winning streak, have scored 55 runs (11 per game).

Today, four more HR, and two were absolute bombs.

Once again, the Yanks jumped out early and put the game away in the very first inning. With the 14-3 blowout, they go to 37-23 on the season.

In the first, singles by Gardner and Judge. WP . A 2-run single by Castro. A 3-run 450 ft. HR by Sanchez (10). That 450 foot HR would look like nothing by the end of the game.

The Orioles mounted a comeback, getting 3 in the third. Chad Green started, but did not last long due to pitch count. 5-3.

In the fourth, Hicks walked, Judge doubled and Holliday singled in two. 7-3.

To the sixth. Judge homered, and #20 for Judge was something to behold. Over the LF bleachers and a fan reached over the walkway for it. 495 feet!

After that, Holliday reached on an error and then Castro HR’d (12) to make it 10-3.

In the seventh, with one out, Torreyes and Gardner walked. Hicks doubled in two, and Judge hit his second HR of the game (21) to make it 14-3.

Domingo German made his MLB debut (Tommy Layne was DFA’d) and did a great job in this 14-3 win.

As far as pitching, a job pieced together by Girardi.

Batting:

Hicks, 2 RBI.
Judge 4 for 4. Walk. Scored 4 runs. Drove in 3. 2 HR.
Holliday 2 RBI.
Castro 2 hits, HR and 4 RBI
Sanchez HR and 3 RBI.
2 hits for Didi.
2 hits for Carter.

Green 2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2.41
Shreve 1 IP, 1 R 2 H, 0 W 2 K. 1.08
Holder 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. 3.04
Warren (W, 2-1, 2.30) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
German 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 0.00   MLB DEBUT.

UPDATE: German was sent back down after the game. The Yanks are expected to call up Ben Heller.

 

 

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Game 58. Hicks (2) and Castro HRs power Yankees, 8-2.

The surprising surge of Aaron Hicks continues. Hicks, who struggled last year to a .217-8-31 mark, already has more HR and RBI than last year, and is hitting 100 points higher.

His two homers, combined with one by Starlin Castro, helped power the Yanks to an 8-2 win over Baltimore Friday night to put the Yanks at 35-23 on the season and maintain their 3-game lead in the AL East.

Baltimore got their only two runs in the game in the top of the second on a 2-run HR by Jonathan Schoop off Yanks’ starter and winner Jordan Montgomery. Schoop is a Yankee-killer. He always seems to kill the Yanks.

Montgomery was great, going seven innings and only making that one mistake.

The Yanks tied the game right away in the bottom of the second when Castro homered (10), Sanchez doubled, and two fly balls moved Sanchez up and in, SF by Headley.

Hicks hit a solo HR in the sixth to break the tie.

In the seventh, he hit his second HR of the game, and tenth of the season, a 2-run shot, to make it 5-2. Judge then walked and scored on a double by Holliday.

In the eighth, Sanchez and Gregorius singled, and Headley walked to load the bases. Austin Romine’s 2-run single accounted for the final score of 8-2.

Gardner 2 hits.
Hicks 2 HR, 3 RBI
Holliday 2 hits, rbi.
Castro HR
Sanchez 2 hits
Romine 2 RBI

I listed most of the lineup in highlights, which you love to see. Also nice, a starter going deep into the game.

Montgomery (W, 4-4, 3.55) 7 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 w, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Clippard 1 IP, 0 r, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1.80
Holder 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 3.24

 

Game 55. Trouble for Tanaka again in Yanks’ 5-4 loss.

The disturbing and troubling season of Masahiro Tanaka continued last night when he gave up 5 runs, including 3 HR in 5 IP as the Yanks lost to Boston 5-4.

Tanaka had such a great spring training. His fall from ace to Kei-Igawa-like performances has been shocking.

The loss decreases the Yanks’ lead over Boston to one game. The Yankees are 32-23.

That 32-23 has been built strangely. They started 1-4, went 20-5 over the next 25, and are 11-14 in their last 25.

Even though they are still in first place, there are a couple of problem areas that need to be addressed, and let’s start with Tanaka.

With the Yanks 10-11 in their last 21 games (stats via Joel Sherman’s NY Post article), Tanaka is 0-5, 10.72 in that span. If Tanaka was his old ace-like self, he would have gone, say 4-1. Now the Yanks would be 14-7 in this span and we wouldn’t be as concerned.

The season is just over 1/3 over, and Tanaka has already given up 17 HR.

They need to get him straightened out. But how? He is earning so much $$ and $$ talks. Can they just pull him from the rotation? Who would replace him? Chad Green, who was fabulous in relief last night? Chance Adams? They would need to create a roster spot for Adams (who pitched last night also, see my minor league report) who isn’t on the 40-man roster.

Boston got a run right away in the first inning on a couple of singles and an RBI forceout. The Yanks tied it in the second on a walk to Hicks, single by Didi, and Hicks scored on a throwing error by Boston RF Mookie Betts.

But in the fourth, Tanaka gave up three runs on back-to-back homers. He gave up another HR in the fifth and Boston was up 5-1. The Yanks couldn’t come all the way back.

Chris Carter (a problem we’ll get to in a bit) hit his fifth HR of the year in the bottom of the fifth to cut Boston’s lead to 5-2.

Castro and Hicks singled in the sixth, and Castro scored when Didi GIDP.

The Yanks got a break in the eighth that made you think maybe the gods were with them and they’d pull it out. Matt Holliday doubled and went to third on a groundout. After Hicks popped up, Didi Gregorius struck out for what should have been the third out, but the ball was a wild pitch and Didi reached, Holliday scoring to cut the lead to 5-4. You thought with a break like that, maybe…

But no…

Tanaka (L, 5-6, 6.55) 5 IP, 5 R, 5 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 3 HR.
Layne 0 IP, 0 r, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 7.50. More on him in a bit.
Green 3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 5 K. 1.62. See above. Replacement for Tanaka? Did great.
Shreve 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 w, 1 K. 0.57.

Judge, Hicks and Gregorius each had two hits. Carter had the HR.

But even with Carter’s HR, 1B is a position that the Yanks need improvement on. Bird was 6 for 60 (.100-1-3) and Carter is 21 for 115 (.183-5-15). So that is a combined 27 for 175, which comes out to .154-6-18. Somehow, the Yanks are in first place despite getting the worst production in MLB from their first basemen.

3B also is a problem. Chase Headley is down to .225, and rumors are that the Yanks are shopping for a 3B. Rumors also are that if Gleyber Torres starts adjusting to AAA pitching, that the Yanks may bring him up to play 3B, with Headley moving to a backup 1B/3B role, which would mean cutting Carter (Carter $3.5 MM left for this year, Headley is owed the rest of $13MM this year and $13MM for 2018).

Headley is at .225-3-23, but since April 18, has hit .168-1-19 in his last 37 games. When you take what he is doing at 3B, and the lack of production at 1B, it’s like the Yanks are playing with a 7-man lineup. That can’t continue if they want to stay in first place. Headley hasn’t homered since April 19.

So the Yanks desperately need to get better production from 1B, 3B and Tanaka. We’ll see how and if that happens.

The final thing may be minor. Tommy Layne hasn’t performed that well, and the Yanks do have a solution there if necessary. Tyler Webb has been doing well at SWB and could be a replacement for Layne. LOOGY for LOOGY.