Game 153. Catchers spur Yanks’ comeback in 7-3 win. Take back WC slot.

Catchers Kyle Higashioka (who started the game) and Gary Sanchez (who finished it) led a Yankees’ comeback from a 3-0 deficit as the Yankees completed a three game sweep of Texas with a 7-3 win Wednesday night.

The win, combined with Toronto’s loss to Tampa Bay, put the Yanks back as the second wild card by 1/2 game. There are 9 games left for the Yankees, and it won’t be easy. 3 at Boston, 3 at Toronto and 3 at home against Tampa Bay (who will win the division).

Wild Card Standings.
Boston 88-65 top wild card for now
YANKEES 86-67 -2 from Boston; second wild card for now
Toronto 85-67 – 2 1/2 from Boston; 1/2 game behind the Yankees
Seattle 83-69 -4 1/2 from Boston, -2 1/2 from Yankees
Oakland 82-70 -5 1/2 from Boston, – 3 1/2 from Yankees

Before the game, the Yanks activated Domingo German off the IL and send down Estevan Florial.

Texas pecked away at Yankees’ starter Corey Kluber, scoring single runs in the second, fourth, and fifth. Their run in the fourth scored on a bloop two-out popup that fell into no-man’s land.

One concern the Yanks have is the defense. By switching Gleyber Torres back to second, D.J. LeMahieu and Gio Urshela aren’t at their natural, best positions, while Torres is. D.J. is best at second but is at third, Urshela best at third, but now at SS (and he’s made a few nice plays there). Also, Luke Voit started last night’s game at first base because Texas started a lefty pitcher. Anthony Rizzo, who came in for defense late in the game, is the better defender.

The Yanks started their comeback in the bottom of the fifth. Torres led off with a walk, and Urshela singled him to second. Higashioka doubled in both runners. Earlier in the game, Higashioka was robbed of a two-run double. Texas CF D.J. Peters couldn’t get to this one, however. After an out, LeMahieu flied to right, but Higashioka was gunned down at the plate trying to score. After five innings, 3-2 Texas.

The Yanks got a gift run to tie the game in the sixth. With one out, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Joey Gallo all walked. After another out, a wild pitch allowed the Yanks to tie the game.

The Yanks broke through with four runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away. With two out, Gallo hit a pop-fly double that found no-man’s land. Torres doubled in Gallo with what proved to be the game-winning run. Urshela singled, and on the play, a throwing error enabled Torres to score. 5-3, Yanks. Sanchez capped everything off with a 2-run HR (23) and the Yanks were up 7-3, which ended up the final score.

Torres GW hit, RBI
Urshela 2 hits
Higashioka 2 hits, 2 RBI
Sanchez 2-run HR (23)

Kluber 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 0 W, 4 K. 3.82
Peralta 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.69 (SF/NYY)
Holmes 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.92 (Pit/NYY)
Green (W, 9-7) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.35
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.44

Great job by bullpen. 4 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings.

Game 151. Yanks hang on for 4-3 win, tighten WC race.

The Yanks got 4 2/3 scoreless IP out of their bullpen, and hung on for a 4-3 win over Texas Monday night that combined with Tampa Bay’s 6-4 win over Toronto, moved the Yanks to 1/2 game behind Toronto in the wild card race.

Wild Card Standings
Boston 86-65 — top wild card seed as of now
Toronto 84-66 – 1 1/2 2nd wild card seed as of now
YANKEES 84-67 -2 behind Boston, -1/2 from Toronto
Oakland 82-68 -3 1/2 behind Boston, -2 from Toronto, – 1 1/2 behind Yankees
Seattle 81-69 – 4 1/2 behind Boston, -3 from Toronto, -2 1/2 behind Yankees.

The Yanks got on the board in the bottom of the second on a solo HR by Gary Sanchez (22).

They got three in the third to make it 4-0. With one out, D.J. LeMahieu walked, and Anthony Rizzo singled D.J. to second. A single by Aaron Judge made it 2-0, and both runners moved up on the throw. Giancarlo Stanton hit a SF, and after a walk to Joey Gallo, Gleyber Torres singled for the Yankees’ final run.

Nestor Cortes was “Nasty Nestor” for four innings, and got out of a second and third, no out jam in the first inning with three straight strikeouts. But while the Yanks couldn’t tack on more runs, Cortes got knocked out in the fifth, when Texas scored three runs to cut it to 4-3.

After that it was nail-biting and scoreboard-watching time.

Judge 2 hits, RBI
Torres 2 hits, RBI
Sanchez solo HR (22)

Cortes 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 7 K. 1 WP. gave up 1 HR. 2.79.
Green (W, 8-7) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 WP. 3.39
Holmes (H, 10) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.98 (Pit/NYY)
Rodriguez (H, 14) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.60 (Tex/NYY)
Chapman (S, 28) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.51

I wonder how much money you could have gotten in the spring if you would have bet someone that Nestor Cortes would make at least 12 starts for the Yankees this year, and after 12 starts, would have a lower ERA than Gerrit Cole?

The Yanks activated Luis Severino before the game, and released Sal Romano.

Game 149. In/out, up/down; Yanks’ 11-3 loss knocks them out of playoff picture again for now.

In an ideal world, you wouldn’t want your starting pitcher, in the middle of a pennant race and with 14 games to go, to be a rookie making just his sixth major league start. Nor would you want his reliever to be another rookie, nor the reliever after him to be someone who may be the one pitcher on your staff struggling the most (see the stat below).

But as we know, it isn’t an ideal world, and injuries to the Yankees’ pitching staff forced that scenario yesterday as the Yankees got clobbered by Cleveland, 11-3. The loss was painful because both Boston and Toronto won.

Wild Card Standings.

Boston 85-65 top seed as of now.
Toronto 83-65 2nd seed as of now. -1 from Boston
NYY 83-66 -1 1/2 from Boston, – 1/2 from Toronto
Oakland 81-67 -3 from Boston, -2 from Toronto (- 1 1/2 from Yankees)
Seattle 79-69 -5 from Boston, – 4 from Toronto.

So as you can see, the loss not only has (temporarily we hope) knocked the Yanks out of a wild card spot but don’t look back, Oakland is gaining on you.

Just win, baby.

Starter Luis Gil pitched ok for four innings, giving up a HR in the second. Entering the fifth, the Yanks were losing 1-0. Ok, still in the ballgame.

In the meantime, Yankees’ LF Joey Gallo had to leave the game with a neck problem.

An elephant in the room has to be addressed. In each of the Yankees’ last three losses, crucial defensive mistakes by catcher Gary Sanchez have helped the Yankees lose those games. With Gerrit Cole starting for the Yankees today, expect Kyle Higashioka to catch. But the Yankees should consider catching Higashioka full-time from here out, because of Sanchez’ defense over the past week.

With one out in the fifth, losing 1-0, Sanchez dropped a foul popup that should have been out #2, with no one on base. Instead, it opened the floodgates for Cleveland to put up a seven-run inning and the game was basically over. This after the phantom tag in the Mets game and the WP that Sanchez couldn’t catch in the Orioles’ loss. If the Yanks want to make the playoffs, those plays can’t happen.

Still in all, when Gil left the game, there was two on and one out. Hopefully Albert Abreu could get a DP ball and get out of the jam. Nope. Instead, the dam broke. Double, HBP, double, single. Four runs in. A second out (should have been the third if Sanchez catches the pop up). Then the killer, a 3-run HR that made it 8-0.

The struggling Andrew Heaney came in for the sixth. D.J. LeMahieu made an uncharacteristic error, and Heaney, prone to giving up homers (see below), gave up a 2-run shot that made it 10-0.

Giancarlo Stanton homered (30) in the bottom of the seventh to put the Yanks on the board, but Heaney gave up a HR in the top of the eighth to make it 11-1.

Luke Voit hit a 2-run HR (11) in the bottom of the eighth and the final was 11-3 Cleveland.

LeMahieu 2 hits.
Voit 2-run HR (11)
Stanton solo HR (30)
Sanchez 2 hits but the crucial error.

Gil has great stuff, but needs control. 6 K in 4 1/3 good, but 4 walks and a HBP aren’t.

In just 35 2/3 IP as a Yankee, Heaney has given up 13 HR. Ouch.

Gil (L, 1-1) 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 W, 6 K. 1 HBP. gave up 1 HR. 3.07 First MLB loss.
Abreu 2/3 IP, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 4.75
Heaney 3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 2 HR. 5.76 (LAA/NYY)
Rodriguez 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 4.64 (Tex/NYY)

Gil was sent down after the game. We will see what move comes next (German? Severino?)

Game 144. Yanks comeback to edge Twins in 10, 6-5. Back in tie for 2nd WC spot.

The Yanks came back from a 5-0 deficit to edge the Minnesota Twins 6-5 in 10 innings in a Monday afternoon makeup game.

With the win, the Yanks moved back into a virtual tie for the 2nd wild card spot. Here is how things stand.

Toronto 81-63 — 1st wild card
Yankees 80-64 -1 .556 virtual tie for 2nd wild card
Boston 81-65 -1 .555 virtual tie for 2nd wild card
Seattle 78-66 -3 from Toronto, -2 from NYY/BOS
Oakland 77-66 -3 1/2 from Toronto, -2 1/2 from NYY/BOS

The Yanks made some changes before the game. With recent errors defensively from Gio Urshela and Gleyber Torres at 3B and SS respectively, Torres moved back to 2B, D.J. LeMahieu took over at 3B, and Tyler Wade was at SS. Also, Kyle Higashioka caught more because it was a day game after a night game, but even there, Higashioka is better defensively than Gary Sanchez. We will see who catches Gerrit Cole tonight, a job usually handled by Higashioka.

But just because he did not start yesterday’s game, doesn’t mean Sanchez couldn’t finish it. And finish it he did.

Yankees’ starter Luis Gil put the Yankees in an early hole, giving up two 2-run HRs in the first inning. The Yanks were down 4-0 before they even came to bat. Gil settled down after that, lasting six innings. After that first inning, he only gave up one more run—on a HR in the third inning.

Meanwhile, after five innings, the only hit the Yanks had was on a fifth inning bunt single by Joey Gallo.

The Yanks got a run in the sixth when Wade walked, stole second, went to third on a flyout, and scored on a SF by LeMahieu, who was robbed of a double on the play by a great catch.

Gallo made it 5-2 in the seventh with a HR (33).

In the bottom of the eighth, PH Anthony Rizzo led off with a walk. Sanchez PH for Higashioka and flied out. After LeMahieu flied out, Brett Gardner walked on a full-count pitch. It was a controversial call that got Twins’ manager Rocco Baldelli ejected. After a pitching change, Aaron Judge homered (33) to tie the game.

No one scored in the ninth, although Aroldis Chapman made things hairy once again.

The game went into extra innings, with that ghost runner I hate. Clay Holmes kept the Twins off the board in the top of the tenth.

Gleyber Torres was the ghost runner for the Yankees in the bottom of the tenth. Gio Urshela, who took over at SS, struck out trying to bunt Torres over, but Sanchez laced one to the wall for the game-winning hit.

Judge 3-run HR (33)
Gallo 2 hits, solo HR (33)
Sanchez game-winning single in bottom of the tenth.

Gil 6 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 1 W, 8 K. Gave up 3 HR. 2.88
Heaney 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 5.76 (LAA/NYY)
Abreu 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.19
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.70
Holmes (W, 8-3) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.07 (Combined Pit/NYY) .

Clarke Schmidt was sent back to SWB. Sal Romano decided to become a free agent rather than go to SWB.

Game 143. Yanks drop to 4th in division, out of wildcard spots, after 7-6 loss.

Francisco Lindor hit 3 HR against the Yankees as the Mets won Sunday night 7-6 in a game that featured a bench-clearing incident regarding whistling/tipping of pitches.

The loss was the Yanks 12th in their last 15 games. It dropped them to 4th in their division, and as of now, they are out of the wild card picture.

Wild Card Standings (Tampa Bay, The Chicago White Sox and Houston lead their divisions)

Boston (81-64)/Toronto (80-63) in a virtual tie for the two wild card spots.
NYY 79-64, one game back
Oakland and Seattle each 77-66, three games back of Bos/Tor, 2 back of the Yankees.

The Yanks have an afternoon makeup game against the Twins today (Monday afternoon). They have to pick things up. Just 19 games to go.

The Yanks got two runs in the top of the first inning. D.J. LeMahieu and Anthony Rizzo both walked. Aaron Judge, who had to leave the game later because of dizziness, struck out. Giancarlo Stanton doubled in one run, and Joey Gallo hit a SF to bring in another. Amazing stat in that it was only the second SF of Gallo’s career.

The Yanks were forced to start rookie Clarke Schmidt because of their pitching woes. It was just Schmidt’s second MLB start and his fourth MLB game. He gave up a run in the bottom of the first, and stranded two.

In the bottom of the second, an error by Gleyber Torres led to three unearned runs when Lindor hit a 3-run HR, his first of three homers for the game. 4-2, Mets.

A SF scored a run for the Mets in the fifth, and it was 5-2.

With one out in the top of the sixth, Gallo walked and Torres hit a 2-run HR (7) and it was 5-4.

Lindor hit his second HR in the bottom of the sixth and it was 6-4. Apparently he whistled going around the bases as if to signal and mock the Yankees for whistling and accusing them of tipping off pitches to hitters.

In the top of the seventh, LeMahieu singled, and two outs later, Stanton hit a 2-run HR (27) to tie the game. He jawed at Lindor while circling the bases and the benches emptied. Brett Gardner mocked the thumbs down gesture that the Mets used against their fans recently.

Lindor hit his third HR of the game in the bottom of the eighth to give the Mets a 7-6 lead and they hung on for the win.

Stanton had a chance to get in the last word, but with two on and two out in the top of the ninth, he popped up to Lindor to end the game.


LeMahieu 3 hits
Stanton 2 hits, 3 RBI, 2-run HR (27)
Torres 2-run HR (7) but a huge error that allowed 3 unearned runs to score which helped cost the game.

Torres and Urshela once again made errors. Sanchez had a PB. The Yanks’ defense has to tighten up.

Schmidt 4 1/3 IP, 5 R, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 W, 2 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 4.15
Heaney 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 5.83 (LAA/NYY)
Peralta 2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.89 (SF/NYY)
Green (L, 7-7) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.28

Andrew Velazquez was sent down to make room for Schmidt.

Game 141. Yanks lose 7th straight. Five teams all within 2 games of each other for 2 WC spots.

You don’t know what to write anymore. You see the disaster unfolding. You are helpless to do anything about it. It continues and you can’t watch anymore.

It’s ironic that those words describing the Yankees’ recent play have to be written this morning, on the 20th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. No disrespect is meant to those who suffered, were injured, died or were otherwise affected by that tragedy.

But it accurately describes the Yankees’ recent play.

The Yanks have now lost seven in a row, and eleven of their last thirteen games. They were embarrassed last night by the crosstown Mets, 10-3. Even sure-handed Gio Urshela made another error last night, and he has made a few lately. Gleyber Torres made another error. There were 2 WP, 2 HBP. Sloppiness.

The bats were pretty much silent again. The pitching is self-destructing. That included Michael King, brought back from rehab. Sal Romano was DFA’d again (he started the season with the Reds, then to the Yankees, then the Brewers, then the Yankees, now cut again).

You want it to stop. Instead it goes on. I don’t know how many Yankees fans, disgusted, turned off the game in the middle innings. I was one of them. I couldn’t watch anymore.

It’s apparent some heads will roll after this season is over, and a drastic re-make of this team may be necessary. Players, coaches and probably the manager too. All the good vibes of the 13-game winning streak are gone.

Amazingly, the Yanks are still—barely—in a playoff spot. Here is how the wild card picture looks

Boston 80-63. Top wild card spot.
Yankees 78-63 Second wild card spot, 1 game behind Boston
Toronto 77-63 Just 1/2 a game behind the Yankees
Seattle and Oakland. Both 77-64. Both just 1 game behind the Yankees.

Five teams. Two spots. All five teams within 2 games of each other.

The Yanks scored first, in the top of the first, when Brett Gardner tripled with one out and then scored on an RBI groundout by Aaron Judge.

The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the first when a play at the plate, originally ruled an out, was overturned. Bad play by C Gary Sanchez on the tag, allowing the runner to score.

Joey Gallo homered for the Yanks (32, Tex/NYY) to put the Yanks up 2-1 in the second.

The Mets got five runs in the bottom of the third to go up 6-2. After that, it was a slow death. Sloppiness. Walks, a WP, an error by Urshela. A run scoring on a bases-loaded bunt!!. Just an ugly inning.

The Mets tacked two more on in the fourth to make it 8-2. Game basically over at that point. What is even more depressing is that it could have been worse. The Mets ran themselves into a couple of outs on the basepaths.

Two more runs, by the Mets in the seventh, helped by back-to-back HBP and the Torres error. More ugly play. 10-2.

Anthony Rizzo homered (20, Cubs/NYY) in the ninth. 10-3 final.

There are 21 games left. Amazingly, the Yanks still hold a wild card spot and are only a game out of the top wild card spot. But there isn’t any way to whitewash this. It’s one thing to lose, another to lose and look bad and sloppy doing so.

Can they flip the switch, get things right and save a playoff spot for themselves? With the way they are playing, and with some recent injuries, I’d say no. I hope I am wrong. I’m rooting for them, but they have to start winning games, and with the wild card race having tightened up, it must start now.

There are no other words. This is bad.

Gardner 2 hits.
Rizzo solo HR (20, Cubs/NYY)
Gallo solo HR (32, Tex/NYY)

Montgomery (L, 5-6) 3 1/3 IP, 7 R, 5 ER, 7 H, 3 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 WP. 3.71
Rodriguez 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.79 (Tex/NYY)
King 3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2 HBP, 1 WP. 3.68
Abreu 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 4.36

Game 140. Wild card race tightens as Yanks lose sixth straight, get bad news on pitchers.

When it rains, it pours.

On a day when the Yanks got more bad news pitching-wise, the Yanks (78-62) lost their sixth game in a row, and tenth in their last twelve, to Toronto, 6-4.

Toronto has won eight in a row and has turned the wild card race into a crapshoot.

Before the game, besides the uncertainty on ace Gerrit Cole and his tight hamstring, the Yanks had to put Jameson Taillon on the 10 day IL due to a partially torn tendon in his ankle. They are holding out hope he still might make a start this season, but it doesn’t look good. Sal Romano was called up. OF Jonathan Davis was DFA’d , and expect Michael King up soon.

Also, Zack Britton, already done for this year, will in most likelihood miss ALL of 2022. Besides a bone chip being removed from his elbow, he also went TJ surgery.

Now for the game. Bo Bichette, the first batter of the game, hit a HR (22) off of Yankees’ starter Nestor Cortes, Jr. to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 immediate lead.

Cortes pitched well, giving up another solo HR, this one to Randal Grichuk (22) in the fifth, and the Blue Jays were up 2-0. That is all “Nasty Nestor” gave up. But he got little run support.

But the state of the Yankees bullpen is such that in a big game in September, Sal Romano and Andrew Heaney had to pitch.

The Yanks did tie the game in the bottom of the sixth when Aaron Judge singled and Anthony Rizzo followed with a 2-run HR (19).

But Toronto scored in the top of the seventh and never looked back. An error by Tyler Wade led to Toronto getting another run in the eighth and Vlad Guerrero Jr. hit HR #42 in the ninth off of Heaney to put the Blue Jays up 5-2. Toronto got another run off Heaney later in the ninth and it became 6-2.

In the bottom of the ninth, Gary Sanchez (21) and Luke Voit (9) hit back-to-back HRs, Voit as a PH, to make it 6-4, which would be the final score.


Judge 3 hits
Rizzo 2-run HR (19; Cubs/NYY)
Sanchez solo HR (21)
Voit solo HR (9)


Cortes, Jr. 6 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 0 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR. 2.70
Romano (L, 0-2) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 HBP 5.84 (Combined Reds/Brewers and NYY)
Peralta 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 3 W, 2 K. 3.86 (Combined SF/NYY)
Heaney 1 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 1 K. gave up 1 HR. 5.86 (Combined LAA/NYY)

The Yanks are 10 behind Tampa Bay, 3rd in AL East, with 22 games to go.

Now for the wild-card picture.

Bos 80-62, top wild card seed
NYY 78-62 -1 from Boston. At present, the second wild card.
Tor 77-62 -1 1/2 from Boston and only 1/2 game behind the Yanks.
Oakland AND Seattle each 76-64, 3 behind Boston and both just 2 1/2 behind the Yanks.

Game 136. Sanchez’ heroics can’t save Yanks, fall 8-7.

Gary Sanchez hit 2 HR and drove in 6 runs, but it wasn’t enough as the Yankees (78-58) lost to Baltimore 8-7 on Sunday.

Before the game, some really bad news. Jonathan Loaisiga goes on the IL with a strained right rotator cuff. Those are serious injuries. So a bullpen that already has lost Zack Britton, who had an ineffective season because of bone chips in his elbow, and that currently has a struggling Aroldis Chapman, now probably loses Loaisiga for the season. For now, he is just on the 10-day IL, but rotator cuffs are serious.

The loss places more emphasis on the four game series against Toronto beginning today. If Toronto wins three of four, or sweeps the Yankees, they put themselves right back in the wild card mix and then the wild card becomes a crapshoot. Forget the division. Tampa Bay, with a 7 1/2 game lead over the Yankees, has that wrapped up. But here is how the wild card standings look:

NYY 78-58 —
Bos 79-60 – 1/2 would be second WC, sudden death game in NY
Sea 75-62 -3 1/2 from NYY, -3 from Bos
Tor 73-62 -4 1/2 from NYY, -4 from Bos
Oak 74-63 -4 1/2 from NYY, -4 from Bos.

You can see what could happen should the Yanks not hold serve over these next four games. It could turn into a five-team shootout for two places.

Now for yesterday’s game. Ugh. I’m sure the NY and national media is going to have a lot to say. The Yanks cannot and should not lose two of three to the last-place Orioles. They shouldn’t be only 9-7 against them this year. But they are. And it is a big reason why the Yanks are in the predicament that they are in.

Some players, when acquired or signed, just don’t work out. We can think of a few, and here are just pitchers: Carl Pavano, Sonny Gray, Ed Whitson, Jeff Weaver.

You can add Andrew Heaney to that list.

“He’s going to have to [turn things around],” manager Aaron Boone said of Heaney, who now owns a 7.62 ERA in seven games as a Yankee. “He’s going to have to step up.”

The Yanks fell behind 1-0 in the second inning when Yankees’ starter Corey Kluber gave up a HR.

With one out in the bottom of the second, Luke Voit walked, Gleyber Torres singled, and Rougned Odor was HBP, loading up the bases. Gary Sanchez hit a grand slam (19) and the Yanks were up 4-1.

The Orioles got a run in the fourth, to make it 4-2, and in so doing, knocked Kluber from the game.

The Yanks went up 5-2 in the fifth. D.J. LeMahieu and Joey Gallo both walked, and two outs later, Anthony Rizzo singled in a run.

Baltimore scored twice in the top of the sixth to cut it to 5-4. With two out, a single on a ball Gleyber Torres was slow making a play on, and should have made a play on. It would help cost the Yanks the game. Cedric Mullins followed with a 2-run HR off of Albert Abreu, who was brought up when Loaisiga was put on the IL.

“It’s a ground ball to short, we gotta make that play,” said Boone.

Torres singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth, and one out later, Sanchez hit a 2-run HR (20) to make it 7-4.

Heaney came in for the top of the seventh. He only got one out, and gave up 4 runs as Baltimore went ahead 8-7 and hung on to win by that score. Some people on various blogs criticized Aaron Boone for leaving Heaney in too long, but this wasn’t on Boone. Boone was ejected earlier in the game.

Luis Gil will be brought up sometime to make a start and give the rest of the rotation an extra day. With 20 games in 20 days, they can use it. If I were the Yanks, I’d keep Gil up and then use him out of the bullpen, especially with Loaisiga out and Heaney being ineffective.

Unfortunately, the Heaney pickup hasn’t worked out at all.

LeMahieu 2 hits
Torres 2 hits, but one huge fielding miscue (even referred to by Boone in the postgame interviews)
Sanchez 2 hits, both HR, 6 RBI. A grand slam and a 2-run HR (20)

Joey Gallo, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton combined to go 0 for 12 with 6 strikeouts. Ouch. Very frustrating.

Kluber 3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 3 H, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP. 3.69
Rodriguez 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K. 4.97 (TEX/NYY)
Abreu (H, 2) 1 2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.45
Heaney (L, 8-9; BS, 1) 1/3 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 HBP 5.81 (LAA/NYY)
Peralta 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.02 (SF/NYY)
Green 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.04

Game 132. Yanks lose 4th in row, 6-4.

After a 13-game winning streak, the Yanks have now lost 4 in a row, losing last night to the Angels, 6-4.

With the loss, the Yanks are 8 back of Tampa Bay in the AL East, with 30 games to go. It would be a miracle (and one heck of a Rays’ collapse) for the Yanks to win the division. Tampa Bay has won 9 in a row.

As for the wild card, the Yanks remain 2 up on Boston for the top wild card spot. Oakland is one back of Boston, Seattle 3 1/2 back of Boston, and Toronto 4 1/2 back of Boston.

The Yanks scored first in the game, when Anthony Rizzo homered (18, combined Cubs/Yanks) in the top of the fourth inning.

Yankees starter Jameson Taillon gave up a 3-run HR to Jared Walsh in the bottom of the fourth and the Angels were up 3-1.

Gary Sanchez homered, #18 and first in over a month, to cut the Angels’ lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth.

Taillon almost got out of a second and third, no out jam in the bottom of the fifth, getting two outs, then intentionally walking Shohei Ohtani. He was one strike from getting out of the inning, but then gave up a two-run single. A double steal followed, Shohei Ohtani stealing home on the play, and the Angels were up 6-2. The Angels stole five bases in the game.

Meanwhile, the Yankees were taking themselves out of the game by grounding into 5 DPs. They were 1 for 10 w/RISP.

D.J. LeMahieu led off the top of the eighth with a single and moved to third on a double by Rizzo. Aaron Judge singled in a run, and Giancarlo Stanton hit a SF to make it 6-4, which wound up the final score.

LeMahieu 2 hits
Rizzo 2 hits, solo HR (18, Cubs/NYY)
Judge 2 hits, RBI
Sanchez solo HR (18)

Taillon (L, 8-5) 4 2/3 IP, 6 R, 5 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.44
Rodriguez 1 1/3, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 5.06 (Combined Tex/NYY ERA)
Luetge 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.93

Game 126. Yanks hold on to edge Braves, 5-4, for 11th straight win.

For the first time since 1985, the Yankees have an 11-game winning streak. They are now 19-4 in the month of August and have won 33 of their last 44 games.

It wasn’t easy. Wandy Peralta had to relieve an ineffective Aroldis Chapman with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth. He got Freddie Freeman (last year’s NL MVP) to fly to left for the final out to preserve a 5-4 victory for the Yanks over the Atlanta Braves.

With the win, the Yanks (74-52) stay 4 back of Tampa Bay in the division. They are 2 1/2 up on Boston for the top wild card spot. The Yanks are off Wednesday, and are heading to Oakland to face the A’s. The A’s are 2 behind Boston for the other wild card spot, so the Yanks can put a little distance and breathing room between themselves and the A’s. Seattle is 3 behind Boston, and Toronto 5 1/2 behind Boston.

The Braves struck first, getting two runs in the bottom of the first off of Yankees’ starter Andrew Heaney. With two out, Heaney walked Freeman and hit Austin Riley with a pitch. On an 0-2 pitch, Dansby Swanson doubled in two runs. Ugh. All with two out, and on an 0-2 pitch. 2-0 Braves. And to add insult to injury, Freeman walked on a pitch that appeared to be strike three. It was one of a couple controversial calls by the umpires last night.

The Yanks got one back in the top of the second when Giancarlo Stanton hit his 22nd HR of the season.

The Yanks tied it in the fourth when Aaron Judge doubled and two outs later, scored on a single by Gary Sanchez.

The Yanks went up 4-2 in the top of the fifth. Andrew Velazquez singled, stole second, and scored when D.J. LeMahieu hit a 2-run HR (9).

The Braves got a run in the bottom of the fifth. Albert Abreu started the inning on the mound for the Yanks. After an out, a single and a walk. Joely Rodriguez replaced Abreu and got a forceout. But then Riley singled in one run, but Freeman, also trying to score, was called out at the plate, upheld by review.

The inning before, Braves’ CF Joc Pederson was ejected for arguing a call. The umpires ruled that he had swung and struck out even though he was hit by the pitch. The swing negating the HBP. Pederson, of course, didn’t think he swung. As I mentioned, several controversial calls in this game.

In the top of the seventh, Rougned Odor homered (15) to put the Yanks up 5-3. It would turn out to be the decisive run.

In the bottom of the eighth, with one out and Freeman (he seemed to be in the middle of everything) on first, Riley singled Freeman to third, but was thrown out at second trying to advance. Another out upheld on review.

To the bottom of the ninth, and Chapman in. A groundout, then a single and a strikeout. Fine. Two run lead, one on. Then Chapman could not seal the deal. A walk on four pitches. An infield single to load the bases. Another walk to force in a run to make it 5-4.

Peralta then came in and got Freeman to fly to left, but it took nine pitches to do it, and a 3-2 count. Close to walking in the tying run, but he got the job done.

One nail-biting ending.

LeMahieu 2-run HR (9)
Judge 2 hits
Stanton solo HR (22)
Odor solo HR (15)

Heaney 4 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 5 K. 1 HBP. 5.48 (Combined LAA/NYY ERA)
Abreu 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 4.21
Rodriguez (H, 12) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 5.05 (Combined Tex/NYY ERA)
Holmes (W, 5-2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.38 (Combined Pit/NYY)
Green (H, 16) 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.03
Chapman (H, 1) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K. 3.86
Peralta (S, 5) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.62 (Combined SF/NYY)

I guess Loaisiga wasn’t available last night. Salaries be damned, I’d make him the closer over Chapman right now.

UPDATE: Zack Britton appears done for the season and could require TJ surgery which would take him out of 2022 and the rest of his Yankees’ contract. Hopefully he is just shut down for the year, does not need the surgery, and can come back strong next year.