Game 17. Yanks sweep Bosox behind Gardner’s slam.

J.A. Happ entered the game with an ERA of 8.76, and things didn’t look too promising early on because he gave up a HR in the first and a 2-run HR in the second to put the Yanks (8-9) down 3-0.

Happ settled down, however, and Brett Gardner’s 100th career HR—a grand slam—enabled the Yanks to beat Boston 5-3 to take both games of the two game series.

The Yanks got a run in the fourth on an RBI double by Clint Frazier, who had three of the Yanks’ five hits.

Gardner’s slam came in the seventh. It was his fourth HR of the season.

Ottavino got into, and out of, trouble in the eighth.

Happ 6 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 2 HR.  7.23
Kahnle (W, 1-0, 3.38) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Ottavino (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K.  1.00
Chapman (S, 3) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  2.57

 

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Game 15. Yanks “slammed”. Lose 5-2.

The heavily depleted Yanks lost to Chicago 5-2 today to fall to 6-9 on the season.

Unfortunately, the lineup now looks like a spring training lineup with a lot of guys in it who really, if not for the injuries, would not be in the majors right now.

It’s good the Boss, George, isn’t alive right now, for it was at this time in the season (1982) when Bob Lemon got the axe (6-10), and in 1985 when Yogi (6-8) got canned.

This isn’t to say that Boone should get fired, but just giving some historical perspective. There’s not much Boone can do right now but hope to keep the ship afloat.

The Yanks did have an early 2-0 lead, but in the fifth, Tanaka gave up a grand slam and that was it.

The Yanks only got four hits.

Tanaka (L, 1-1, 3.22) 4 + IP, 5 R, 7 H, 3 W, 6 K. Gave up grand slam.
Cessa 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1.08
Kahnle 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  3.86
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K.  1.13
Harvey 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  0.00
Green 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  9.95

One disturbing thing. It’s coming out that Paxton was probably tipping pitches against Houston? Severino apparently tipping pitches at the end of last year?

The pitching coaches need to see and realize this before it becomes an issue. This is on Harkey and Rothschild.

 

Game 12. In Houston, Yanks have a problem. Get swept by Astros, 8-6.

Jose Altuve killed the Yanks (5-7) in their three game series, hitting four HR, two last night, in Houston’s 8-6 win.

Brett Gardner led the game off for the Yanks with a HR (2) but Altuve tied it in the bottom of the first with a HR and Yanks’ starter James Paxton gave up another run in the bottom of the first.

The Yanks had first and third, one out in the second, but both Austin Romine and Tyler Wade struck out.

Houston got one in the third to go up 3-1.

A double by Gleyber Torres, single by Greg Bird and SF by D.J. LeMahieu made it 3-2 in the fourth.

Houston got four in the fifth to go up 7-2. Altuve hit his second HR of the game in that inning, and Carlos Correa added a two-run shot.

The Yanks tried to come back in the eighth. Aaron Judge walked, and Luke Voit hit a 2-run HR (4) to make it 7-4. Torres singled, Bird walked, and LeMahieu doubled in a run. Clint Frazier hit a SF to cut it to 7-6.

Houston got an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.

The Yanks struck out 13x. It seemed they weren’t recognizing and couldn’t hit the slider.

Voit HR, 2 RBI
Torres 2 hits
LeMahieu 3 for 3, 2 RBI

Joe Harvey was brought up to replace Jonathan Loaisiga for a few days until the Yanks activate CC.

Paxton (L, 1-2, 6.00) 4+ IP, 5 R, 8 H, 3 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR.
Kahnle 2/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Harvey 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K.  MLB DEBUT  0.00
Tarpley 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.  6.00
Britton 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K.  4.76

 

Game 11. Bullpen blues. Yanks lose late again, 6-3. Severino shut down for 6 weeks.

The bullpen, supposed to be a strength of this Yankees’ (5-6) team, so far hasn’t been. Leading 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Yanks’ bullpen gave up four runs after that as the Yanks lost 6-3 to Houston.

Clint Frazier had, let’s say, an interesting night in LF playing defense, and Brett Gardner made a mistake on a bunt attempt in thinking a ball was foul when it was fair. That resulted in bunting into a DP.

Jonathan Loaisiga (who was sent down after the game, what with CC coming back off of the DL) struck out the side in the first, but Houston worked up his pitch count and he was gone after just three innings. He did strike out five in those three innings.

Luke Voit homered (3) for the Yanks in the first, and Gary Sanchez had a two-run double in the sixth.

Loaisiga 3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 W, 5 K. 3.86
Tarpley 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 6.75
Cessa 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K.  1.29
Holder (BS, 1) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.  5.40
Green (L, 0-2. 9.00) 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 2 W, 0 K.
Kahnle 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K. 0.00

So far this season, we’ve seen Chapman take a loss, Green take two losses, Ottavino one. Not the bullpen that was expected so far.

Luis Severino has a grade 2 lat strain and has been shut down for six weeks. Since he’ll need to build himself back up (basically have to go through a “spring training”), we won’t see him on the mound for the Yanks until late June/early July at the earliest.

Gio Gonzalez (see minor league report) is a possibility. Gio rebounded well last night from two prior poor performances. Gio can opt out if not with the Yanks April 20.

Another possibility could be looking into free agent Dallas Keuchel.

 

Game 7. Yanks hit 4 HR (2 by Gleyber) to win 8-4.

After the first inning, it didn’t look good. James Paxton gave up 3 runs in the first, and one run scored on a balk, another via a WP.

Gleyber Torres homered in the third, but after five innings, it was 4-1 Orioles and you feared the worst.

But in the fifth, Sanchez homered (3) to make it 4-2 and later that inning, Torres homered (2) to give the Yanks a 5-4 lead.

Luke Voit, who was slumping, hit a 3-run HR (2) in the top of the ninth for the cushion and the final score of 8-4.

The win puts the Yanks at 3-4 on the season. Tampa Bay is off to a good start, but take a look at Boston, 2-6.

Paxton did settle in after the first inning to get the win.

Torres 4 for 4. Single, double, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Voit HR, 3 RBI
Sanchez HR
Gardner 2 hits

Tough day for Aaron Judge, who may be trying to do too much to carry the team with all the injuries. 0 for 5, 4 strikeouts.

Paxton (W, 1-1, 4.09)  5 1/3 IP, 4 R, 8 H, 2 W, 9 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Kahnle (H, 1) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 0.00
Britton (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 0.00
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.50.

Greg Booker, a setup man who pitched for the Padres in the 1984 WS, passed away, age 58.  1983-1989 SD, Twins 1989, Giants 1990. 5-7, 3.89 in MLB career, ERA+ 95.

HOF manager Bobby Cox, mostly known for his managerial work for the Braves, but a Yankees’ 3B 1968-1969, is in the hospital after what appears to be a stroke. Prayers go out to him.

The Yanks are off Friday.

The Yanks did make a move, acquiring Jake Barrett from the Pirates and he will go to AAA SWB.

From Pinstripe Alley

In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees moved pitcher Ben Heller to the 60-day injured list.

Barrett has just 93.1 major-league innings to his name, all out of the bullpen with the Diamondbacks, along with a 4.05 ERA. The 27-year-old posted his best season in 2016, when he ran a 3.49 ERA, good for a 129 ERA+, across 59.1 innings. He’s spent little time in the majors since, making just seven appearances in 2018, allowing four runs in seven innings in the process.

He did play well in the minors last season, maintaining a 2.87 ERA in 53.1 innings for Triple-A Reno. Barrett struck out 11.3 batters per nine, but also ran a 4.9 BB/9 rate. According to Statcast, during Barrett’s brief time in the bigs last year, he relied heavily on his fastball, throwing his four-seamer 60% of the time. His slider made up 35% of his repertoire, while a splitter served as more of a show-me pitch with 5% usage. He averaged just over 94 mph on his fastball.

Now that the minor league season has started, I’ll be posting reports on the Yanks’ farm teams.

Spoiler alert: Gio Gonzalez sucked for SWB in their opener Thursday. Minor league Report coming tomorrow morning.

 

Game 3. Yanks fall 7-5.

It’s early, but there is no excuse for sloppy play and losing 2 of 3 to the putrid Orioles.

The Yanks fall to 1-2 on the season.

J.A. Happ gave up 2 HR and 4 runs in 4 innings and put the Yanks behind the 8-ball right away by giving up a 3-run HR in the first inning—an inning that began over 3 hours later than expected due to a rain delay.

Things went downhill from there in the Yanks’ 7-5 loss.

Stephen Tarpley gave up a HR.

Tommy Kahnle walked the bases loaded with no out in the ninth but somehow wiggled out of it.

The bad outweighed the good. Aaron Judge had 2 RBI, but struck out 4x, stranding 6.

In the sixth, 1st and 2nd, one out, both Judge and Stanton struck out. First and 2nd, one out in the eighth, down 7-4, Judge struck out again.

Gary Sanchez hit a HR (1), but made his second throwing error of the season, and struck out 3x.
Giancarlo Stanton drew 3 walks, but struck out twice when the Yanks really needed a big blow from him. 4th inning, 1st and 3rd, two out, a strikeout.

 

Luke Voit stranded 7. Down 4-0 in the third, bases loaded, he struck out. Down 7-4 in the eighth, bases loaded, two out, he grounded out.

Greg Bird walked 2x, but was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

The team had two on and the winning run at the plate with two out in the bottom of the ninth, but PH Troy Tulowitzki struck out.

As you can see, chances were there and the Yanks did not capitalize on them.

The team was 2 for 12 with RISP and stranded 14.

Happ (L, 0-1, 9.00) 4 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 2 HR
Cessa 3 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 W, 5 K. 2.70
Tarpley 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K.  13.50   Gave up 1 HR
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 W, 2 K.  0.00

Gleyber Torres had 2 hits, and D.J. LeMahieu was 2 for 2 with 2 walks and an RBI.

It’s never too soon to right the ship.

 

 

 

 

S.T. Game 31. Yanks lose 5-3. Regular Season starts Thursday.

The Yanks lost their final spring training game, 5-3, to Washington in D.C. tonight. They end the spring training schedule at 17-10-4.

Troy Tulowitzki homered for the Yanks, and Greg Bird had an RBI double.

The Yanks had just five hits.

Tarpley (L) 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Britton 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K
Kahnle 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Cortes 3 1 /3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Harvey 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.