But there are words. Words I’ll try to keep to a minimum, but words of frustration, anger, sadness and disappointment at the way the Yankees (72-44) are playing right now.
The Yanks were shutout for the second time in a row, 4-0, by Tampa Bay last night. It’s the fourth time they have been shutout in their last nine games, and the tenth time this season. Aaron Judge must feel as if he has to HR every time up.
Gerrit Cole pitched well. He gave up a run in the fourth which wasn’t his fault. Aaron Hicks badly misplayed a ball in CF into a leadoff triple, the next batter singled, and Tampa Bay was up 1-0.
In the bottom of the same inning, Hicks came to bat with one out and the bases loaded. Unfortunately, Hicks is now 9 for 63 (.143) in his career with the bases loaded after bouncing into an inning-ending, rally-killing 1-2-3 DP. The boos for Hicks were loud afterward and deserved. He’s 6 for his last 57.
In the top of the ninth inning, Wandy Peralta got two outs, but he also walked two. As I’ve written a lot during this bad streak the Yanks are having, walks and two-out hits have been killing Yankees’ pitchers. Lou Trivino came in and his first three batters were single, HBP and single before he got the last out. 4-0 Tampa Bay. Ballgame over.
Amazingly, the Yankees still have a 10-game lead in the division despite going 20-26 in their last 46 games and losing 10 of their last 12. They are 11-21 since July 8.
Why the Yanks got Trivino (5.79 ERA) as well when they made the deal for Montas, who knows. Meanwhile Clarke Schmidt (2.40 ERA) and Ron Marinaccio (2.03) are at AAA. Yankees fans are shaking their head at that.
Yankees fans also are shaking their heads at the Jordan Montgomery trade. Since the Yanks traded Monty to the Cardinals for Harrison Bader (more on that in a moment), Monty has won both his starts (one against the Yankees) and has pitched 11 scoreless innings. Meanwhile, Bader is still in a walking boot.
Bader can’t come off the IL and replace Hicks in CF soon enough. It’ll be interesting to see what happens to Hicks once Bader joins the Yankees. Meanwhile, Estevan Florial is still at AAA, and instead of bringing up Florial, who can play all OF positions, especially CF, the Yanks brought up Miguel Andujar, who can’t play CF or RF. (SMH). These kind of front office decisions anger and frustrate the fans. One thing noticeable the past few years in Yankee land is that the Yanks hang on to guys far past their expiration date. We’ve seen it with Sonny Gray, Gary Sanchez, Joey Gallo and now Aaron Hicks. Maybe they want to get the most they can out of a bad deal or contract, but it’s like holding on to milk after it has spoiled. You want guys to do well. But if they don’t, you can’t hold on to them forever.
Ok, I kept the words of frustration, anger, disappointment and sadness to a minimum. The integrity of this blog requires that something be written. Talk to Yankees fans, read their blogs or tweets and you will know and see that there is a lot more of that anger, frustration, disappointment and sadness right now.
This team, as written by Jon Heyman yesterday, needs a jolt. This can’t continue.
Jordan Montgomery had to have some strange feelings facing his ex-teammates. Montgomery, traded by the Yankees to St. Louis on Tuesday, had to face his ex-teammates on Saturday night.
No doubt he wanted a little revenge on the front office who traded him away. He got that, pitching five shutout innings in a 1-0 Cardinals win over the Yankees (70-38).
Also getting a little revenge was Giovanny Gallegos, who the Yanks traded away a few years back when they got Luke Voit. Gallegos closed out the game.
The Yanks finish the 2/3 mark of the season at 70-38, which means they are on pace for 105 wins. But the way they’ve played lately, they better pick up the pace. After a 52-18 start, the Yanks have gone 18-20. They are 9-15 in their last 24 games.
The absence of Anthony Rizzo (back, day-to-day) and Giancarlo Stanton (on IL, Achilles) was noticeable. The Yanks only had two hits in the game. Aaron Judge needs help, and he can’t do it himself (even though he had one of the two hits—a single). Teams will and are pitching around him without Rizzo and Stanton backing him. The bad slumps that Aaron Hicks (0 for his last 32), Andrew Benintendi (2 for 25 as a Yankee) and Gleyber Torres (1 for his last 22) are undergoing need to be overcome. Without Rizzo and Stanton, those three guys need to come through, not to mention Josh Donaldson (.221) or Kyle Higashioka (.200, and he had the other Yankees’ hit in the game).
Domingo German was the tough-luck loser in this game. He pitched well, giving up only one run in five innings. With two out in the bottom of the first inning, NL-MVP favorite Paul Goldschmidt doubled, and All-Star Nolan Arenado singled for what would turn out to be the only run of the game. Is it me, or does it seem like Yankees’ pitchers are giving up a lot of two-out runs lately?
The Cardinals have made a couple fine defensive plays in their two wins over the Yanks.
Today, Sunday, Frankie Montas makes his Yankees’ debut. In what may be a surprising move, in order to make room for Montas, the Yanks had to send Ron Marinaccio back to the minors, despite his sterling 2.03 ERA. Other guys don’t have options like Marinaccio has.
German (L, 1-2) 5 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 W, 3 K. 5.09 Marinaccio 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.03 Sent down to AAA after game. Trivino 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 5.91 (A’s/NYY ERA) Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 4.62
The loss was the Yanks’ fourth in a row, their season high.
It’s one thing if you get beaten by the other team’s best player, who is an MVP candidate, or perhaps an All-star or a retiring all-time great who’s a Hall of Fame lock. (Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, or Albert Pujols/Yadier Molina).
It’s another thing to get beaten by someone hitting .137. That is exactly what happened in a painful 4-3 loss the Yankees had to the St. Louis Cardinals last night.
With the loss, Yanks (70-37) lost their third game in a row. They haven’t had a four-game losing streak all season.
Also with the loss, the Yanks’ lead for the best record in the AL is down to just a half a game over Houston. The Yanks are 3 1/2 games behind the Dodgers for the best record in baseball. This fade is because the Yanks are 9-14 after starting out a blistering 61-23. Hopefully they right the ship soon.
In the first inning, D.J. LeMahieu walked, and after Aaron Judge lined out, Matt Carpenter, returning for the first time to St. Louis, for whom he played for for many years, singled D.J. to third. One out later, Josh Donaldson doubled in D.J. 1-0 Yankees.
St. Louis tied it in the second. A lead-off walk, then a two-out walk put two runners on, and future HOF C Yadier Molina singled to tie the game at one. That hit was the ONLY hit Nasty Nestor Cortes gave up. But walks and a wild pitch from the Yankees’ pitchers hurt them all night long.
The Yanks came right back to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Aaron Judge led off with a single and Carpenter then singled Judge to third. One out later, Donaldson singled to give the Yanks the lead.
The Yanks went up 3-1 in the fifth, when Judge led off with a single and stole second. He is 11 for 11 in SB attempts this season. Judge moved to third on a groundout and scored on an infield single by Gleyber Torres.
Cortes gave up a one-out walk in the sixth, and was replaced by Albert Abreu, who threw a WP to move the runner to second. A single put runners on first and third. Abreu got the second out via a K, but then gave up a single to make the score 3-2. Those two-out hits that drive in runs kill you.
With the meat of the Cardinals order coming up in the bottom of the eighth, manager Aaron Boone called on closer Clay Holmes. I thought it was the right move. You want your best facing their best. If Holmes does his job, then St. Louis has the bottom of the order up in the ninth and you can then use someone else. But in making the right move, as Boone did, the player still needs to execute. Holmes did not.
After a groundout by Goldschmidt, who is on his way to an MVP season, Holmes gave up a single to All-Star Nolan Arenado. Then he got a strikeout. So far so good. But then a walk. As I mentioned, walks killed the Yanks last night, as did two-out RBI hits. Holmes then gave up a 2-out, 2-run double to Paul DeJong, who was hitting .137 at the time. Ouch. 4-3 Cardinals, which was the final score.
It will be awkward tonight because the opposing pitcher for the Cardinals will be ex-Yankee Jordan Montgomery, who the Yanks just traded to St. Louis on Tuesday.
Before getting into Yankees’ news, some sad news in the sports world. Another legend has passed away. Just a few days ago, basketball legend Bill Russell died at the age of 88. Russell was a 5x NBA MVP, won 2 NCAA Titles, an Olympic Gold Medal, and in his 13 years in the NBA, won 11 titles, 8 in a row. The last two titles Russell won came as a player-coach. He was the first black coach or manager of a major sports team.
Now the sports world has lost one of the greatest sportscasters of all time, Vin Scully, at the age of 94. Scully attended the church my sister and her family attend in California, and when I went to church while visiting, besides spending some time with our Lord, I also hoped to see or meet Mr. Scully. Didn’t happen though.
May both Russell and Scully rest in peace.
Before the Yankees game last night, a final trade happened, and it was a stunner. I don’t like the trade right now. Time will tell. The Yanks traded Jordan Montgomery to St. Louis for CF Harrison Bader.
Montgomery was 3-3. 3.69 for the Yanks this year (ERA+ 104) and 22-20, 3.94 in his career (ERA+ 108). Bader is a top-notch defensive CF, who is currently on the IL and in a walking boot with plantar fasciitis. He is expected back in a few weeks. Should he not be able to play this season, the Yanks get a minor league prospect as well from an approved list. Besides Bader, the Yanks get a player to be named later or cash.
Bader, 28, is from Bronxville, NY, a righty batter. He finished 6th in ROY voting in 2018 and won a Gold Glove last year. This year he was hitting .256-5-21 with 15 SB (OPS+ 93). For his career, his 162-game average is .246-16-52, 17 SB, OPS+ 99.
What this means for Aaron Hicks down the road, who knows. As for now, I didn’t and still don’t get the deal. Bader is on the IL. Where he fits into a crowded outfield (Judge, Benintendi, Hicks, Stanton, Carpenter, even Gonzalez and for now Locastro, who would be sent down when Bader is healthy) who knows.
But the Montgomery trade comes after the Yanks traded away prospects Ken Waldichuk, Hayden Wesneski, JP Sears and Luis Medina, and came while Luis Severino is on the 60-day IL. For now, the Yanks’ rotation is Cole, Montas, Cortes, Taillon and German. I know with Severino’s injury and lack of work because of injury the last three years that the Yanks want to be careful with Severino, and that Severino could be back in mid-September, but how good would Sevy be come playoff time?
Time determines whether trades are good or bad.
As for last night’s game, the Yanks (70-35) lost 8-6 to Seattle. Taillon wasn’t good.
Eugenio Suarez hit a 2-run HR off Taillon in the first inning. Cal Raleigh made it 3-0 Seattle with a HR in the second.
Those were the only hits Taillon gave up. His wildness hurt him. In the third, Seattle scored on a walk, an error and a SF. 4-0.
The Yanks got back into the game with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Anthony Rizzo led off with a walk, and one out later, Josh Donaldson doubled home Rizzo. One out after that, Jose Trevino hit a 2-run HR (10) and it was now 4-3.
Taillon was pulled after a couple of walks in the top of the fifth. Lucas Luetge came in but surrendered a double that made the score 6-3 Seattle.
The Yanks tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Rizzo led off the inning with a HR (27), then Matt Carpenter singled. Donaldson then homered (10) to tie it up.
However, Luetge immediately gave the lead back to Seattle, giving up a HR to PH Sam Haggerty to lead off the top of the seventh.
Seattle scored an insurance run, with help of a WP, in the top of the ninth inning. The Yanks loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but didn’t score. Final score, 8-6 Seattle.
The trade deadline is tomorrow, and we still await a Yankees (69-34) move.
For if any game emphasized the need to add help for both the rotation and the bullpen, Sunday’s was it, in an 8-6 loss to Kansas City.
Jordan Montgomery, who was knocked out early in his previous start, a loss to the Mets, only lasted four innings in this one. After four scoreless innings where he looked really good, he fell apart in the fifth. It started by Monty walking the first two batters of the inning. Two singles and a double followed, and Montgomery was out of the game. Albert Abreu got three outs in a row, one run scoring on a groundout, but by the time the inning was over, the Yanks were down 4-0.
The Yanks came back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Matt Carpenter led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout by Isiah Kiner-Falefa (IKF). Kyle Higashioka got a bloop single to drive in Carpenter, then D.J. LeMahieu homered (11) to cut KC’s lead to 4-3.
The Yankees took a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh. Aaron Hicks, PH for Higashioka, led off the inning with a walk. One out later, Aaron Judge walked, and after a pitching change, Anthony Rizzo greeted the new pitcher with a 3-run HR (25).
The way the bullpen has been this season, you expected them to shut down KC for the win. Wrong. Ron Marinaccio, who had pitched nineteen straight scoreless innings, gave up a HR to Hunter Dozier leading off the top of the eighth, and it was 6-5 Yankees.
Clay Holmes came in for the ninth, and with one out, gave up a walk and then hit a batter. Salvador Perez then hit a 441-ft 3-run HR that proved to be the game-winner, 8-6. Holmes has come back to earth a bit lately.
The Yanks did get the tying runs on bases and the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but to no avail.
Before the game, Giancarlo Stanton (strained Achilles) to the 10-day IL, retroactive to July 24, and Tim Locastro brought back.
The Yanks lost to the Mets Tuesday night 6-3. Tonight’s matchup doesn’t look good, Domingo German vs. future HOF Max Scherzer, but you never know.
Last night started well for the Yanks. With one out in the top of the first inning, Aaron Judge (38) and Anthony Rizzo (23) hit back-to-back HR for the Yanks. Yanks up 2-0.
But Yankees’ starter Jordan Montgomery had nothing, giving up two HR and two doubles in the bottom of the first inning to put the Yanks behind 4-2. Montgomery is 0-3, 8.40 in four career starts vs. the Mets. Some teams just have your number.
Meanwhile the Yanks only scored one more run the rest of the game, going 0 for 8 w/RISP with 10 men left on base.
The Mets got another run in the third, with help from a throwing error by Josh Donaldson to go up 5-2.
With one out in the fourth, Aaron Hicks and Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled. Jose Trevino reached on a fielders’ choice to load the bases. A groundout by D.J. LeMahieu made it 5-3, then Judge walked to reload the bases. Rizzo got the green light on a 3-0 pitch, but just missed hitting a grand slam, flying out to the warning track.
The Mets got a run off of Albert Abreu in the eighth.
At least the struggling Loaisiga and Chapman pitched scoreless innings.
Judge 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (38) Rizzo 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (23) Hicks 2 hits Kiner-Falefa 2 hits
Montgomery (L, 3-3) 2 1/3 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 2 HR 3.50 Marinaccio 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.14 Loaisiga 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 7.17 Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 5.48 Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.21 Abreu 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1 WP 2.30 (3-team ERA)
AL EAST STANDINGS NYY 66-32 — Magic #54 Tor 54-43 – 11 1/2 Tampa Bay 52-45 -13 1/2 Baltimore 49-48 -16 1/2 Boston 49-49 -17
The Yanks lead Houston (64-34) by two games for best record in the AL. They lead the Dodgers (64-32) by 1 game for the best record in baseball.
The Astros ended the Yanks’ season in 2015, 2017 and 2019. This season the Yanks lost 5 of the 7 games against them, and never led in any game except for the two walk-off wins, where Aaron Judge both times got the GW hit.
In losing both games of a doubleheader in Houston yesterday, the Yanks (64-30) (record corrected from first draft) lead over Houston for best record in the league dropped to just 2 1/2 games. The Yanks lead the AL East by 12 games. But from here on in the Yanks’ schedule is tougher than Houston’s. The Yanks’ division is tougher than Houston’s. Not only that, if both teams finish with the same record, Houston gets home field advantage in a playoff series due to the head-to-head record.
So, it would behoove the Yanks to finish ahead of Houston in the standings, and also to find a way to beat them. To hit Houston pitching. For the Astros are the biggest roadblock to the Yankees’ World Series aspirations.
Game 1: Lost 3-2.
The Yanks wasted a good outing by Jordan Montgomery. Houston nicked Monty for a run in the first inning and another in the second to take a 2-0 lead. They used back-to-back bunt singles in the first to build that run that inning.
In the top of the third, the Yanks loaded the bases with no outs, but didn’t score. Matt Carpenter hit a line drive, but the Astro 1B caught it and caught Judge too far off the bag for a DP.
D.J. LeMahieu homered (9) in the top of the fifth to cut Houston’s lead to 2-1.
In the top of the ninth, Aaron Hicks singled with one out. He moved to second on a groundout, then Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a PH single to tie the game.
But Michael King gave up a single and double to start the bottom of the ninth for Houston. After a strikeout and intentional walk, King got a strikeout, but then an infield single won the game for Houston.
The Yanks have lost five walk offs this year, and ironically, Montgomery was the starting pitcher in each of those games. Once again, the Yanks had trouble hitting Cristian Javier. Javier was the pitcher who threw seven no-hit innings against the Yanks June 25th, when the Yanks fell victim to a combined no-hitter by Houston. This time, in five innings, the Yanks only got two hits off him.
LeMahieu solo HR (9) Hicks 2 hits Kiner-Falefa PH RBI single with two out in 9th which at the time tied the game
Montgomery 6 1/3 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 1 W, 8 K. 3.24 Abreu 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.13 (Combined ERA for 3 teams) King (L, 6-3) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.34
Game 2: Lost 7-5.
Domingo German replaced the injured Luis Severino in the rotation, and it was German’s first appearance of the season, as he was just activated off of the injured list. Ryan Weber was DFA’d.
For the DH, J.P. Sears was brought up to be the 27th man. Based on how Sears has pitched this season in his limited appearances, I and others wondered why he didn’t get the start instead of German.
German didn’t have it, as in the first inning, with two out, he gave up back-to-back HR to Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman. Astros up 2-0 right away.
German then gave up three more runs in the second–once again, all with two out–and Houston was up 5-0.
In the top of the third, Judge walked, and Gleyber Torres homered (15) to cut Houston’s lead to 5-2.
Sears relieved German and didn’t do too badly, but he gave up a 2-run HR in the sixth to Chas McCormick. Houston up 7-2.
In the top of the ninth, Kiner-Falefa and LeMahieu singled, and after an out, Judge homered (34) to make it 7-5, but Houston then held on to win.
Last night was frustrating. The Yanks (62-28) lost for the fifth time in their last six games, falling to Boston 5-4 in 11 innings. It was the third straight game, and fourth in the last six games, that went into extra innings. The Yanks AL East lead is now 12 games.
Before the game, Miguel Castro left the clubhouse for an MRI on his pitching shoulder. The Yanks’ bullpen has taken a few hits lately, and the replacements just back from the IL haven’t picked up the slack so far.
Meanwhile, check out my other post on last night’s minor league games. It appears that with Luis Severino going on the IL, that Domingo German will be coming off the IL to take Severino’s rotation spot for a while.
Before I get into the game recap, a bit of a rant. Sorry. But in the real world, if you don’t do your job well, you get fired. Apparently not so with MLB umpires (right, Angel Hernandez?). Manager Aaron Boone got ejected last night for arguing balls and strikes. The reason was the same. Granted he was tossed after arguing a bad call on Matt Carpenter, but the frustration was built up by umpires once again refusing or being too lazy to adjust their strike zone to Aaron Judge’s height. Judge’s strike zone, at 6’7″ is obviously different than that of say, Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s. But no player gets more strikes called on him that are clearly way below his knees than Judge does. Pick one. Is it laziness, stubbornness, incompetence or some combination of the three that makes these umps miss these pitches? And as for the punchout of Aaron Hicks on a check swing to end the game, I don’t believe he went, but think that the umps got tired after an 11-inning game and just wanted to eat their dinner.
One more thing before the recap, and it also deals with someone keeping their job even though he is doing it poorly. Joey Gallo is now 4 for his last 55. .161. Two of those hits were flukes (remember the triple lost in the lights at Fenway?). It’s like everyone else is playing with a DH but the Yanks are still letting the pitcher hit. Enough said. Hal Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone, please listen to Yankees’ Universe regarding Gallo. It’s way past time. I don’t want to be negative, but it must be said. You can’t keep acting like the emperor has clothes when it’s clear he is naked.
Now to the game. Yankees’ killer Rafael Devers put Boston on the board right away with a 2-run HR in the first inning, and two batters into the game, Boston was already up 2-0. Boston had second and third, with no one out and could have tacked on more, but Yankees’ starter Jordan Montgomery got out of it.
With one out in the bottom of the third, D.J. LeMahieu singled, and one out after that, Anthony Rizzo walked. Giancarlo Stanton then hit a 3-run HR (24) to put the Yanks up 3-2.
The lead didn’t last long. Christian Vazquez homered for Boston in the top of the fourth to tie the game. In the top of the seventh, Bobby Dalbec homered for Boston off of Aroldis Chapman, and Boston went up 4-3.
The Yanks tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, but here is where things got very frustrating, and the Yanks blew their chances to win. Gleyber Torres led off the bottom of the ninth with a single. Matt Carpenter was HBP. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (IKF) laid down a bunt and Boston’s pitcher tried for a force at third and threw the ball away. Torres scored to tie the game and the Yanks had men on second and third with no one out. Aaron Hicks was intentionally walked to set up a force out. All the Yanks needed was a flyball. I kill for sac flies. But Jose Trevino GIDP, 5-2-3, and D.J. LeMahieu grounded out, and they left that winning run on base.
In the bottom of the tenth, more frustration. Clay Holmes left the bases loaded for Boston in the top of the tenth, and now the Yanks started the bottom of the tenth with the ghost runner at second (for the thousandth time, I hate that rule!). After Judge grounded out, not advancing the runner, and Rizzo was walked to set up a force at any base, Stanton singled to load the bases. Once again, the Yanks couldn’t get the hit or sac fly to win the game, as Torres GIDP.
In the top of the eleventh, Boston had the ghost runner in Xander Bogaerts. A flyout moved Bogaerts to third. A groundout kept him there. But then Yankees’ pitcher Michael King threw a WP, enabling Bogaerts to score what was the winning run.
Frustrating. The Yanks are in a bit of a rut which they need to snap out of.
The Yanks’ (61-24) bullpen uncharacteristically faltered in losing a 6-5, 10-inning game Saturday night in Boston.
The Red Sox got a two-out RBI single by Bobby Dalbec to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second to start the scoring for the game.
The Yanks tied it in the top of the fifth on Aaron Hicks’ sixth HR of the season. The Yankees then went up 3-1 by scoring two runs in the sixth. Gleyber Torres singled to start the inning and Anthony Rizzo doubled home Torres. One out later, Josh Donaldson singled home Rizzo. 3-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, one-time Yankee Rob Refsnyder hit a 436-ft. HR to cut the Yanks’ lead to 3-2.
Boston tied it up in the eighth. Michael King gave up a two-out double. Clay Holmes relieved King, and Holmes, so great this year, had a blip, giving up a walk, then a game-tying single to Alex Verdugo, before getting out of the inning.
The game went into the tenth, with that extra-innings ghost runner rule I hate. In that tenth inning, the Yanks made a couple of mistakes that would cost them the game. In the top of the tenth, Jose Trevino was the ghost runner, and Aaron Judge doubled him home. Rizzo doubled home Judge to make it 5-3. But Rizzo tried to steal third, and it was a bad decision. He was thrown out easily.
In the bottom of the tenth, Wandy Peralta didn’t have it. Refsnyder, who’s been getting some revenge on his old team all weekend, singled, and the ghost runner, Jarren Duran, moved to third. After a flyout, rookie Jeter Downs (yes, named after Derek Jeter) singled for his first MLB hit and RBI in just his second MLB game. This cut the Yankees’ lead to 5-4. Xander Bogaerts grounded out to Josh Donaldson, but what should have been a game-ending DP was only an out at first because 3B Josh Donaldson mishandled the exchange from glove to throwing hand. This would wind up costing the Yanks the game. Verdugo then singled in both runners and Boston won 6-5.
A couple of observations. This umpiring crew for this series has been awful. Especially behind the plate in their ball/strike calls. One strike called on D.J. Lemahieu in the top of the ninth was a good couple of inches low (and the incredulous look on D.J.’s face said it all), and umpires still are lazy in refusing to adjust their strike zone to Aaron Judge’s 6’7″ frame. Also, the way Boston celebrated, you’d have thought they won the World Series instead of being 15 games out. I’m very old school. You didn’t see DiMaggio or Mantle (or even say Carl Yastrzemski) hot dogging and going nuts especially if their team was many games out. I’m not a big fan of Verdugo, who I think is too much of a hot dog or “excitable boy” (Sorry, Warren Zevon) for someone with an OPS+ of 87 this year. The Fox broadcasting team also had a Boston bias. Ok, time to put back on the Alfred E. Newman “What, Me Worry?” face. After all, the Yanks still lead the division by 15 games.
You know the Yanks are 1st in the league in HR. Did you know they are second in the league in SB?
Judge 2 hits, RBI Rizzo 2 hits, 2 RBI Carpenter 2 for 2 with a walk. Hicks solo HR (6)
Montgomery 5 2/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.19 King (H, 14) 2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.33 Holmes (BS, 2) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 0.46 Peralta (L, 2-2; BS, 3) 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.51
Before the game, some moves. Ron Marinaccio to the IL, J.P. Sears brought up. Manny Banuelos traded to Pittsburgh for cash. In a minor league move, C Josh Breaux moves up from AA to AAA.
Jordan Montgomery made one mistake, and Sears finally gave up his first MLB run, but they were enough to doom the Yankees (58-22) to a 2-0 loss.
D.J. LeMahieu and Aaron Judge were given the day off, although both pinch-hit late in the game. Unfortunately, it seemed like the whole Yankees’ offense took the day off, because besides getting no runs, they only got one hit.
Montgomery gave up a fourth inning HR to Franmil Reyes, and the Guardians (I wanted to write Indians) got another run off of Sears in the eighth, Reyes again with the RBI, and it was all they needed.
It’s funny to have a 4th of July without the Yanks playing. They didn’t play on Memorial Day either.
Montgomery (L, 3-2) 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 W, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.19 Sears 2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.59 First MLB run he’s given up. Abreu 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.55 (Combined 3-team ERA)
The Sommer Frieze 
