S.T. Game 3. Tulo homers, Yanks one-hit Jays 3-0 and Andy joins front office.

Troy Tulowitzki and Kyle Higashioka homered, and the Yankees one-hit Toronto 3-0 to go to 2-1 on the spring training schedule. Aaron Judge added a double.

Tulo, who was let go by Toronto and picked up for minimum wage by the Yankees, so far looks good after missing all of 2018 and after playing just 66 games in 2017. We’ll see if it continues. The Yanks are only picking up half a million of his $20MM contract, with the Blue Jays paying the rest.

If Tulo can get anywhere close to where he was before the injuries, the Yanks may have a steal to fill in at SS until Didi Gregorius returns from his injury. Tulo is a 5x All-Star, 2x Gold Glove winner and 2x Silver Slugger winner. He got MVP votes in six different seasons and finished in the top 10 3x (2009-2011).

He’s 34 and after having missed all of 2018 and most of 2017, will need to be monitored carefully. But people are being blown away by how good he looks. Hopefully it isn’t a mirage, and Tulo puts a good bid in for Comeback Player of the Year.

He is a .290 career hitter (granted, most in Colorado) but has hit 20 or more HR in seven different seasons, and has a career OPS+ of 118.

Like I said, if he can come somewhat close to what he used to be, the Yanks got a steal.

The Yanks’ pitching was great today.

Paxton 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K
German 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Cessa 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Chad Green 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Diehl 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Holder 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.

Combined one-hitter, 2 walks, 10 K.  Cessa and German are battling for one of the few bullpen spots available. Betances, Chapman, Britton, Ottavino and Holder more or less have spots sewn up. You also have Loaisiga (who I think will continue to start, but at AAA), Farquhar, Colombe, etc. battling for those few spots also.

Andy Pettitte has agreed to join the Yankees’ front office as a special advisor, and yes, the Yankees’ great was approached by Derek Jeter to do the same for Jeter with the Marlins. At least the Yanks kept Andy. Just recently, Jorge Posada agreed to help out his old buddy Derek.

 

 

Posada to work for Marlins and Jeter. Yanks’ pitchers and catchers report today.

Jorge Posada will be working for Derek Jeter and the Marlins. The former Yankees’ great will work as a special adviser to CEO Jeter. Just like with Jeter last year, it’ll feel funny to see a Yankees’ great working for another team.

Pitchers and catchers report today for the Yanks.

Game 149. Yanks lose, 6-4. Didi Ties Yanks SS HR record.

Didi Gregorius hit his 24th HR of the season, tying the Yankees’ record for HR in a season by a Yankees’ SS, set in 1999 by Derek Jeter, but the Yanks lost to Baltimore Sunday, 6-4.

The loss keeps the Yanks (82-67) 3 games back of Boston for the AL East with 13 games to go. The tragic # for losing out on the division is 11.

The Yanks are still up on the top wild card spot by four games over the Twins. The Yanks’ magic # for clinching the top wild card spot and that sudden-death wild card game at home is 10. With games against the Twins tomorrow (Monday), Tuesday and Wednesday, the Yanks can decrease that number significantly. The magic # for making the playoffs at all, (wild card game on the road) is 8.

By the way, Gary Sanchez has the most HR in a season by someone who was primarily a catcher for the Yankees with 31 but he does NOT have the most HR by a Yankees’ catcher in a season. Yogi Berra (both 1952 and 1956) hit 30, and ALL were as a catcher, none at PH or at another position. Jorge Posada’s 30 in 2003? All were hit as a catcher, none as DH, 1B or PH or another position Not all of Sanchez’ 31 this year were as a catcher. 25 are at C, 1 at 1B, 5 at DH.

Sonny Gray didn’t have it. He gave up a run in the top of the second, and Didi tied it with his HR in the bottom of the frame.

Baltimore got one in the third, but the killer came in the fourth when Gray gave up a 3-run HR to Tim Beckham.

Baltimore got a run in the fifth off of Bryan Mitchell to make it 6-1.

Matt Holliday doubled in two in the sixth to cut it to 6-3.

A Castro SF in the eighth made it 6-4.

Buck Showalter made an odd move in the ninth. With a man on third and two out, he intentionally walked Aaron Judge to set up a force. But in doing so, he put the tying run on first and the winning run at the plate in Gary Sanchez. Sanchez struck out to end the game.

Castro had 2 hits.
Didi HR.
Holliday 2 RBI.

The Yanks struck out 14X.

Gray hasn’t been getting run support, but he has himself to blame for this one.

Gray (L, 9-11, 3.38) 4 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 2 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Mitchell 3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 4 K. 4.73.
Betances 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.04
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.54

With Garcia going on Monday, and Chad Green rested, don’t be surprised to see a quick hook from Girardi.

 

 

Game 126. Yanks lose brawl-filled game, 10-6.

Now for the repercussions. Fines and suspensions to come. Including to the Yankees’ hottest hitter right now, Gary Sanchez.

The Yanks lost a brushback, beanball, brawl-filled game yesterday afternoon, 10-6. The game featured eight ejections. For the Yanks, manager Girardi, bench coach Thomson, pitchers Kahnle and Betances and catcher Romine. Had he been caught (umpires were looking at the main brawl and not a side brawl that was going on), Gary Sanchez could have been tossed too. That would have been interesting, who would have caught the rest of the game? For the Tigers, their manager, Brad Ausmus, was tossed, as well as Miguel Cabrera and Alex Wilson. Not only that, but two Tigers’ teammates bickered in the dugout. Justin Verlander (Kate Upton’s boyfriend) didn’t like Victor Martinez being too nice to Sanchez in trying to play peacemaker.

It’s a good thing these teams are done for the season. They won’t play each other until spring training 2018 (the Tigers are way out of contention), and we’ll see what happens then.

The seeds of this were sown on July 31. Tommy Kahnle unintentionally hit (from MLB.com) Mikie Mahtook off his helmet. The next inning, Michael Fulmer hit Jacoby Ellsbury, prompting warnings to both benches. No further incidents happened the remainder of that series.   

But apparently bad blood carried over, and that fire was stoked by Gary Sanchez kicking butt in this series and by the Yanks winning the first two games of the series handily.

Jaime Garcia, so far a disappointment for the Yanks (0-1, 5.95) started the game and gave up a first inning HR to Justin Upton.

The Yanks got it back in the second on an RBI single by Chase Headley.

Sanchez hit his fourth HR of the three-game series to put the Yanks up 2-1 in the fourth. The Tigers tied it in the bottom of the fourth, 2-2.

In the fifth, after Hicks got a SF to put the Yanks up 3-2, Sanchez got HBP, and the fireworks started. From mlb. com : Sanchez was clearly displeased as he slowly made his way to first base, while Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand and manager Brad Ausmus made their way to the mound to check on Fulmer, who returned from the disabled list last week following a bout of ulnar neuritis that left him struggling to get feeling on his pitches. He was shaking his hand as Sanchez went to first base.

Sanchez and the Yanks thought the HBP was intentional. Maybe it wasn’t, but after the HR and Sanchez’ series in Detroit, it sure didn’t look good…

The Tigers responded with four in the bottom of the fifth to go up 6-3.

With two out in the bottom of the sixth, Tommy Kahnle threw one behind Miguel Cabrera’s back. He and manager Girardi were ejected. After that was taken care of, Cabrera had words for catcher Austin Romine, words were sent back and the two of them got into a fight and both were ejected.

The Yanks tied it in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Gardner, SF by Hicks and RBI single by Sanchez.

But in the bottom of the seventh, Dellin Betances hit the first batter he faced and was ejected along with bench coach/now manager Thomson. David Robertson came in and hit a batter, but with it being an 0-2 pitch, no intent was discerned and Robertson was NOT ejected. But the Tigers went on to score three in the inning for a 9-6 lead.

To the eighth, when Todd Frazier gets hit by a pitch, causing Alex Wilson and his manager, Brad Ausmus, to get tossed.

The Tigers scored a run in the bottom of the eighth for the final of 10-6.

The commissioner’s office will have their work cut out for them with fines and suspensions after this one.

And the way Sanchez has been going lately, the Yanks will miss him. The Yanks’ record for HR in a season by a catcher is 30 (Yogi & Posada). Sanchez has 23 as a catcher, 3 at DH and 1 as a 1B. All of Yogi’s and Posada’s were as a catcher.

Gardner 4 hits, RBI.
Hicks 2 RBI
Sanchez 2 hits, HR (27), 2 RBI.

Garcia 4 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. Very disappointing so far. 4.52
Warren 2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K. 2.33. Rare off game for him this year.
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.04. Ejected.
Chapman 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.10.
Betances (L, 3-5, 2.30) 0 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. Faced one batter, HBP, ejected.
Robertson 1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 W, 2 K, 1 HBP. 2.50
Smith 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 6.75 Gave up 1 HR.

No reports until late Sunday night/monday morning. I am leaving town this afternoon (Friday)  and won’t return until Sunday afternoon.

Game 125. Hot Kraken & the Mighty Mite lead Yanks to 10-2 win.

The Yanks (68-57) weren’t able to pick up ground on the AL East leading Red Sox tonight, but at this point, they need to make sure they make the playoffs and have the wild card game at home.

They accomplished that feat tonight, whipping Detroit 10-2.

The “Kraken”, Gary Sanchez, is hot. He hit a HR in the first inning (26) to put the Yanks up 1-0. The Yankees’ single season HR by a catcher is 30, shared by Yogi & Jorge. Now of the 26, 2 were at DH, and 1 as 1B, leaving 23 as C. We’ll see if Gary can break that.

The Yanks broke it open in the third, scoring five runs. Ellsbury & Torreyes singled. Gardner’s flyout moved both runners up. Hicks walked to load the bases and Sanchez singled in two. Judge doubled in another to make it 4-0. Didi singled one in, 5-0, and Headley hit a SF, 6-0. Game over.

Didi Gregorius’ 19th HR of the season made it 7-0 in the fifth.

Ronald Torreyes hit a bases-loaded hit in the sixth to make it 8-0. Torreyes was 4 for 4 with an RBI tonight. .299 for a utility backup IF.

Severino died off a bit in the sixth, giving up a HR, 8-1.

But Chase Headley hit a homer (8) in the top of the seventh, 9-1.

Aaron Hicks’ RBI single in the eighth made it 10-1, but Tommy Kahnle gave up a ninth-inning HR.

10-2.

In that one game wild card playoff, who’d you want other than Severino?

Severino (W, 11-5, 3.10) 6 2/3 IP, 1 R,  6 H, 1 W, 8 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Green 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W 4 K. All outs by K. 2.19
Kahnle 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.10

Sanchez 2 hits, HR, 3 RBI.
Judge 2 hits, RBI.
Gregorius 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI
Headley 2 RBI, HR.
Torreyes 4 for 4, RBI.

 

 

3 make Hall of Fame. Posada one and done.

A few days ago, I wrote about how it was appearing that Jorge Posada would be one and done in the Hall of Fame balloting. Unfortunately, that came to pass as Posada only got 3.8% of the vote, short of the 5% needed to stay on the ballot for another year.

It amazes me how people like Posada, Bernie, Cone, Tino, Wells and O’Neill could fall off the ballot after only a year or two. I’m not saying they are Hall of Famers. I’m saying that I’m surprised they didn’t last longer on the ballot.

Here are the vote totals. 75% was needed for induction.

Some notes on some.

Jeff Bagwell, 381 votes, 86.2%
Tim Raines, 380 votes, 86.0%
Ivan Rodriguez, 336 votes, 76.0%
Trevor Hoffman, 327 votes, 74.0% Missed by 5 votes.
Vladimir Guerrero, 317 votes, 71.7% Just missed by 15 votes.
Edgar Martinez, 259 votes, 58.6%
Roger Clemens, 239 votes, 54.1% Picking up steam despite the PED allegations.
Barry Bonds, 238 votes, 53.8% See Clemens.
Mike Mussina, 229 votes, 51.8% Nice pickup in voting.
Curt Schilling, 199 votes, 45.0% Recent comments hurt him.
Lee Smith, 151 votes, 34.2%
Manny Ramirez, 105 votes, 23.8%
Larry Walker, 97 votes, 21.9%
Fred McGriff, 96 votes, 21.7% 493 HR, no steroids, no respect.
Jeff Kent, 74 votes, 16.7% One of best hitting 2B ever. 377 HR
Gary Sheffield, 59 votes, 13.3% 509 HR and ….
Billy Wagner, 45 votes, 10.2% Probably better stats than Hoffman
Sammy Sosa, 38 votes, 8.6%
—
Jorge Posada, 17 votes, 3.8% Too bad off ballot so soon.
Magglio Ordonez, 3 votes, 0.7%
Edgar Renteria, 2 votes, 0.5%
Jason Varitek, 2 votes, 0.5%
Tim Wakefield, 1 vote,0.2%
Casey Blake, 0 votes, 0.0%
Pat Burrell, 0 votes, 0.0%
Orlando Cabrera, 0 votes, 0.0%
Mike Cameron, 0 votes, 0.0%
J.D. Drew, 0 votes, 0.0%
Carlos Guillen, 0 votes, 0.0%
Derrek Lee, 0 votes, 0.0%
Melvin Mora, 0 votes, 0.0%
Arthur Rhodes, 0 votes, 0.0%
Freddy Sanchez, 0 votes, 0.0%
Matt Stairs, 0 votes, 0.0%

So Raines gets in. Long overdue in my opinion. 2605 hits. 808 SB. .294. OPS+ 123. One of the best leadoff hitters ever. 1979-2002. Expos, White Sox, Yankees, A’s, Expos again, Orioles and Marlins. Member of 1996 and 1998 Yankees, albeit as a part-timer then. 7x all star. 3x top 10 in MVP voting. Runnerup for 1981 ROY. Led league in runs scored 2x, batting average once, SB 4x. Doubles once. 162 g. average .294-11-63 with 52 SB.

Bagwell 1991-2005, all with Houston. 449 HR. .297. OPS+ 149 which is outstanding. ROY 1991. MVP 1994. Top 10 in MVP 5x, runnerup in 1999. 4x All Star. Led league in runs scored 3x, doubles once, RBI once. 100 or more RBI 8x, led league once, averaged 106 walks/yr. For a 1B, 202 steals, did 30/30 twice. Led league in walks once. Avg. `162 g. .297-34-115, 15 SB.

Rodriguez 1991-2011. Rangers, Tigers, Yankees (where he was lousy, just 3 RBI in 33 games) Astros, Rangers again, Nationals. 1999 MVP. 2844 hits. 14x All star. 13 Gold Gloves. 4x Top 10 MVP voting. For a catcher, 17 x had 100 or more games in a season. OPS+ 106. 162 g. ave: .296-20-85.

Ok. There are rumors about Bagwell and Rodriguez’ PED usage. Sosa didn’t pick up ground, but Bonds and Clemens did. Manny Ramirez came in low despite his 555 HR because of his two suspensions for PED usage. Where these voters stand on PED usage is anyone’s guess.

As for next year’s newcomers to the ballot, I expect Chipper Jones and Jim Thome to get in, and Andruw Jones to miss out.

Will Posada be one and done on HOF ballot?

Next Wednesday, the Baseball Hall of Fame will announce the Class of 2017. One person following published ballots states that it appears as if Tim Raines, Jeff Bagwell and Ivan Rodriguez (despite steroid allegations against Pudge) will get into the Hall (joining Bud Selig and John Schuerholz) and that Trevor Hoffman and Vladimir Guerrero are close. Reports are that alleged steroid users Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are getting more votes than before.

Reports are also that Jorge Posada may be dropped off the ballot after just one year. You need 5% to stay on. With some still on the ballot that should have gotten in already (Bonds and Clemens due to the steroid allegations), and the fact that a voter can only vote for 10, this hurts the candidacy of those who are borderline Hall of Famers who maybe should get a second or third look. For example, this is Raines’ 10th and final year on the ballot. Personally, I think Raines should get in. He was one of the greatest leadoff men ever, although he was overshadowed in his time by Rickey Henderson. Raines hit .294 and stole 808 bases. He got on base and stole bases. He averaged 86 walks per 162 games. 2605 hits. What more should a leadoff man do?

I’m not saying Jorge is or isn’t a Hall of Famer. His bat was great for a catcher, .273 with 275 HR. His defense wasn’t as good (no Gold Glove Awards, for example). JAWS (on baseball-reference.com) lists him as the 16th best catcher in baseball history. I don’t know if Thurman Munson would have made the HOF had he not passed away in that tragic plane crash, but he’s ranked #12. One person much like Posada, a catcher with a good bat and who wasn’t known for his D, Ted Simmons, is ranked #10. Simmons isn’t in the Hall.

The point is, Jorge may drop off the ballot after one year, which seems sad. And it’s strange. The 1998 Yankees are probably the greatest team I’ve seen in my lifetime. From 1996-2001 the Yanks were in six WS, winning four and narrowly missing four straight and five out of six.

Yet how many HOFers would you get off that team (Torre is already in as the manager, and the veterans committee bypassed Steinbrenner as owner this past year)? You’d be amazed how many players dropped off the ballot early.

Here is a list of some of the best players on the Yanks from 1996-2006 or so:

Cone 194 wins, 3.46 ERA. 1 year on the ballot. 3.9% and off.
Wells 239 wins, 4.13 ERA. 1 year, .9% and off.
Pettitte not eligible yet. 256 wins, 3.85 ERA but HGH usage may hurt.
Rivera not eligible yet, a sure-fire HOF on the first ballot.
Mussina 270 wins, 3.68 ERA. 20.3%, 24.6% and last year 43% and picking up more steam this year. But it takes 75% to get in.
Clemens 354 wins, 3.12 ERA. Should have been in but for the PEDs. 37.6, 35.4, 37.5 and last year 45.2% Reports are he and Bonds may get over 60% this year.
Kenny Rogers. Yeah, stunk as a Yankee. But 219 wins, 4.27 ERA. .2% and off.
Kevin Brown (yeah, I know, but I am listing him and Rogers because both did have over 200 career wins) 211 wins, 3.28 ERA(!) 2.1% and off.
I won’t list El Duque. His time in Cuba hurts because he got to the USA too late.
Posada looks like 4% and off if the current trend continues.
Tino 339 HR. 1% and off.
Giambi not eligible yet.
Jeter not eligible yet, a sure-fire first ballot HOF.
A-Rod not eligible, we’ll have to see what with the PED usage.
Raines was a part-timer for a few years when he was a Yankee, see above.
Sheffield 509 HR. 11.7 and 11.6% We’ll see where he lands this year. 500 HR isn’t as automatic as it used to be.
O’Neill 2.2% and off.
Bernie Williams 9.6%, 3.3% and off.
Soriano not eligible yet.
Sierra 306 HR and not one vote.
Fielder 319 HR (same as his son Prince, listing him and Sierra only because they had more HR than say O’Neill and Bernie) .2%
Matsui and Damon go on the ballot next year.

Robbie Cano is still playing, obviously. JAWS has him ranked #12 on all-time second baseman. At 34, three more great years could get him in.

I’m not saying all deserved to stay on after one year, esp. in some cases like say Brown, Fielder, Rogers or Sierra for example.

But it’s a bit surprising, to me at least, to see how quickly Cone, Wells, Bernie, Tino, and O’Neill for example, got dropped off the ballot. …. and Jorge may join that list.

 

HOF, a minor move, free agency, and a passing.

A minor move the Yanks made before we get to more major things. They got Kirby Yates, who was DFA’d by Cleveland, for cash considerations.

In 2014, Yates’ rookie year, he went 0-2, 3.75 for Tampa Bay. Last year, he was downright awful. 1-0, 7.97 for Tampa Bay, and he gave up 10 HR in 20 1/3 IP.

For his career, 1-2, 5.27 in 57 games. An extreme fly ball pitcher, 30%+ of his balls were fly balls last year, and you can see the HR ratio. Not good. 63K in 56 1/3. A flyer. The Yanks gave up no players for him and I am sure the cash considerations are minimal. Cleveland purchased him off the Rays in November, and the Yanks purchased him off of Cleveland now.

Vern Rapp, who managed the Cardinals in 1977 and part of 1978, died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 87. He went 83-79 for the 1977 Cards, and was fired after starting 1978 6-11.

Denard Span signed with the Giants.

The HOF voting was announced on Wednesday, and Ken Griffey, Jr. and Mike Piazza werer elected.

Griffey broke the record for highest percentage. Only three voters (Moe, Larry and Curly? Were these the three idiots who voted for Mike Sweeney?) didn’t vote for Griffey. Why, who knows. Egotistical assholes? Perhaps. Griffey, while young and in his prime, was as close to Willie Mays as you would want. Power (630 HR), Speed (he didn’t steal often, but he had speed), Defense and throwing (10 GG), hit for average, .284. Not .300, but….               a 13x All-Star. 1997 MVP (Tino finished 2nd).    The only thing he didn’t get was a ring.

I saw one of his last HR’s at the Stadium. I think it was #601.

He was a joy to watch, but you hated it when he beat your team. Seattle, Cincy and the Chisox. OPS+ of 136.

4x HR champ. 56 in 1997 and 1998. Topped 140 RBI in three consecutive seasons, 1996-1998.

JAWS ranks him as the 5th best CF of all-time. Behind Mays, Cobb, Speaker and Mantle, and ahead of Dimaggio and Snider. Do you who rounds out the top 10? Beltran, Lofton and Andruw Jones. (Ashburn is 11th).

Piazza’s defense wasn’t that great, but a catcher with a .308 BA and 427 HR made up for it. OPS+ 142, even higher than Griffey’s, and this was a catcher. Higher OPS+ than Griffey, and higher BA.

I hope the rumors that kept him out until now are not true. Steroids. Rumors, but not confirmed. I’d hate for those rumors to be confirmed years down the road. What then, remove him?

He and Bill Dickey, another HOF catcher, hit .362 in a season.

The 1993 ROY, Piazza finished top 10 for MVP 7X, including back-to-back runnerup finishes in 1996 and 1997 with the Dodgers.

While Griffey is going in as the first Mariner in their history, Piazza is going in as the second Met (Tom Seaver).

Close but no cigar goes to Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines.

Significant improvement for Mike Mussina & Curt Schilling.

Even for Bonds and Clemens.

Next year, Jorge Posada is on the ballot. I’d expect a nice vote, maybe 25% but nowhere near the 75% to get in.

Vlad Guerrero comes on. I believe he will make it but on the first year may get only 63% or so.

Ivan Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez, while they certainly have the stats and credentials, are linked to steroids and I don’t believe they will get in. While Pudge (Rodriguez) wasn’t convicted, Manny as suspended twice.

Game 122. Severino gets first MLB win.

Plagued by lack of run support in his first three MLB starts, Luis Severino finally got some support on Saturday and went on to win his first MLB game when the Yanks beat Cleveland 6-2.

It was Jorge Posada Day at the Stadium, and the Yanks retired #20. Today they will be retiring #46 for Andy Pettitte and I’ll be up for the game.

Before the game, the Yanks recalled Brandon Pinder and DFA’d Chris Capuano….again. It’s the third time in a month that he’s been DFA’d by the Yanks.

They also made it official and released Garrett Jones.

Michael Pineda will start for the Yanks on Wednesday. For now, they will be going with a six-man rotation.

Severino gave up a HR in the first and nothing more.

The Yanks got that run back and more in the bottom of the first. Ellsbury singled, Gardner homered (12) to make it 2-1 and after an out, McCann homered (22) to make it 3-1.

A Cleveland error made it 4-1 in the second and later in that inning, Beltran’s SF made it 5-1.

Both teams got runs in the eighth, the Yanks’ run coming on a SF by John Ryan Murphy.

With the win, the 68-54 Yanks stay 1/2 game ahead of the Blue Jays in the AL East.

Severino (W, 1-2, 2.74) 6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 4 walks and 6 K.
Warren 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 2 K. 3.16
Betances 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 1.25
Miller 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 0 K. 2.03.

Game 121. Indians 7, Yanks 3.

I don’t know why it is, but the Yanks are having trouble with Cleveland this year. They have lost four of five to them.

The Indians beat the Yanks Friday night 7-3, and in so doing, reduced the Yanks’ AL East lead to just 1/2 a game.

Masahiro Tanaka gave up a run in the third but a double by Beltran and single by Bird knotted it up in the fourth.

But that would be the Yanks’ only run until the eighth.

An error by Ryan let in an unearned run in the fifth. Tanaka gave up a HR in the sixth. The Indians got another in the seventh. 4-1.

In the eighth, Gardner and Headley singled, then A-Rod singled in a run to make it 4-2. After a couple of outs, Bird hit one that was an error, 4-3. Ellsbury, who had replaced Young earlier, walked to load the bases, but Drew flied out to left.

Any chance at a comeback went by the boards in the top of the ninth when Justin Wilson gave up three runs.

So the Yanks turn to rookie Luis Severino today to be the stopper. In his three MLB starts, Severino has pitched well, but has received little run support. Hopefully that changes today and the Angels help the Yanks by beating Toronto.

Jorge Posada’s #20 gets retired today. Andy Pettitte’s #46 gets retired tomorrow. I’ll be at the Sunday game.

Tanaka (L, 9-6, 3.61) 6+ IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 7 H, 1 walk, 3 K.
Shreve 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 1 K. 2.01.
Rumbelow 1 Ip, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 1.35
Wilson 1 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 0 walks, 2 K. 3.20.