Game 124. Tanaka Time! Yanks edge Tribe, 3-2.

After a really rough stretch, the Masahiro Tanaka we have seen the last two times out is the Tanaka that Yankees’ fans are hoping to see in October.

The Yanks assured a winning season with win #82. Their last non-winning season was in 1992. 27 years ago. An impressive stretch, but still a long ways away from the stretch of 1925 to 1965 without a losing season.

Since 1925, the only times the Yankees have had a losing season were 1965-1967, 1969, 1973, 1982, and 1989-1992, with the worst year being 1990.

Only ten losing seasons in 94 years. Not bad.  Not bad at all.

At 82-42, the Yanks now have a 10 1/2 game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East and the magic # for clinching the division outright (barring any tiebreaker scenario) is down to 29.

The Yanks scored first, getting two in the bottom of the first. With one out, Aaron Judge and Gio Urshela singled. After a force out, putting runners on first and third with two out, Gary Sanchez singled for one run and Gleyber Torres singled for another.

Tanaka gave up a solo HR in the top of the second that cut the Yanks’ lead to 2-1.

In the bottom of the second, Yasier Puig threw out Cameron Maybin at the plate to keep another Yankees’ run from scoring. This would make the Yanks justifiably gun-shy of Puig’s cannon the rest of the game. I’ll get to that in a minute.

With two out in the fifth, Aaron Judge doubled, and Gio Urshela singled. Judge was going to be held at third (Puig’s arm) but Puig bobbled the ball for an error, enabling Judge to score. It turned out to be the decisive play in the game.

Tanaka gave up a solo HR to Puig in the seventh. 3-2 Yanks. Tommy Kahnle came in with a man on second, one out, and got two strikeouts to maintain the Yankees’ lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Yanks loaded the bases with no one out but couldn’t score. Two balls were hit to Puig but were too shallow for D.J. LeMahieu to score. Puig’s arm would have been too much.

Having wasted a huge scoring opportunity like that, I feared the worst. But the Yanks held on.

They held on because of Brett Gardner. With a man on second and one out in the top of the eighth, Gardner made a fine running catch to rob Cleveland of a double and the tying run. It saved the game.

Before the game, Chance Adams was sent down and recently acquired Ryan Dull was added.

Judge 2 hits.
Urshela 3 hits, .342. If he qualifies for the batting title, his .342 tops D.J. LeMahieu .337.

Tanaka (W, 9-6, 4.56) 6 1/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 2 HR.
Kahnle (H, 22) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  2.88
Britton (H, 26) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.  2.13
Chapman (S, 34) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.  2.40

 

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Game 123. Ugh. Yanks get hammered, lose 19-5.

Now the Yanks (81-42) know how Baltimore felt. They lost to Cleveland, 19-5, giving up seven homers in doing so. The lead in the AL East got cut to 9 1/2 over the Rays, and the magic # remains at 31. They still lead Houston by 2 1/2 for best record in the AL, and are tied with the Dodgers for best record in baseball.

When you have 162 games, you will have a game where you win like this, but one where you’ll lose like this.

The opener, Chad Green, didn’t open very well.

One out, five runs. Back-to-back HR. Grand slam and solo HR. Six batters into the game, the Yanks were down 5-0 and they didn’t even come to bat yet.

Ugh.

Jonathan Loaisiga came in. He had spent half the season on the IL. He got an out, but then gave up a hit then a HR. 7-0, and the Yanks didn’t come to bat yet. Double Ugh.

Loaisiga has electric stuff, but hasn’t channeled it at the MLB level yet. Injuries have also set him back.

The Yanks tried to come back in the bottom of the first. D.J. LeMahieu singled, Aaron Judge was called out on strikes, then Didi Gregorius and Gio Urshela each singled, Urshela driving in D.J. 7-1.  But they left the bases loaded. A couple hard-hit outs, but no luck. At least they got one back, but still, a long row to hoe, and a deficit they couldn’t overcome.

And that deficit grew larger.

Loaisiga gave up a 2-run HR in the second to Jose Ramirez, who had hit the grand slam in the first, and it was 9-1. Triple ugh.

As I was saying about Loaisiga. He strikes out the side in the second, showing his potential, but between coming in in the first inning and getting the three outs in the second, he gave up 2 HR before getting five outs. He needs consistency. Goes 2 2/3, gets 4 K, but gave up 4 R on 2 HR.

24, so hopefully he learns.

Chance Adams came in and wasn’t better. Adams had a couple nice seasons in the minors (28-6, 2.39 combined 2016-2017) a few years ago, but has regressed. In AAA for 2018-2019 he’s 8-8, about 4.60 and in 11 MLB games, he is 1-1, 7.36. He gave up five runs, including a HR. Adams just turned 25. We’ll see how he progresses or regresses.

The Yanks will have to make key decisions soon on both Loaisiga and Adams. Are either part of the future?

Things got so bad that 1B/DH Mike Ford had to pitch in order to save the bullpen. He gave up five runs in the eighth. He gave up 2 HR that inning. At that point it didn’t matter whether you lost 14-2, 19-2, 19-5, whatever. It still counts as just one loss, no matter what the margin of defeat was.

Aaron Judge is in an awful slump. He went 0 for 5 with 4 strikeouts and is down to .257. You wonder about that oblique.

The Yanks got solo homers from Didi Gregorius in the fifth that made it 12-2, Gary Sanchez in the sixth that made it 12-3, and Gleyber Torres in the eighth for the final run of the game.

LeMahieu 2 hits, .338
Gregorius 3 hits, solo HR (10)
Urshela 2 hits, 2 RBI .337
Sanchez solo HR (27)
Torres solo HR (27)

Close your eyes. These will be ugly.

Green (L, 2-4, 5.59)  1/3 IP, 5 R, 4 H, 1 W, 1 K.  Gave up 2 HR
Loaisiga 2 2/3 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 0 W, 4 K.   5.94        Gave up 2 HR
Adams    3 2/3 IP, 5 R, 10 H, 3 W, 2 K. 7.48        Gave up 1 HR
Cortes, Jr. 1/3 IP,  0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.   4.41
Ford           2 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 0 W, 1 K.      22.50       Gave up 2 HR.

The Yanks signed David Hernandez after he was released by the Reds to a minor league deal. Hernandez, RHP, 34, has had a bad 2019 (2-5, 8.02 for the Reds in 47 games), and is 38-47, 4.12 (ERA+ 103) in his MLB career. He has spent time with Baltimore (2009-2010), Arizona (2011-2013, 2015), Philadelphia (2016) the Dodgers (2017) Arizona II (2017) and Cincinnati (2018-2019). It’s a flyer. He was 5-2, 2.53 for the Reds in 2018.

 

 

 

 

Game 122. Unleash the Kraken! Yanks edge Orioles, 6-5.

The Yankees (81-41) edged Baltimore 6-5 Wednesday afternoon. The win was the Yanks 16th in a row vs. the Orioles and they went 17-2 against them this year.

With win #81 of the season, the Yanks ensured that they would not have a losing season. The last time that happened was in 1992.

Gary Sanchez, who had been slumping until Tuesday, had 3 hits and 3 RBI, including a 3-run HR. Good to get him going again. It was the 10th HR he hit against Baltimore this year. With Gleyber Torres hitting 13, they became the second pair of Yankees to each hit 10 or more homers against the same opponent since Ruth and Gehrig, who each mashed 11 home runs off Red Sox pitchers in 1927. (MLB.com)

Some company.

From MLB.com:

The 16 consecutive victories over Baltimore, is their longest single-season streak since winning 21 straight over the 1927 St. Louis Browns.

By going 17-2 against the O’s, it represented the Yanks’ best showing since they won 17 of 22 against the Kansas City Athletics in 1959. They also established a Major League record by belting 61 home runs against a single opponent, having homered in all 19 games against Baltimore. (43 of the HR were at Camden Yards, another record).

Torres also legged out a sixth-inning double, becoming the first Yankee to record 17 extra-base hits against one opponent in a single season since Mickey Mantle had 18 extra-base hits against the 1957 White Sox.

Before the game, the move was Thairo Estrada coming up, Adonis Rosa sent back down.

J.A. Happ gave up a run in the top of the first but the Yanks came right back with four in the bottom half.

Brett Gardner walked and Aaron Judge hit into a forceout. Gio Urshela singled, then Didi Gregorius singled in a run, with Urshela moving to third. Sanchez then launched a 3-run HR (26).

Baltimore got a run in the third to cut it to 4-2.

In the sixth, the Yanks got two runs to make it 6-2. With two out, Sanchez singled and Torres got that double. Mike Tauchman walked to load the bases and Mike Ford singled in two runs.

The Orioles got 3 runs off of Luis Cessa in the seventh.

Sanchez 3 for 3 with a walk. 3-run HR (26). Scored 2x, drove in 3.
Ford 2 RBI

Happ (W, 10-7, 5.40) 5 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 3 W, 6 K.
Cessa (H, 4) 1 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K.  4.33
Ottavino (H, 25) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.  1.70
Britton (H, 25) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.  2.17
Chapman (S, 33) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.   2.45

The Yanks claimed RHP Ryan Dull, 29, off of waivers. He was 0-0, 12.00 for Oakland this year. For his career, 8-9, 4.08, all with Oakland (2015-2019). He was claimed off of waivers from the Giants. His best year was in 2016 when he was 5-5, 2.42 for the A’s.

Brady Lail was DFA’d. Tough week for Mantiply and Lail. In the same game, Mantiply gets his first MLB win and Lail makes his MLB debut. In just a few days, both get DFA’d.

With today’s win, the Yanks’ lead in the AL East goes to 10 since the Rays lost. The magic # for the Yankees clinching their first AL East title since 2012 is 31 (updated the #, was one too many. 31.).

Game 121. German wins 16th, Yanks win 8-3.

Before game moves: Yanks DFA Joe Mantiply, send down Brady Lail, release Dan Camarena from SWB. Also, they let go Dan Jennings from SWB. They signed him last month. Jennings only pitched 1 1/3 innings for SWB, giving up five runs, including 3 HR.

They bring up Jonathan Loaisiga and Adonis Rosa. Rosa would make his MLB debut later during the ballgame.

The Yanks beat Baltimore for the 15th time in a row, 8-3, to go to 80-41 on the season. They “only” hit one homer in the game, giving them 60 HR vs. the Orioles this year.

UPDATE: The last time the Yanks beat a team 15 times in a row in the same season was in 1954, against the Philadelphia Athletics—-the A’s last season in Philadelphia.

D.J. LeMahieu led off the bottom of the first by hitting the first pitch he saw for a HR (19).

In the second inning, Gleyber Torres walked, Didi Gregorius doubled him to third and Cameron Maybin singled both runners in to make it 3-0.

Domingo German, who improved to 16-2 on the season, gave up a HR in the fourth that cut the Yanks’ lead to 3-1.

The Yanks came right back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 7-1. With one out, Austin Romine singled and Mike Tauchman walked. D.J. LeMahieu lined out for the second out, but Aaron Judge doubled in two runs. Nice to see Judge pull this one. He hasn’t been pulling the ball, probably due to complications from the oblique injury he had, but nice to see him turn on this one. 5-1. Gio Urshela singled in Judge. 6-1. Urshela moved to second on a WP and scored on a double by Gary Sanchez. 7-1. Good for Sanchez. The Yanks need to get him going. He was 11 for his last 98 before that double and his batting average dropped into the .220s. It’s still only .228.

German gave up another HR in the top of the fifth that made the score 7-2. The Yanks came back with a run of their own to make it 8-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Maybin walked, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Tauchman.

Adonis Rosa made his MLB debut and gave up a HR in the ninth. The final score was 8-3.

With the win, the Yanks maintain a 9-game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East and the magic # for clinching the division is 33.

The Yanks have an afternoon game today (Wednesday). It’s their final game against Baltimore this season. They are 16-2 vs. the Orioles.

It’s taken a long time, but finally some payback for 1966, when the Yanks finished in last place and were just 3-15 vs. the WS Champion Orioles that year. Just saying.

LeMahieu solo HR (19)  .337
Judge 2 RBI
Urshela 3 hits, RBI  .336 (just short of qualifying for batting title, right behind D.J.)
Sanchez 2 hits, RBI
Maybin 2 RBI
Romine 3 hits
Tauchman 2 hits, RBI

True team effort.

German (W, 16-2, 3.96) 7 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 W, 7 K.  Gave up 2 HR.
Rosa 2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  4.50  Gave up 1 HR.  MLB DEBUT.

Update 2: Rosa was sent back down after the game. No word yet on who is coming up.

Game 117; Bullpen doesn’t hold up as Yanks lose, 5-4.

The Yankees (76-41) lost their second in a row, 5-4, to Toronto Saturday.

A few things.

Before the game, Gary Sanchez brought back, Kyle Higashioka back down.

Also, Jonathan Holder on the IL, Stephen Tarpley back up.

Remember when I wondered why Holder was pitching “as the opener” a third inning a few days ago? Well, that third inning may have come back to bite them.

The Yanks got a run in the top of the Fourth on a solo HR by Gary Sanchez (25).

Chance Adams, who had a couple great minor league years a few years ago, but who hasn’t taken it to the next level but instead has regressed, relieved Tarpley with two on and one out in the fourth and gave up a 3-run HR to the first batter he faced. 3-1 Toronto.

Tarpley and Adams are examples of how difficult the next step is. For Tarpley, he had a great spring training, winning the James P. Dawson Award as best rookie in camp this year, and Adams had great seasons at AA and AAA very recently but as you can see by their ERAs below, they haven’t been able to do it in the majors this season.

The Yanks tied the game in the sixth on a 2-run HR by Gio Urshela (17).

They went ahead in the top of the seventh on a walk to Mike Ford, a double by Mike Tauchman, and a SF by D.J. LeMahieu.

But Adam Ottavino gave up a two-run triple to Vlad Guerrero, Jr. in the bottom of the seventh to put Toronto back on top 5-4, and the Blue Jays held onto that lead for the victory.

The Yanks lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East was trimmed to 8 1/2. The magic # for clinching their first AL East title since 2012 remains at 37.

The Yanks got just five hits in the game. You wish Kahnle might have gone another inning.

Sanchez solo HR (25)
Urshela 2-run HR (17) .320
Tauchman 1 for 1,   3 walks.  .305

Green 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.   4.82
Tarpley 2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 4 W, 4 K.  8.24  K’s nice, walks not.
Adams (BS, 2) 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.  6.50   Gave up 1 HR.
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K.   2.98
Ottavino (L, 5-4, 1.73; BS, 5) 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K.
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K.   2.25

Minor League Report. Sanchez rehab; dominating Nelson.

AAA: SWB (64-52) lost 7-4. Gary Sanchez on rehab 0 for 2, walked, scored a run. He should have Friday off and rejoin the Yankees on Saturday. SWB only got 2 hits in the game. SS Thairo Estrada a 3-run HR, and 2B Wendell Rijo a solo HR.

Starter Brian Keller a ND; 7 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 4 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR.  2.57

AA:  Trenton (61-54) won both games they played.

Completion of game suspended Aug. 7: Won 3-2. 1B Chris Gittens 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-Run HR. RF Isiah Gilliam solo HR.

Regular game: Won 4-0. 2B Hoy Jun Park 2 hits, RBI.
Starter Nick Nelson (W, 7-2, 2.35) 6 1/3 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 1 W, 11 K.

High A:   Tampa (52-61) lost 5-4. RF Alexander Palma 2 hits, RBI, solo HR. C Donny Sands 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR.

Starter Trevor Stephan ND, 5 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 7 H, 1 W, 7 K.  4.01

Low A: Charleston (59-57) won 3-1 despite getting just 3 hits. 1B Eric Wagaman a 2-run HR, 3 RBI.

Starter Rony Contreras (W, 8-5, 3.77) 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 W, 3 K.

 

Minor League Report. Sanchez on rehab.

AAA: SWB (64-51) lost 12-2. Gary Sanchez, on rehab, 1 for 3 but made an error (catcher’s interference). It must be said that Austin Romine and Kyle Higashioka have done great in his absence—the Orioles lack of pitching helping a lot in that department. SWB made four errors in the game, and one was by Clint Frazier.

Maybe the IL stint will help Sanchez regain his stroke. He was 10 for his last 85 before going on the IL.

RF Trey Amburgey 2 hits. DH Erik Kratz 2 RBI.

AA: Trenton’s game was suspended in the fifth inning. To be completed today, August 8.

High A: Tampa (52-60) lost 9-2. C Jason Lopez solo HR. Daniel Bies 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings, 5 K.

Low A: Charleston off.