The Yankees (52-19) 15-game home winning streak came to an end last night with a 3-1 loss. With Luis Severino facing future HOF Justin Verlander, you expected a low-scoring game.
A low scoring game is what you got, and for five innings it was scoreless. You just wondered who would get to whose pitcher first.
Both pitchers gave up a HR in the sixth. The problem was that Severino gave up a 3-run blast, while Giancarlo Stanton’s 16th HR of the year for the Yankees was a solo shot.
That was all the scoring in the game. The Yanks did have the tying runs on base when D.J. LeMahieu grounded out to end it.
LeMahieu 2 hits. Stanton HR (16)
Severino (L, 4-2) 6 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 7 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.38 Marinaccio 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 HBP. 1 WP. 2.65 Castro 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.97 Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.33
The Yanks sent David McKay back to Tampa Bay for cash considerations.
Isaac Paredes of Tampa Bay hit 3 HR and drove it 4 runs to lead Tampa Bay to a 5-4 win over the Yankees (50-18) Tuesday night. Nestor Cortes gave up 2 of the HR, and Clarke Schmidt the other.
Cortes gave up 3 HR on the night.
In the bottom of the first inning, Cortes gave up back-to-back HR to Paredes and Harold Ramirez, and the Rays were up 2-0.
The Yanks tied it in the top of the second. With one out, Kyle Higashioka singled, and Marwin Gonzalez doubled him to third. D.J. LeMahieu’s two-out single plated both runners.
Paredes homered off Cortes in the third to make it 3-2. In the fifth, Cortes gave up a one-out single. Rather than have Cortes face Paredes again, manager Aaron Boone brought in Clarke Schmidt. Understandable since Cortes had given up two HR to Paredes. The move backfired when Paredes hit Schmidt’s first pitch for a 2-run HR, Paredes’ third HR of the game, to make the score 5-2.
In the top of the ninth, with the Yanks down to their last out, Gonzalez hit a 2-run HR (2) to cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 5-4. Aaron Judge then came to bat as a PH, but his attempt to tie the game was caught in front of the fence on the warning track.
Cortes (L, 6-3) 4 1/3 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 0 W, 3 K. Gave up 3 HR. 2.31 Schmidt 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.13 Marinaccio 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 HBP 2.81 Luetge 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.66
Marinaccio is starting to come around. Isiah Kiner-Falefa should be back soon, he’s nursing a sore hamstring.
I had to peek at the schedule to see when the Yanks play Boston next. It’s in Fenway, July 7-10, then Boston comes to NY July 15-17. One reason I looked is that even though Boston (now in third) is 12 1/2 games back of the Yanks, they are 27-11 after an 11-20 start, and the Yanks haven’t played the Red Sox since the opening series to the season.
A couple of moves. Ender Inciarte at AAA became a free agent and signed with the Mets. Albert Abreu is back with the Yanks (going to AAA) after having been DFA’d by a couple of teams. The Yanks DFA’d David McKay.
CORRECTION: Abreu is out of options and has to go on the major league roster. A move is forthcoming.
Jhony Brito 24, RHP. Started at AA. Combined record this year AA/AAA: 6-2, 2.03 in 10 starts. Moving up on prospect list?
Game 2: Won 6-4. CF Estevan Florial 3 hits .296 #29 prospect. LF Tim Locastro 2 hits, RBI. 2B Derek Dietrich 2 RBI SS Jose Peraza 2-run HR (3) 1B Ron Guzman solo HR (4)
Nittoli 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 4.57 Zach Greene (W, 5-0) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 4 K. 4.13 Lane 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.08 McClain 1/3 IP, 2 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2 HBP. 7.56 McKay (S, 1) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.56
AA: Somerset (34-20) lost 9-2. SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits #1 prospect Struggling at .213 RF Elijah Dunham 2 RBI #26 prospect DH Jeisson Rosario 2 hits
Spence (L, 2-3) 3 2/3 IP, 6 R, 8 H, 4 W, 4 K. Gave up 2 HR. 1 balk. 5.33 Ramirez 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.63 Ernst 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.77 Mujica 2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. gave up 2 HR. 3.00
High A: Hudson Valley (26-29) lost 4-2. LF Everson Pereira 2 hits #10 prospect C Carlos Narvaez 2 hits RF Pat DeMarco 2 hits
Castano (L, 0-5) 6 2/3 IP, 3 R, 10 H, 1 W, 6 K. 2 HBP. 1 Balk. Gave up 1 HR. 3.35 Myatt 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 6 K. 1 WP 1.07
Low A: Tampa (24-31) lost 3-2. LF Grant Richardson solo HR (2)
Fitts (L, 0-5) 5 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 7.12 Holloway 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1 HBP 1.69 Milam 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 4 K. 2.81
Low A: Tampa (23-30) split a DH. Game 1: Won 13-3. SS Alexander Vargas 2 hits, RBI #16 prospect 1B Anthony Garcia 2 hits, RBI 2B Benjamin Cowles 2 hits, RBI; Solo HR (5) RF Alana Mejia 3 hits, 4 RBI; Solo HR (1) CF Raimfer Salinas 2 hits, 3 RBI
Yulie 4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 W, 5 K. gave up 1 HR. 5.15 Anderson (W, 2-2) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.16 Dees 1 Ip, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1 HBP 5.40
Game 2: Lost 7-0. RF Grant Richardson 2 hits. 2B Roberto Chirinos 2 hits.
Castro (L, 2-3) 5 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 2 W, 4 K. Gave up 2 HR. 3.55 Neely 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP 5.84 Watson 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 3 W, 0 K. 1 WP. 1 HBP. 3.33 Santana 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.50
STANDINGS SWB Last in IL East, 15 1/2 back Somerset 2nd in Eastern League NE, 1/2 back Hudson Valley 3rd in South Atlantic League North, 11 1/2 back Tampa tied for last in Florida State League West, 12 1/2 back.
AAA: SWB (19-32) split a DH to Lehigh Valley. Game 1: Lost 9-2. RF Phillip Evans 2 hits 1b Ron Guzman 2 hits LF Oliver Dunn 2-run HR (1 at AAA; just called up to AAA).
Weber (L, 2-2) 2 IP, 7 R, 2 ER, 7 H, 0 W, 0 K, Gave up 1 HR. 3.24 Zach Greene 2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 2 K. gave up 1 HR. 4.71 McClain 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 WP 7.04 Cordero 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 0.00
Game 2: Won 2-1. SS Jose Peraza 2 hits, 2 RBI
Brito 5 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 2 W, 2 K. 1.80 (FIrst AAA start after promotion; 5-2, 2.30 AA/AAA) McKay (W, 2-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1.72 sent back after DH on Thursday. Weissert (S, 4) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.48
AA: Somerset (31-17) won 7-2. 3B Andres Chaparro 4 RBI. 3-run HR (8) LF Jeisson Rosario 2 hits. 2B Jesus Bastidas 3 hits, Solo HR (5)
Luis Medina 5 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 W, 6 K. gave up 1 HR. 1 WP 3.90 #11 prospect Ernst 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.74 Maciejewski (W, 3-0) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.42 Craft 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H< 1 W, 1 K. 4.96
High A: Hudson Valley (22-26) won 3-2. 3B Tyler Hardman 2 hits, RBI LF Aaron Palensky 2 hits
Before getting to the recap, some Yankees moves. After the DH against the Angels and before the game against the Tigers, Estevan Florial (27th man for the DH, didn’t play) sent down, as was David McKay. Josh Donaldson returned off the IL (1 game suspension still under appeal).
After the game against the Tigers, Miguel Andujar sent down (expect Stanton to come off the IL today), and Tim Locastro off the rehab list and assigned to AAA. It’s too bad Andujar sent down, but Matt Carpenter’s bat is hot. I only wish Carpenter (1B, 2B, 3B) could play LF. He has played only 7 games there in his MLB career. Dead pull hitter, 4 HR in a week or so with the Yankees. Has given the lineup a jolt. But the only way he can play is if Stanton plays in the OF and Carpenter DH’s. You have Rizzo, LeMahieu, Torres and Donaldson, 4 guys at 3 spots, now with Carpenter it’s 5 guys for 3 spots. Numbers crunch. Stanton in RF means Judge in CF, and then you pick between Hicks or Gallo in LF. Remember that Marwin Gonzalez can play some 7 positions, too. Numbers crunch unless a deal is struck.
Now to last night’s game. After a 7-6 start to the season, the Yankees (37-15) have now won 30 of their last 39 games. They pounded the Tigers last night, 13-0. One night after Jameson Taillon retired the first 21 batters in a row, Gerrit Cole almost matched him, retiring the first 20 batters in a row. Manny Banuelos, a top Yankees prospect over a decade ago, finally pitched for the Yankees, hurling the last two innings.
The Yanks got two runs in the third inning. The red-hot Jose Trevino (what a trade that is proving out to be so far!) hit his 4th HR of the season to lead off the inning. Two outs later, Aaron Judge hit his MLB leading 20th. Despite the steroid era, Roger Maris still is the AL HR champ with his 61 in 61. But I wonder if in the great beyond, Roger is getting a bit nervous about his record.
The Yanks tacked on three more runs in the fourth. With two out, Carpenter got on on a bunt single, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled Carpenter to third. Trevino hit a liner that Detroit’s CF misplayed into a 2-run triple, and Aaron Hicks singled in Trevino to make it 5-0. Hicks was thrown out trying for two.
The way Cole was going, you knew the game was over, but the Yanks ensured it by scoring seven times in the fifth inning. D.J. LeMahieu walked to lead off the inning, and Judge singled. Anthony Rizzo hit a 3-run HR (12) to make it 8-0. One out later, Andujar singled, and Carpenter homered (4) to make it 10-0. After a pitching change, IKF doubled, Trevino walked, and Hicks was HBP. LeMahieu singled in two runs to make it 12-0.
After that, the only suspense was if Cole would get the perfect game or a no-hitter.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers used an OF as a pitcher and LeMahieu led off with a double, then Judge singled him in to make it 13-0. Judge out trying for two. The outfielder who nailed Judge at second was Kory Clemens, Roger’s son, who was just called up to the majors this week.
Cole (W, 5-1) 7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 9 K. 2.78 Banuelos 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00 (25th MLB game, but 1st as a Yankee for one-time NYY prospect)
The Yanks made one other move, getting 1b/LF Jake Bauers from Cincinnati for cash. Bauers was only hitting .135 at AAA Louisville and will be assigned to AAA SWB. What that means for 1B Ron Guzman or Greg Bird, both already at AAA, who knows, but they, like Bauers, weren’t hitting well. Bauers has been with Tampa Bay (2018), Cleveland (2019, 2021) and Seattle (2021). In 328 MLB games, he has hit .213-27-110. OPS+ 78. HIs 162 game average is .213-13-54. He bats and throws lefty.
The Yanks at 37-15 now have a six -game lead in the AL East. over Tampa Bay and 6 1/2 over Toronto.
I heard a bit of the postgame show, and one amazing stat: In their last 13 games, the Yankees’ starting pitchers have an ERA of 1.59.
The Yanks ERA is 2.78. I looked up the ERA in 1968 (Year of the pitcher) and it was 2.79 that year. But of course that Stadium had 457′ to LCF and 463′ to CF. And different era and bigger strike zone. The mound was 15″ high, not 10″. The Yanks lead the AL in ERA now with 2.78 and are 37-15. In 1968 the Yanks only hit .214 as a team (no DH as well) and were only 83-79 in Mickey Mantle’s final season.
Even though he has pitched well this year, Jordan Montgomery didn’t have a win, because of lack of run support. Many no-decisions. That changed Tuesday night as the Yankees (34-15) pounded the Angels 9-1.
In the top of the first inning, Aaron Judge used his height to rob Shohei Ohtani of a HR. The Yanks then scored four runs in the bottom of the first.
With one out, Judge walked and Anthony Rizzo doubled him in. Gleyber Torres doubled in Rizzo. It appeared Torres had a triple but in arriving at third, he came off the bag a bit and was called out. Miguel Andujar singled, and stole second before Matt Carpenter hit a 2-run HR (2) to make it 4-0.
With one out in the second, Joey Gallo singled and D.J. LeMahieu doubled home Gallo. 5-0.
The Yanks tacked on two in the seventh. With one out, Jose Trevino singled, and Gallo doubled him to third. LeMahieu hit a ground ball and the Angels tried to get Trevino at home. Trevino put on a nifty move, avoided the tag, and scored. With men and first and third now and only one out, Judge hit a SF to make it 7-0.
Montgomery lost his shutout bid by giving up a HR to Luis Rengifo in the top of the seventh. 7-1.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa led off the bottom of the eighth with a single, and Trevino (who has been hot lately) followed with a 2-run HR (3) for the final tally of 9-1.
The Sommer Frieze 
