Game 94. Yanks walk-off Phils in 10, 6-5.

The Yanks moved into sole possession of third place in the AL East with a 6-5, 10-inning walk-off win over the Phils last night. The Yanks are 50-44, 7 GB.

The game featured both teams using spot, emergency starters. Both starters did surprisingly well, considering.

Asher Wojciechowski started for the Yanks, and things looked like they would be bleak when he gave up a HR to Jean Segura of the Phils on his first pitch of the game. But he settled in to just give up 2 runs in 4 IP. Hoy Jun Park was sent down to make room for Wojciechowski on the roster.

After the Phils made it 2-0 in the third inning, the Yanks came back to tie the game in the fourth. With two out, Gleyber Torres homered (6). Brett Gardner singled, and then Greg Allen, who has really given the Yankees a jolt, doubled in Gardner to tie the score.

The Yanks got three runs in the bottom of the seventh to go up 5-2. With one out, rookie Estevan Florial singled, then stole second. After another out, Giancarlo Stanton singled in Florial, then Rougned Odor hit a 2-run HR (11).

The Yanks’ bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, as Zack Britton and Nick Nelson combined to give up three runs in the top of the eighth to allow the Phils to tie the game.

The Yanks had a chance to walk it off in the ninth, but couldn’t get the run in, so to extra innings it went.

Gary Sanchez was the “ghost” runner in the tenth, a rule that (thankfully) seems like it will be going away and back to the minors. Gleyber Torres sacrifice bunted Sanchez to third, and PH Ryan LaMarre singled in Sanchez with the winning run.

Brooks Kriske got his first MLB win.

The Yanks were fortunate. They won despite issuing 11 walks. The Phils were 1 for 14 w/RISP.

The Yanks now head to Boston for a big 4-game series.

Odor 2-run HR (11)
Torres solo HR (6)
LaMarre PH GW RBI single


Wojciechowski 4 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 W, 4 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 4.50
Abreu 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1.88
Wilson 1 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 7.94
Britton (H, 3) 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 8.53
Nelson (BS, 1) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1 WP. 9.45
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 4.28
Kriske (W, 1-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 10.50 FIRST MLB WIN.

Game 92. Yanks Blast Boston, 9-1.

The Yankees (48-44, 4th, 7 back) beat Boston 9-1 last night, and it was a satisfying win on many levels.

For one, Jameson Taillon is 4-0, 2.86 in his last six starts, lowering his ERA from 5.74 to 4.60.

For another, the players the Yanks have filling in while others are on the IL or Covid IL, made huge contributions. They don’t have to be Aaron Judge. Who can be. What they need to do, and what they did do, was stay within their game, do what they do well, and contribute using the best of their own individual talent. Good to see that from them last night.

For another, those fill-ins, if you will, were aggressive and you saw a hit-and-run, stolen bases, and even a drag bunt for a hit by regular Rougned Odor (who also homered).

The Yanks struck first in the second inning when Gleyber Torres hit a solo HR (5).

In the third, one of the players filling in, Greg Allen, singled. He went to third on a hit-and-run single by D.J. LeMahieu, and scored on an RBI groundout by Giancarlo Stanton. 2-0.

More aggressiveness in the fifth. Odor beat out a bunt for a single. Other player filling in, Ryan LaMarre, singled Odor to third and moved up to second himself on an error. Earlier in the game, it appeared as if LaMarre was injured, but he shook it off. He would contribute even more later. Good thing LaMarre was ok, because earlier in the game, another of the fill-ins, Trey Amburgey, had to leave the game with a hamstring issue. Not only that, on another play in the game, the Yanks almost had three players run into each other. You can’t keep losing players.

Anyway, now the Yanks had runners on second and third, and Allen made it 3-0 by hitting a SF. Just doing the little things.

The Yanks broke open the game with four runs in the seventh. Brett Gardner singled and Odor homered (10) to make it 5-0. LaMarre walked and stole second. Allen walked. A couple of flyouts later, and LaMarre was on third. Allen stole second. Gary Sanchez walked to load the bases. Torres walked to force in a run. 6-0. Chris Gittens walked to force in another run. 7-0.

Boston scored a run in the top of the eighth, but the Yanks scored two more in the bottom of the eighth when Odor walked and LaMarre hit a 2-run HR (1).

Final score, 9-1.

Torres 2 RBI. Solo HR (5)
Odor 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (10)
LaMarre 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (1)

Taillon (W, 5-4) 5 1/3 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 2 W, 3 K. 4.60
Green (H, 12) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2.79
Britton 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K. 5.40
Luetge 1/3 IP 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.32
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.26

Covid concerns postpone Yankees’ Game/Minor League Report

The Yankees/Red Sox game on Thursday night was postponed due to Covid concerns, and the whole four-game weekend series could be in jeopardy. Things could get even worse for MLB. This could affect each team.

Besides Jonathan Loaisiga, who tested positive before the All-Star Game, Nestor Cortes, Jr. and Wandy Peralta have also tested positive. The Yanks made roster substitutions, reinstating Zack Britton off of the IL, bringing up Trey Amburgey, and putting Hoy Jun Park on the taxi squad.

Then it was reported that Aaron Judge, Gio Urshela and Kyle Higashioka are in protocol. First reports are that they are positive too, but further testing is needed to confirm.

Since Judge was just a starter and played at the All-Star Game, if he was/is positive, then every team has a problem, especially with its All-Stars, and MLB is then in a tizzy.

Hoo Boy.

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (40-21) won 11-3. RF Ryan LaMarre, 2 RBI, solo HR. LF Greg Allen 2 hits, RBI. 3B Aramando Alvarez 2 hits, 3 RBI, SS Andrew Velazquez 2 hits, 2 RBI.

AA: Somerset (40-22) won 6-5 in 10 innings. SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits, RBI. 2B Oswaldo Cabrera 2 RBI. DH Donny Sands 2 hits, 2 RBI. LF Isiah Gilliam 2 hits.

High A: Hudson Valley (40-23) lost both games of a doubleheader.

Game 1: Lost 3-2. CF Pablo Olivares 3 for 3, RBI.

Game 2: Lost 2-1, getting just two hits. 3B Chad Bell HR.

Low A: Tampa (43-19) won 8-1. Top uber-prospect 18 yr. old Jasson Dominguez 2 hits. Edgar Barclay 4 scoreless, hitless relief innings, 7 K. Nick Paciorek 2 scoreless IP, 5 K. DH Austin Wells 2 RBI, solo HR. 2B Trevor Hauver 2 hits, RBI. RF Jose DeLeon 2 hits. 3B Eduardo Torrealba 2-run HR.

Futures/MLB draft/Minor League Report.

First the Futures game. Two Yankees prospects were in the game. CF Jasson Dominguez went 0 for 3. Lineout, two strikeouts. Dominguez is just 18, and just started his career about two weeks ago (he is in the Florida Complex League). He is the first player to be in the Futures game without even having played in a full-season league.

Pitcher Luis Medina can hit the high 90’s/ low 100’s with his fastball. He needs control and command. He pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two, but also gave up two hits and a walk.

The MLB draft is on. The Yankees’ first round pick was Trey Sweeney, a lefty-hitting SS.

AAA: SWB (37-20) lost 9-8 in 10 innings. RF Ryan LaMarre 2 hits. DH Socrates Brito 3 hits. LF Greg Allen 2 hits. 3B Armando Alvarez 2 RBI. SS Kyle Holder 2 hits, RBI. 1B Brandon Wagner 2 hits, 5 RBI, a 2-run HR.

AA: Somerset (38-21) lost 1-0 in 10 innings. SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits. RF Thomas Milone 2 hits.

High A: Hudson Valley (39-20) lost 10-3.

Low A: Tampa (40-18) won 6-1. Relievers Edgar Barclay & Nick Paciorek combined for six scoreless and hitless innings and combined for 10 strikeouts. Combined with two other pitchers, Tampa struck out 16 and gave up only 2 hits.

DH Everson Pereira 3 hits. 1B Andres Chaparro 2 for 2, walked 3X, 3 RBI. C Carlos Narvaez 2 hits, RBI.

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (35-16) won 8-3. SP Luis Gil 5 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 5 W, 7 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2B Hoy Jun Park 3 hits, (.353, when will Yanks make room for him?). RF Ryan LaMarre 2 RBI. 3B Andrew Velazquez 2 hits, 2 RBI.

AA: Somerset ppd.

High A: Hudson Valley (35-19) won 9-7. SS Josh Smith 2 hits. C Josh Breaux 2 hits, solo HR. RF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits. 2B Chad Bell 2 RBI, solo HR. CF Pablo Olivares 2 for 2, 3 RBI, solo HR.

Low A: Tampa ppd.

Minor League Report/Judge an All-Star/Subway Series

Before we get into the minor league report, some Yankees news. The Subway Series starts tonight, weather permitting (rain in the forecast could cause another rainout). The Yankees caught a break in that they miss the Mets’ Jacob DeGrom. Even though he gave up 3 runs last night, DeGrom’s ERA is still an astonishing 0.95.

Starters for the All-Star Game have been announced and the Yankees will have one starter in Aaron Judge. We’ll have to see about pitchers and reserves as far as any other Yankees being selected.

Even thought the Yankees (41-39, 4th in AL East) were rained out last night, they lost ground. They are now 9 back of Boston, who won last night.

Now the minor league report. Once again, rain wreaked havoc.

AAA: SWB Split a doubleheader.

Game 1; Completion of suspended game. SWB (34-14) lost 6-2. Nick Nelson started and gave up 2 R in 2 IP before the game was suspended. When the game resumed, Deivi Garcia took the mound. Nelson took the loss, and he is 1-1, 2.73 at AAA after going a horrendous 0-2, 9.75 ERA with the Yankees. Garcia’s troublesome season continues. He pitched 4 innings, and although he struck out 7, he gave up 3 runs. Garcia in two starts with the Yankees was 0-2, 6.48, but his AAA ERA is an atrocious 8.55. 2B Hoy Jun Park 2 hits, solo HR. (How I wish the Yanks would replace Odor with Park, who is at .350 and more versatile). DH Ryan LaMarre 2 hits.

Game 2: SWB won 1-0 in a rain-shortened 5 inning game. Both teams only had 2 hits each in this game.

AA: Somerset (32-17) was supposed to have a doubleheader. They won the first game, 4-3. The second was rained out. Ken Waldichuk 5 IP, 3 R, but only 1 was earned. 3 hits, 8 K. ERA at AA 3.60, overall (High A/AA) this season, 10 starts, 3-0, 1.18. In 20 minor league starts, 3-2, 2.16.

High A: Hudson Valley rained out.

Low A: Tampa (33-15) was supposed to play a doubleheader. They won the first game 8-1 in a 7-inning game. SS Anthony Volpe should be promoted soon. 2 hits, 4 RBI, a grand slam (.316-10-45). 2B Trevor Hauver 3 for 3, RBI. DH Carlos Narvaez 2 for 2, RBI. Three Tampa pitchers combined on a one-hitter.

The second game was suspended before Tampa came to bat in the bottom of the first. Jupiter had not scored in the top of the first.

Minor league report.

AAA: SWB (33-13) scored five in the top of the ninth to take a 9-3 lead, and hung on to win 9-7. LF Ryan LaMarre 2 hits, RBI. C Rob Brantly 2-run HR. RF Socrates Brito 3 hits, 2 RBI. 2B Andrew Velazquez 2 hits.

AA: Somerset (31-17) lost 7-4. 2B Diego Castillo 3 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR. CF Thomas Milone solo HR. DH Isiah Gilliam 2 hits.

High A: Hudson Valley (31-17) won 4-1. Starting P Shawn Semple 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 W, 11 K. DH Josh Smith 2 hits. SS Ezequiel Duran 2 hits. C Josh Breaux 2 hits, RBI. LF Elijah Dunham solo HR. 3B James Nelson solo HR. 1B Kyle MacDonald 2 hits.

Low A: Tampa PPD.

Top Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez has begun playing games. In two games, he has had six plate appearances and is 0 for 3 with 3 walks. He’s struck out twice and popped out. He will be playing in the Futures Game. The switch-hitter, nicknamed “El Marciano” or “The Martian”, is just 18 years old.

Minor league report. SWB destroys LV.

AAA: SWB (32-13) absolutely destroyed Lehigh Valley, 19-1. They got 10 runs in the third inning, bashed out 23 hits, and only gave up 2 hits. SWB used eight pitchers. Pitching highlights were the rehab guys. Darren O’Day 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. Justin Wilson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. Adam Warren 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.

Now for the hitting highlights. This could take a while.

Florial CF 3 hits, 2 RBI
Park SS 4 hits, solo HR. 2 RBI. Hitting .360 at AAA. Wish he would replace Odor. (Park also plays 2B)
Gittens 1B 4 hits, 8 RBI. 2 HR, double. Solo shot and a grand slam.
Amburgey LF 3 hits, all doubles. 2 RBI. Hitting .356. Wish he’d be replacing Frazier.
LaMarre RF 2 hits, 3 RBI, 2-run HR.
Allen CF 4 hits, RBI
McDowell C 2 hits, RBI

AA: Somerset (31-16) lost 5-1. CF Tom Milone 2 hits

High A: Hudson Valley (30-17) lost 14-8. SS Josh Smith 4 hits. 2B Ezequiel Duran 2 hits. C Saul Torres 2 hits. LF Pablo Olivares 2 hits. 3B Chad Bell 3-run HR. 1B Kyle MacDonald 2 hits, 2 RBI. CF Isaiah Pasteur 3 hits, RBI.

Low A: Tampa (32-15) won in a rout, 15-2.

SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits, RBI
2B Trevor Hauver 2 hits, 3 RBI
RF Jake Sanford 3 hits, 2 RBI
3B Andres Chaparro 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 2-run HR
C Carlos Narvaez 3 hits
1B Eric Wagaman 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 3-run HR
CF Pat DeMarco 3 hits, RBI. Solo HR.

Minor League Report. Waldichuk continues to impress.

AAA: SWB (29-12) lost 3-2 to Lehigh Valley in 12 innings. DH Ryan LaMarre 2 hits. SS Andrew Velazquez solo HR.

AA: Somerset (28-15) split a DH.

Game 1: Lost 5-3. 2B Diego Castillo 2 hits. SS Oswald Peraza 2 RBI. RF Michael Beltre solo HR. DH Isiah Gilliam 2 for 2.

Game 2: Ken Waldichuk, just promoted to AA, had his second AA start. He pitched 5 no-hit innings, striking out 10 before tiring in the sixth in an 11-3 Somerset win. Castillo 2 hits, 2 RBI. Beltre played CF, 2 hits, 3 RBI. DH Oswaldo Cabrera 2 RBI. RF Tom Milone 2 hits, RBI. 3B/SS Max Burt 2 hits.

Waldichuk 5 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 4 W, 10 K.

Waldichuk’s record this season, High A and AA is 3-0, 1.11 in 9 starts. He has started 19 minor league games so far and is 3-2 with a 2.19 ERA. with 121 K in 70 IP.

High A: Hudson Valley (27-16) had a crazy win, 9-8 in 11 innings. After giving up 5 runs in the top of the 11th, HV came back with six runs in the bottom half! 2B Ezequiel Duran 2 RBI. C Anthony Seigler 2 hits, 2 RBI, GW 2-run double. 3B James Nelson 2 hits. Starter Shawn Semple 6 IP, 1 R, 2 h, 2 W, 6 K.

Low A: Tampa (29-14) got the first game of a DH in, but the second game was ppd. 2B Trevor Hauver 3 hits. 3B Andres Chaparro 2 hits, RBI. 1B Eric Wagaman 2 hits.

Game 67. Sanchez’ PH HR leads Yanks, Cole, to 3-2 win.

Gary Sanchez hit a 2-run, PH HR in the top of the seventh, and the Yanks survived a ninth-inning scare to beat Toronto up in Buffalo (Covid restrictions ballpark) by a 3-2 score Wednesday night.

The win put the Yankees at 35-32 for the season. They are in third place in the AL East, 7 back of Tampa Bay and 6 back of Boston.

The Yanks scored in the first inning but missed the chance to get more runs. D.J. LeMahieu reached on an error, and Aaron Judge singled. Gleyber Torres walked, and the Yankees had the bases loaded with no one out. Giancarlo Stanton hit a SF but that was the only run the Yanks would get that inning. Not only that, Judge’s hit was the only hit the Yankees would get until the seventh inning.

Yankees’ starter Gerrit Cole gave up a HR to Marcus Semien on his second pitch of the game. In the fifth inning, Cole gave up another solo HR, this one to Cavan Biggio, and the Blue Jays were up 2-1.

In the top of the seventh, Miguel Andujar singled to lead off the inning. It was just the Yankees’ second hit of the game. One out later, Sanchez PH for Kyle Higashioka and drilled his 10th HR of the season. The two-run shot gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the ninth, Aroldis Chapman gave up a single, then a double to put runners on second and third with no one out. Chapman escaped with a strikeout, then a comebacker that caught Vlad Guerrero, Jr. too far off the bag at third. Guerrero was tagged out, 1-2-5, then Chapman got a liner to center to finish off his escape and the ballgame.

The Yankees only got four hits in the game.

Sanchez 2-run HR (10)


Cole (W, 8-3) 8 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 2 HR. 2.31
Chapman (S, 14) 1 P, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.78

Minor league briefing: A couple of walk-off homers. Nice records for the farm teams.

AAA: SWB (25-11) got a 3-run HR by C Rob Brantly in the bottom of the 10th to win 10-7. SS Hoy Jun Park (.368 at AAA, .318 combined AA/AAA this year) 1 for 2, 4 walks, RBI (I would like Odor cut loose and Park, 25, a lefty hitter, given a shot. Park also plays 2b). LF Tom Milone 3 hits, RBI. The Yanks let Ryan LaMarre be a free agent, possibly clearing a roster spot for someone like Park or maybe OF Trey Amburgey (26, Righty bat, hitting .365, and ex-Yankees C Erik Kratz likes him) . We’ll see. Maybe Park and Amburgey don’t cut it in the majors, but given the way some Yanks are not hitting, why not give them a chance if there is an opportunity available?

AA: Somerset (21-13) won 7-5. Rehabbing Luke Voit 0 for 3, walk, struck out 2x. Luis Medina, just promoted, 5 2/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 10 K. 2b Diego Castillo 3 hits, RBI. C Donny Sands 3 RBI, GW 2-run HR in bottom of the 11th.

High A: Hudson Valley (21-15) lost 6-4. DH Josh Breaux 4 hits, RBI. SS Josh Smith 2 hits.

Low A: Tampa (27-11) lost 3-2. Game called after five innings.