Hicks out 8-10 months. Minor surgeries also for Tanaka, Voit. Ex-mgr. Girardi Philly-bound.

The Yanks may have to sign free agent OF Brett Gardner to a one-year deal. They won’t have Aaron Hicks until next July at the earliest. Hicks is to undergo Tommy John surgery on that throwing elbow of his and will miss 8-10 months.

Even though Gardner had a career year, reaching highs in HR (28) and RBI (74), you do have to wonder if, with Hicks out, the Yanks may also look elsewhere and sign someone else to a one-year deal to platoon with Gardy or if they might just see if Mike Tauchman, who had 13 HR and 47 RBI as a platoon player, or maybe even Cameron Maybin (11 HR, 32 RBI platooning as well) could be a fit.

The problem with Gardner is that he is 36, and turns 37 next August. A good, career Yankee, a leader, but will his age be a problem?

Ex-Oriole OF Adam Jones is a free agent. Maybe on a one-year deal. And only to platoon.

Masahiro Tanaka had bone spurs removed from his pitching elbow, and Luke Voit had a procedure done, probably related to that sports hernia he got. Both are expected to be ready for spring training 2020.

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D.J. LeMahieu is a finalist for the Gold Glove Award, at 2B. He is the only Yankee to be a finalist (3 are named at each position). I thought maybe Gio Urshela,  Gardner, and Aaron Judge would be considered, but nope.

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Ex-Yankee C and later manager Joe Girardi got a 3-year deal with the Phillies to be their next manager, replacing Gabe Kapler. Girardi managed the Yanks 2008-2017, winning the WS in 2009, and had one year managing the Marlins prior to that.

ALCS Game 6. Altuve’s walkoff HR in bottom of 9th ends Yanks’ season, WS is Houston/Washington.

I’ll get into some mistakes I think the Yanks made in this ALCS in another post. For now, just a game post.

Jose Altuve (ALCS MVP) hit a walkoff HR in the bottom of the ninth to give Houston a 6-4 win and send the Astros to the WS where they’ll meet the Washington Nationals. It’s the second pennant for the Astros in three years. Houston won the 2017 WS.

For the Yankees, it’s the first decade since the 1910s where they haven’t made a WS appearance. They did lose four ALCS’s in the 2010s.

2010: Lost in 6 to Texas.
2012: Swept by Detroit in the series where Derek Jeter broke his ankle in Game 1.
2017: Lost in 7 to Houston.
2019: Lost in 6 to Houston.

The use of an opener didn’t work well for the Yanks, because Chad Green gave up a 3-run HR in the first inning to Yuri Gurriel with two out. The HR came right after a mound visit. That sure didn’t work well.

The Yanks got one run back in the second when slumping players Didi Gregorius doubled and Gary Sanchez singled him in. Later, with two out and two on, Brett Gardner struck out on a questionable call. It was the first of many breaks that did not go the Yankees’ way last night.

The Yanks loaded the bases in the third, but Didi Gregorius grounded out to end the inning. Why he swung at the first pitch, who knows. Down 3-1, needing to get back in the game, and a new pitcher just in the game, make him throw strikes. Check his nerves out. Instead, it appeared Didi succumbed to the nerves and pressure. He should have taken one. That, I couldn’t understand. Big mistake by Didi there, I thought, and think.

Gio Urshela homered in the fourth to make it 3-2 and the Yanks then didn’t catch another break. Gardner, up next, hit a long drive to right that looked as if it would tie up the game but it went just foul. He wound up singling but the Yanks couldn’t get him in.

With two out and one on in the top of the sixth, Gardner lined one to right but Josh Reddick made a diving catch on it.

Altuve, who had doubled and scored in the first, walked to lead off the bottom of the sixth for Houston. He went to third on a single by Michael Brantley and scored on a forceout. 4-2 Houston.

In the top of the seventh, another bad break for the Yanks. With Aaron Judge on first and one out, Aaron Hicks lined one to left. Brantley made a diving catch and doubled Judge off of first.

With one out and one on in the top of the eighth, Houston turned a nifty DP to get out of the inning. All breaks were going against the Yanks. The Yanks escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth and went into the ninth down 4-2.

In the top of the ninth, it appeared that maybe the baseball gods would finally smile on the Yankees. Gio Urshela singled. Brett Gardner struck out after almost being HBP. D.J. LeMahieu then tied the game with a HR that barely cleared the wall and the leap of George Springer, now playing RF. 4-4.

Aroldis Chapman started the bottom of the ninth ok with a strikeout and pop up, but then walked Springer. Altuve then hit his pennant-winning HR.

LeMahieu 2-run Game tying HR in top of 9th.
Encarnacion 0 for 3, walk, 3 strikeouts. He killed the Yanks this series.
Gregorius 2 hits, but that first pitch groundout with the bases loaded in the third hurt.
Urshela 3 for 3, HR.

Green 1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up HR
Happ 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K.  Maybe should have started, given more length?
Cessa 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Kahnle 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K.
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 0 K.
Chapman (LOSS) 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H,  1 W, 1 K.  Gave up GW HR.

In retrospect, maybe the Yanks should have just started Happ and asked for four or five from him. There are a lot of things they could and/or should have done differently this series. That is for the next post, coming later today.

 

 

ALCS Game 5. ALIVE! Yanks force a Game 6 behind Paxton gem.

Before the game, it was announced that (surprise!) Giancarlo Stanton was good enough to play, and he replaced Edwin Encarnacion in the lineup as the DH. Didn’t make any difference, though.

CC was taken off the roster, and his career is officially over. Ben Heller replaced him.

The Yanks only got five hits in the game, but four came in the first inning, two of them homers, and it was enough was James Paxton threw a gem and the Yanks forced a Game 6 tonight in Houston with a 4-1 victory.

The top of the first was sloppy. An infield single that looked as if it should have been fielded by Paxton. A PB to move the runner up. A groundout to move him to third. A walk, a WP that allowed the runner to score and move the other to second. With Justin Verlander pitching for Houston, you wondered if one or two runs would be enough for him to close out the series.

Two lineouts to the outfield ended the inning.

D.J. LeMahieu tied up the game right away by hitting Verlander’s second pitch of the game for a HR. Aaron Judge walked and Gleyber Torres doubled Judge to third. Stanton struck out, and the fear was that the Yanks were on their way to wasting a big chance.

But Aaron Hicks lined one off of the right field foul pole for a three-run HR and the Yanks were up 4-1.

Both starters settled down after that, but because of Hicks’ shot, the Yanks had the upper hand.

With two out in the bottom of the sixth, Robinson Chirinos hit one deep to left that, for a moment, looked like it would cut the Yankees’ lead to 4-3. But just like with Didi Gregorius’ drive for the Yankees the other night, it died just short of the fence.

Tommy Kahnle got into a little trouble in the top of the seventh, but Zack Britton cleaned up the mess and he and Aroldis Chapman closed it out.

No starters have been announced for Game 6 yet, as it appears both teams will be using “openers” in a battle of the bullpens. It appears as if Chad Green may start, but after him (only one inning?) the Yanks may turn to the likes of Happ, Cessa, Loaisiga, even Heller to piece it to Britton and Chapman. Both teams would be holding back their aces for a potential Game 7—Gerrit Cole for Houston, Luis Severino for the Yankees.

Gary Sanchez may want to get away from the Bronx cheers. Sanchez, slumping badly,  was 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts. He is 2 for 20 with 11 strikeouts in the series.

LeMahieu HR
Hicks 3-run HR

Paxton (WIN) 6 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 4 W, 9 K.
Kahnle (HOLD) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Britton (HOLD) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Chapman (SAVE) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.

So each team has won a blowout, each team has won a 4-1 game. That 3-2, 11 inning loss by the Yanks to Houston in Game 2 is the one thing separating the two teams right now.   The Yanks have scored 17 runs in the five games and are hitting .199. Houston has scored 16 runs and is hitting .178.

Just a thought. With Houston not having any lefties at all on their staff for this round, maybe the Yanks should have or could have found a way to get Mike Ford on the roster? I understand, you weren’t taking him over Edwin Encarnacion, but Edwin’s 1 for 15 with 8 strikeouts in the series. As they say, hindsight is always 100%.

 

 

ALCS Game 3. Yanks fall 4-1, trail in Series 2 games to 1. Nats win NL.

Since May 22, Gerrit Cole has been unbeatable, going 19-0 in 25 starts with a 1.59 ERA. Incredible.

He was vulnerable against the Yankees, giving up 5 walks and 4 hits in his seven innings of work, but no runs.

Luis Severino was OK, but gave up a HR in the first to Jose Altuve (Altuve kills the Yankees) and another in the second to Josh Reddick and that is all Cole needed. Houston wins Game 3 of the ALCS, 4-1, and is up two games to one in the series.

The Yanks have a couple of problems. For one, manager Aaron Boone has to wonder if he should bench Gary Sanchez and start Austin Romine instead. Sanchez is 1 for 13 in this series with six strikeouts. For the whole postseason, he is 2 for 21 with 10 strikeouts. He also couldn’t block a WP that enabled Houston to score a run.

In a post-game interview, Boone said no when asked about going to Romine. I think he may be making a mistake.

Another is Adam Ottavino, who came into Game 3 with the score 2-0 in the top of the seventh. Ottavino isn’t getting anyone out and gave up a walk and a single before being pulled. Both runners later scored. Boone said he’ll continue to use him…. what else is he going to say?

Ottavino’s numbers this postseason: 2 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 3 W, 3 K.  1 HR given up. He’s faced 16 batters and 9 have reached base. You just can’t trust him in tight games anymore. At least not now.

There is no time in the postseason to hope. It’s do or die. It’s why Joe Torre once benched Wade Boggs, Tino Martinez AND Paul O’Neill for the same game (replacing them in the lineup with Charlie Hayes, Cecil Fielder and Darryl Strawberry).

Cleanup hitter Edwin Encarnacion is also slumping. 1 for 12 with 6 strikeouts in this series. Maybe he needs to be dropped in the lineup.

The one constant is Gleyber Torres. The only Yankees’ run came on a HR by Torres in the eighth inning. He is 10 for 24 this postseason with 3 HR and 10 RBI. Maybe Boone should just keep him in the 3 spot. He batted fifth in Game 3, probably to try to protect Encarnacion and hopefully get Edwin going.

But that meant Brett Gardner hit third. Now the Yanks did get singles from D.J. LeMahieu and Aaron Judge to lead off the bottom of the first, but Gardner flied out. The Yanks didn’t score. Maybe Gardner should have bunted the runners over there. I know you are thinking big inning, but this is Cole on the mound, and Gardner is not your prototypical #3 hitter (like a Ruth, DiMaggio, Maris or Mantle), and who knows, maybe Gardner beats it out. Just saying.  Gardner is 2 for 13 in this series with five strikeouts.

Didi Gregorius JUST MISSED putting the Yanks up 3-2 with a two-out drive with two on in the fifth that was caught at the wall. Tough break. Didi is 1 for 12 in this series.

The forecast is for rain. There is a very strong chance Game 4 gets rained out tonight. If so, I believe the Yanks HAVE to come back with Tanaka then for Game 4 on regular rest (and in his six innings on Saturday, he only threw 68 pitches in Game 1) to try to even the series and avoid going down three games to one.

The Yanks only had five hits in the game. In their last 20 innings, they’ve scored just three runs.

LeMahieu 2 hits
Torres HR, 2 walks
Aaron Hicks, starting his first game in over 2 months, walked twice.

Severino (LOSS) 4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 W, 6 K.  Gave up 2 HR
Green 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Ottavino 0 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K.  1 WP that scored a run.
Cessa 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.

Who’d have thought Cessa would be out-pitching Ottavino this postseason?

Hopefully some of these Yankees’ bats heat up.

Also, hopefully Boone makes some right, and maybe necessary, tough decisions to shake the Yanks up.

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Washington won the NLCS by beating St. Louis 7-4 last night, scoring all seven runs in the bottom of the first. With the four game sweep, the Nationals go to their first WS in franchise history, going back to 1969 when they were the Montreal Expos 1969-2004 before moving to Washington.

For D.C., it’ll host their first WS games since 1933 when the old Washington Senators (now the Minnesota Twins) won the AL pennant but lost the WS to the NY (now SF) Giants.

Howie Kendrick was named the NLCS MVP.

So whoever wins the ALCS knows they’ll have to face Washington with its trio of Scherzer, Strasburg and Corbin (not to mention Anibal Sanchez).

 

 

ALCS Game 2. Houston evens up the series with a walkoff HR in the 11th, wins 3-2.

Justin Verlander was as tough as we thought he’d be. But the Yanks still had a chance to go up 2-0 in the series. Instead, they lost to Houston 3-2 in 11 innings and head home with the ALCS tied at a game apiece.

The problem is, certain guys not having good postseasons so far continued not to produce, and that hurt the Yanks in Game 2. See below.

James Paxton didn’t last long, giving up a run in the second, and getting knocked out in the third inning.

Aaron Judge hit a 2-run HR in the fourth for the Yanks’ only two runs of the game.

Chad Green did a great job in relief of Paxton, but Adam Ottavino, in relief of Green, gave up a HR on his very first pitch in the bottom of the fifth and the game was tied at two.

In the bottom of the eleventh, J.A. Happ gave up a HR to Carlos Correa on his first pitch of the inning, and the game was over. A tough, extra-inning loss, where a win would have put Houston’s backs against the wall what with the next three games in the Bronx.

Before the game, it was announced that Giancarlo Stanton had a quad strain, is day to day and was out of the Game 2 lineup. Cameron Maybin, who had a hit and a walk, replaced him. Aaron Hicks replaced Maybin later in the game.

Ottavino hasn’t had a good postseason so far. In 2 1/3 IP, he’s only given up 1 R, but on 5 H, 2 walks.

Gary Sanchez is 2 for 17 this postseason.

Edwin Encarnacion had a decent series against the Twins, but is 0 for 8 with 6 strikeouts against Houston.

Hopefully the off-day today (The NLCS will play Game 3 tonight) will give those players time to regroup and get right.

Game 3 features Severino vs. Cole. With tight games like this, not only do you need great pitching, which the Yanks so far have gotten for the most part (3 runs given up in 19+ innings) but you also have to play littleball, knowing you probably aren’t going to score many runs off of Houston.

Judge 2-run HR
Encarnacion 0 for 4, 3 strikeouts.
Sanchez 0 for 5, 3 strikeouts.
Paxton 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 2 W, 3 K.
Green 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Ottavino (BS) 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.  Gave up 1 HR.
Kahnle 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Sabathia 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Loaisiga 0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K.
Happ (LOSS) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up walkoff HR.

Hard-fought game. Tough loss.

To get to the WS, the Yanks have to beat Verlander and Cole. They had a chance last night to win a game Verlander started. They didn’t do it, although they came close. That hurts.

Now to try to get one against Cole.

ALCS Roster set, and pre-series thoughts.

The Yankees have finalized their ALCS roster. Coming on are CC Sabathia and Aaron Hicks and coming off are Luke Voit and Tyler Wade.

The Yanks are going with 13 pitchers.

I think that they are going with the pitching (13) and defense, and expect low scoring games against Houston’s staff. If so, Gardner LF, Hicks CF, Stanton DH, Encarnacion 1b with DJ at 3b, and if they have a late inning lead, then DJ goes to 1b and Gio goes in at 3b. Either that or keep it as it was, but Maybin/Hicks d for Stanton late in game. But I would go with the first scenario. Dh Stanton. Have good D all around (save for maybe Edwin at 1B) then sub out Edwin later.

So my lineup would be:

DJ 3B
Judge RF
Gardner LF
Encarnacion 1B
Stanton DH
Torres 2B
Sanchez C
Gregorius SS
Hicks CF

Hicks hasn’t played since August 3. It may be a case of whatever he gives you offensively you take, but just cover the ground and play good defense. I also like him ninth because of his speed. He can steal, you can hit and run with him with DJ, there are nice options there.

The Astros front three of Greinke, Verlander and Cole seems to be better than the Yanks, but I wonder about something this time of year. They have been better than Tanaka, Paxton and Severino but will all those extra innings they pitched this year so far be to their detriment? Are the Yanks arms fresher (in the case of Severino, who missed most of this season, most definitely so)?

The IP this year (rounded to nearest out):

Greinke 209
Verlander 223
Cole 212

Tanaka 182
Paxton 151
Severino 12.

Who knows if those extra innings take a toll? I hope so.

Hopefully Stanton and Sanchez step up and have a good series, and key for the Yanks could be how Green and Ottavino do.

Since Hicks is coming off the IL, David Hale was DFA’d.

Game 143. Happ and “The Parrot” lead Yanks past Bosox, 5-1. Hicks done for year?

Aaron Hicks had a setback in his rehab. He may be done for the year because he still can’t throw with the elbow problem.

Ouch. Got a 7 yr., $70MM extension, and has played in just 59 games this season. Just a .235 average, but 12 HR , 36 RBI and an OPS+ of 103 (average is 100).

After a very disappointing season, J.A. Happ has been very good in his last couple of outings, and just in time. If this continues into October, things look very good. Before the last couple of outings, there was no guarantee Happ would be on the postseason roster. With these last good outings, hopefully if on the postseason roster, this is what we see.

6 1/3 shutout innings. Against a good team in Boston, no less. After a good outing against another possible playoff team in Oakland last Sunday. Very good.

The Yanks (93-50) beat Boston, 5-1. With the win, the magic # for clinching the division outright is 11. The lead remains at 8 1/2 over Tampa Bay. They remain tied with Houston (but Houston has the tiebreaker) for best record in the AL.

The magic # just to make the playoffs is 9.

The Yanks got four runs in the fourth. D.J. LeMahieu led off the inning with a single, and one out later, Didi Gregorius doubled on a ball lost in the sun by Boston RF J.D. Martinez. Gary Sanchez hit a seeing-eye ground rule double for two runs and then Edwin Encarnacion hit a long HR (32) to make it 4-0.

Encarnacion hit a RBI double in the ninth to make it 5-0, and Aroldis Chapman gave up a HR to Martinez in the bottom of the ninth. Final score, 5-1.

Sanchez 2 RBI
Encarnacion 2 hits, 3 RBI, a 2-run HR (32).
Torres 2 hits.

Happ (W, 12-8, 5.10) 6 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2, 1 W, 7 K.
Ottavino 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  1.64
Kahnle 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K.  3.09
Britton (H, 29) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  2.09
Chapman 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR.  2.35

Game 111. Yanks sweep weekend series from Boston with 7-4 win.

The Yanks got a first inning HR from Aaron Judge and got six runs in the third (Gio Urshela with a 2-run HR) on the way to beating Boston 7-4 Sunday night.

With the win, the Yanks (72-39) kept their 8 game lead over Tampa Bay and pushed Boston 14 1/2 out by sweeping Boston four straight this weekend.

Judge got the ball rolling by hitting his 12th HR of the year in the first inning. 1-0 Yankees.

In the third, with one out, Judge walked, and an out later, Urshela hit his 2-run HR (12) to make it 3-0. Doubles by Brett Gardner and Cameron Maybin made it 4-0. Mike Ford singled to make it 5-0, then Kyle Higashioka doubled to put runners on second and third. Mike Tauchman singled, and it was 7-0.

J.A. Happ, back from paternity leave, gave up back-to-back HR in the fifth and it was 7-2. Happ faltered again in the sixth inning, giving up two runs before Luis Cessa, who started out a bit shaky, got the last out of the inning. 7-4.

Cessa settled in after that, pitching a scoreless seventh and eighth, before Chad Green finished off the game. Cessa and Green combined for 3 1/3 scoreless, hitless innings.

Judge solo HR (12)
Urshela 2-run HR (12) (.314)
Maybin 2 hits, RBI (.312)
Higashioka 2 doubles
Tauchman 2 RBI

Happ (W, 9-6, 5.24) 5 2/3 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 2 HR.
Cessa (H, 3) 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K.  3.74
Green (S, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.  4.84.

Before the game, the Yanks placed Aaron Hicks on the IL with a flexor tendon strain in his throwing elbow. So he is shut down for at least 10 days.

During the game, Urshela fouled balls off of each leg during the same at bat, causing considerable pain. He stayed in the game for two more innings, then was removed.

Gleyber Torres had a core issue problem and was also removed from the game. He went to the hospital for tests but his father tweeted that he is fine and headed to Baltimore. That is a good thing because Gleyber has killed the Orioles this year.

And one thing the Yanks don’t need is more injuries. It appears that they dodged a bullet regarding both Gio and Gleyber.

Gary Sanchez will play in a couple rehab games this week and is expected to come off the IL this upcoming weekend when the Yanks are in Toronto.

 

 

Game 110. Yanks win nightcap 6-4 for the DH sweep, but injury bug hits again.

Gleyber Torres hit 2 HR, and Mike Tauchman got the game winning hit as the Yanks (71-39) won the nightcap of the day/night DH yesterday, 6-4.

But the injury bug hit again, and hard.

In the previous post on the first game of the DH, I mentioned that Edwin Encarnacion was HBP, and that it was “scary.” While Encarnacion stayed in the game at the time, tests done after the game revealed a fractured wrist. He’ll be out a while. Remember last year that Aaron Judge missed 48 games because of it. There is just 52 games left this season. Terrible timing.

That timing becomes even worse if Luke Voit requires surgery for his sports hernia.

D.J. LeMahieu now becomes the full-time 1B instead of switching around. Gio Urshela gets more regular time at 3B. Torres and Didi Gregorius are backed up for now by Breyvic Valera. Next man up.

Backing up LeMahieu for now is Mike Ford, called up when Encarnacion’s situation became known. Ford, a lefty hitter, has been up briefly before. He is 6 for 30, 1 HR, 2 RBI with the Yanks this year (OPS+ 101). At SWB, .303-23-60 in just 79 games.

It looks like Ford will be here a while, unless the Yanks want to turn in another direction. That direction could be in the form of ex-Yankee Tyler Austin, who was DFA’d by the Giants yesterday. Austin has power, but doesn’t hit for average, and has a poor walk/strikeout ratio. But he is someone, of course, the Yanks are familiar with.

Ford, a lefty bat, projects as a better fit than Austin, the righty bat. Austin will be 28 next month, and when he was with the Yankees from 2016-2018, hit .230-15-43 in 85 games. (OPS+ 98) with just 19 walks but 106 strikeouts. This season between the Twins and Giants, he has hit .187-8-20, OPS+ 81. 18 walks, 60 strikeouts in 72 games. He can play corner OF as well as 1B.

We’ll see if the Yanks take a flyer on him. One thing that may not help is some uncomplimentary (but maybe correct?) things Austin’s dad said when the Yanks dealt Austin way last summer for the now also-departed Lance Lynn.

As if Encarnacion’s injury didn’t hurt enough, Aaron Hicks hurt his elbow making a throw in from the outfield in last night’s game. Hopefully it is not major, but we remember that Didi Gregorius injured his elbow making a throw in last year’s postseason series against Boston, required TJ surgery and missed half of this season. If Hicks needs that, he’s done for the year. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. But if he has to go on the IL, the Yanks then have Brett Gardner, Mike Tauchman and Cameron Maybin who all could play CF. We will have to see if Clint Frazier or someone else (Tyler Wade?) gets called up. Frazier’s bat may be needed what with the Encarnacion injury, but his defensive problems may mean he replaces Encarnacion at DH (until Giancarlo Stanton is ready, and the word on that is not until September). The Yankees, I think, would be much more comfortable with Tauchman and/or Maybin in the OF alongside Gardner and Judge. Let Frazier DH then.

We will see what the prognosis is on Hicks. But the way this season has gone, I am not expecting good news.

As of now, Sanchez, Voit, Stanton, Encarnacion, Andujar, now Hicks. That’s not even mentioning guys we really can’t count on because we rarely if ever see them, like Bird or Ellsbury, or the pitchers like Severino, Betances, Montgomery, Hale, CC and Loaisiga.

Sheesh.

But the Yanks keep on trucking along. The DH sweep of Boston means that the Yanks (71-39) have an 8 game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East, and a whopping 13 1/2 game lead over Boston. It sure appears as if Boston’s hopes of winning the division are over, and they have to worry about just making it as a wild card. As of now, the Indians would host the Rays in the wild card game, the A’s are just 1/2 game behind the Rays, and Boston is 5 1/2 behind the Rays just for a playoff spot.

The Yanks could help bury Boston with a win tonight that would sweep the weekend series. J.A. Happ is expected back from paternity leave to start the game for the Yanks.

Time now also, to put more distance between the Yanks and Rays, as well.

Now for the game. Sorry, but the injury report, I felt, took precedence.

The Yanks remained undefeated (9-0) when Chad Green serves as the opener. He pitched a scoreless first inning before passing the baton to Nestor Cortes, Jr., who gave up a massive HR to Rafael Devers in the top of the third inning that put Boston up 2-0.

The Yanks came right back with three runs in the bottom of the third. Gleyber Torres hit a solo HR (22) to cut it to 2-1. Hicks and Gio Urshela singled, then Maybin doubled both home to make it 3-2 Yanks. Maybin pulled a rock later however, in getting doubled off of second because he forgot how many outs there were when Mike Tauchman lined out to CF.

Chance Adams, up for the day as the DH’s 26th man, relieved Cortes and gave up two runs to put Boston up 4-3. Adams, so good in the minors in 2016 and 2017 (a combined record of 28-6, ERA about 2.40) hasn’t taken it further the last two seasons. 2018 and this year have been a struggle.

Torres tied the game at 4 with his second HR of the game. HR #23 of the season meant (per Replacement Level Yankees) that he has joined Joe DiMaggio as the only Yankees with five multi-HR games in one season before turning 23. Some company. I wouldn’t trade Torres for anyone. He could turn out to be our next Jeter. A middle infielder who would be here a long time, a multi-time All-Star, many hits, more power than Jeter, and even though he is not 23 yet, the kid already is a leader. Like Jeter, the kid has icewater in his veins. Cool under pressure. What’s not to love?

In the bottom of the seventh, Torres just missed hitting his THIRD HR of the game by doubling off of the right field wall. Hicks and Urshela each walked to load the bases. Maybin struck out, but Tauchman singled in two runs to put the Yanks up 6-4. Austin Romine walked to reload the bases but the Yanks didn’t score anymore. The 6-4 score turned out to be the final score.

Not without a scare, however. Zack Britton had Boston load the bases on him in the eighth, but he got out of it.

Judge 2 hits
Torres 3 hits, 2 HR (23), 2 RBI.
Hicks 2 hits. We’ll see about that elbow injury.
Maybin 2 RBI
Tauchman 2 hits, 2 RBI. He’s really grown on me the last month or so.

Green 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.  4.95
Cortes, Jr.  2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K.  4.60     Gave up 1 HR.
Adams (BS, 1) 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K.  7.07
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K.   1.50
Kahnle (W, 3-0, 2.56) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Britton (H, 22) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K.  2.35
Chapman (S, 29) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.  2.68

 

 

Game 100. Hicks saves Yanks, pitching woes continue, Sanchez hurt in 14-12, 10-inning come-from-behind win.

Where to begin.

Down to their last out, Aaron Hicks homered in the 9th to put the Yanks ahead, then in the 10th, made an unbelievable catch to save and end the game as the Yanks (65-35), won a wild, come-from-behind game, 14-12, Tuesday night.

Gary Sanchez, 0 for 5, 0 for his last 18, and 10 for his last 85 (.229), experienced tightness in his left groin, is headed for an MRI and could be headed to the IL.

Brett Gardner missed another game due to a sore knee.

The Yanks struck first, scoring two in the top of the first. Hicks walked, and with one out, Edwin Encarnacion doubled. With two out, Didi Gregorius, who went 5 for 5 with 7 RBI on the night, doubled in two runs.

But Domingo German gave up a run in the second. 2-1 Yankees.

The struggling Sanchez popped up with the bases loaded in the top of the third.

In the bottom of the third, German gave up back-to-back HR to begin the inning. After three innings, it was 3-2 Twins.

German struggled again in the fourth, giving up five runs. A double, a WP, and a single made it 4-2, Twins. Then a flyout. A single. Then his second HBP of the game loaded the bases. A groundout brought in a run. 5-2. Then a 3-run HR. 8-2, and German was finished, probably a batter or a couple of batters too late. David Hale came in, gave up a couple of hits, but then got the third out before any more damage was done.

But German was probably left in a batter or a couple of batters too late. But Boone probably didn’t want to go to the bullpen, because Paxton got knocked out early Sunday and CC knocked out early Monday. This is now three games in a row where the starter had a bad outing. Paxton 3 1/3 Sunday, CC 4 Monday, German 3 2/3 last night. Not good, and it accentuates the need for the Yanks to get pitching help.

You need length from the starters or the bullpen will burn out.

Didi hit a 3-run HR in the fifth (6) to cut the lead to 8-5.

The Twins came right back with a run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 9-5.

After seven, it was still 9-5 Twins. Then things got crazy.

In the top of the eighth, the Yanks scored five times to take a 10-9 lead. Gleyber Torres led off the inning with a walk. Gio Urshela doubled him to third. Mike Tauchman doubled, but Urshela couldn’t score, as he tug up in case of the ball being caught. 9-6. After Hicks stuck out, Aaron Judge doubled in two runs to make it 9-8. He missed a HR by maybe a foot or two. After Encarnacion struck out, Luke Voit walked, on a pitch that he probably got a break on. Didi Gregorius then doubled in two runs to give the Yanks a 10-9 lead. Twins’ manager Rocco Baldelli was then ejected for arguing balls and strikes, especially on the walk to Voit. Sanchez then grounded out to end the inning and apparently injured his groin in running to first.

But in the bottom of the eighth, Zack Britton gave up a massive, 457 ft. HR to Miguel Sano, a 2-run shot that put the Twins up, 11-10. It was the second HR of the game for Sano.

In the top of the ninth, with two out, Mike Tauchman walked. Hicks hit the first pitch for his 11th HR of the season to put the Yanks up 12-11.

The Twins’ hitting coach got ejected then, also for arguing balls and strikes.

To the bottom of the ninth, where Aroldis Chapman, like Britton the inning before, could not hold the lead. He walked the first three batters of the inning to load the bases. A SF tied the game at 12. A lineout to Hicks couldn’t bring in the winning run. Chapman then got out of the inning with a liner to Didi.

With one out in the top of the tenth, Didi singled, his fifth hit of the night. Austin Romine, in for the injured Sanchez, singled. Gleyber Torres singled to drive in Didi and put the Yanks up 13-12. After Gio Urshela flied out for the second out that couldn’t score the run, Torres stole second. A WP scored Romine to make it 14-12, Yankees.

But that nearly wasn’t enough.

Adam Ottavino got a strikeout to begin the bottom of the tenth, then walked two batters. Then came a forceout for out #2. Another walk loaded the bases, and in came Chad Green.

Max Kepler ripped a shot into the LCF gap that looked like a bases-clearing 3-run double that would give the Twins a 15-14 win, except that Aaron Hicks made a diving catch to end the game.

Unbelievable finish.

With the win, the Yanks (65-35) have a 10 game lead over both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox, as the Red Sox have caught the Rays and both are in a virtual tie for second. Boston at 56-46 has a .549 winning percentage, and Tampa Bay at 57-47 is at .548.

Hicks 2 hits, 2 RBI, Game saving catch. Game saving HR (11)
Judge 3 hits, 2 RBI
Encarnacion 2 hits
Voit 2 hits
Gregorius 5 for 5, 7 RBI, 3-run HR (6)
Torres 2 hits, GW RBI
Tauchman 2 hits, RBI

The Yanks banged out 20 hits.

German 3 2/3 IP, 8 R, 9 H, 2 W, 3 K. Gave up 3 HR.  4.03
Hale 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 W, 1 K.   2.34
Kahnle 1 IP. 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  2.75
Britton (BS, 4) 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.  Gave up 1 HR.  2.63
Chapman (W, 3-2, 2.56; BS, 5) 1 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 3 W, 0 K.
Ottavino (H, 24) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 W, 1 K.  1.60
Green (S, 1) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.   4.58