Game 33. White Sox walk-off Yanks, 3-2.

You can’t win them all, and the Yankees (24-9) did win 17 of their previous 19 games.

Dallas Keuchel has always given the Yankees fits, going back to the former CYA winner’s days with Houston. He gave the Yanks fits again Saturday night, tossing five shutout innings as the White Sox beat the Yankees 3-2, walking it off with a run in the bottom of the ninth.

Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery kept the Yanks in the game despite struggling, giving up a run in the first inning and a solo HR to Yoan Moncada in the third.

The Yanks loaded the bases with two out in the top of the fifth, but Anthony Rizzo grounded out.

With one out in the eighth, they pushed across a run on three consecutive singles—by Aaron Judge, Rizzo and the RBI by Giancarlo Stanton. But they could not tack on as both Josh Donaldson and Gleyber Torres then struck out.

The Yanks tied it up in the top of the ninth. Joey Gallo led off with a walk and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (IKF) singled. IKF stole second. Kyle Higashioka hit a SF to tie the game but IKF made a baserunning blunder and got thrown out at third.

No one is perfect, and I think all Yankees fans have been spoiled by how easy Mariano Rivera made it look. Aroldis Chapman comes with more drama than Mariano did. Most of the time Chapman gets out of it, but not without drama. Mo made getting the last outs look so easy. Last night Chapman couldn’t get out of it, as with one out, he gave up a single, walk, then another single that won the game for Chicago, 3-2.

Stanton 3 hits, RBI
Kiner-Falefa 2 hits

Montgomery 4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 3 W, 4 K. 2 WP. Gave up 1 HR. 3.06
Schmidt 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.82
Holmes 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.52
Chapman (L, 0-1) 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. 1.54

Ex-MLB pitcher David West passed away at the age of 57. He pitched for the Mets, Phillies, Twins and Red Sox from 1988-1998. He was 31-18, 4.66 in his career, ERA+ 89. He was part of the 1988 Mets that lost in the NLCS, the 1991 Twins team that won the WS and also the 1993 Phillies team that lost the WS and also the 1998 Red Sox who made the postseason. He was 1-0, 10.61 in ten postseason games. One thing that is bothersome is how many ex-Phillies all have died from brain cancer. Was something fishy about the Vet? Was, for example, too much asbestos in the home clubhouse or something? I dont know but the number of ex-Phils all succumbing to brain cancer is alarming.

Game 32. 10-4, Good buddy! Yankees win 17th of last 19 games behind 4 HR.

The Yankees (24-8) won for the 17th time in their last 19 games, beating the Chicago White Sox 10-4 Friday night.

The Yankees hit 4 HR in the game, and Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton did it again, and became the third pair of Yankees teammates to each have 10 or more HR in the team’s first 32 games of a season, following Ruth and Gehrig in 1930 and Mantle and Berra in 1956.

Before the game, Luis Gil sent back down, Clarke Schmidt brought up.

Stanton got the ball rolling with a 2-run HR in the first inning (10).

Yankees’ starter Gerrit Cole got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the first. In the top of the second, the Yanks scored three runs, and with Cole on the mound, you knew that was the ballgame. With one out, Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled, and Jose Trevino then singled IKF to third. Aaron Hicks doubled in IKF and Trevino scored on a groundout by D.J. LeMahieu. After Judge walked, Josh Donaldson doubled in Hicks to make the score 5-0.

Judge hit a solo HR, his MLB leading 12th, in the top of the fourth to make the score 6-0.

Chicago got a run in the bottom of the fourth when Cole balked home a run.

Joey Gallo homered in the top of the fourth (4) to put the Yanks up 7-1.

Cole gave up a 2-run HR in the bottom of the sixth and the White Sox had cut the score to 7-3.

In the top of the ninth, with one out, Judge singled and Donaldson hit a 2-run HR (4), to make it 9-3. Stanton and Gleyber Torres followed with singles, then Joey Gallo loaded the bases with another single. IKF hit a SF to make it 10-3.

Chicago got a run off of Michael King in the bottom of the ninth. Final score, 10-4.

Judge 2 hits, solo HR (12) Leads MLB in HR
Donaldson 2 hits, 3 RBI. 2-run HR (4)
Stanton 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (10)
Torres 2 hits
Gallo 2 hits, solo HR (4)
Kiner-Falefa (IKF) 2 hits, RBI

Cole (W, 3-0) 6 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 W, 9 K. 1 WP. 1 balk. Gave up 1 HR. 2.95
King 2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.59

With the win, the Yankees have a 4 1/2 game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East, and are 7 1/2 up on third place Toronto. They have the best record in baseball.

Rain wreaks havoc again. Here are some minor league results. Rortvedt begins rehab.

Rain Saturday washed out the Yankees game (to be made up Monday afternoon) as well as the games of their AA and High A farm teams. Here are the games that WERE played.

AAA: SWB (10-18) lost both games of a doubleheader.

Game 1: lost 9-2, getting just four hits.

D. Garcia (L, 0-2) 3 2/3 IP, 6 R, 4 ER, 4 H, 3 W, 4 K. gave up 1 HR. 2 WP 9.17 (#29 prospect)
McClain 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 6.52
Espinal 1 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 W, 0 K. 9.82

Is anyone else (I’m sure you all are) concerned about the regression of Deivi Garcia? Garcia is 3-9, 7.23 at AAA between last year and this. Garcia is still young, turning 23 in less than two weeks, but his regression is concerning. I think, based on recent results, it’s time to send Deivi down to AA and promote Ken Waldichuk (#6 prospect) from AA to AAA. Waldichuk is 2-0, 1.45 in four starts at AA this year, 28 K in 18 2/3 IP. Between 2021 and 2022, Waldichuk has gone 6-3, 3.67 at AA with 136 K in 98 IP.

Game 2: Lost 7-6 in 10 innings.
RF Phillip Evans 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (2)
2B Jose Peraza 2 hits, RBI

Clarke Schmidt 2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 W, 3 K. 3.86 (#7 prospect)
Mujica 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 13.50
Banuelos (BS, 1) 2 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 3 W, 2 K. 1 WP 3.32
Miller 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.48
M. Gomez (L, 1-1) 2 1/3 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 W, 2 K 1 HBP 2.13

Low A: Tampa (13-12) lost 3-2.
DH Ben Rortvedt solo HR as he starts a rehab assignment

Champlain 4 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 6 K. 2.70
Cortijo 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 4.50
Watson (L, 1-2) 2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 W, 0 K. 3.71

Game 22. Judge (2 HR) leads Yanks to 9th straight win, 6-4.

Aaron Judge hit 2 HR as the Yankees (16-6) won their 9th straight game, beating KC 6-4 on Sunday afternoon in a come from behind victory.

Judge hit a solo HR in the first inning, a bomb that was 453 feet, to put the Yanks up 1-0.

KC came back with 3 runs in the third and score another run in the fourth to go up 4-1.

But the Yanks came back with 2 runs in the fifth to cut KC’s lead to 4-3. With one out, Miguel Andujar, starting in LF because of Joey Gallo’s groin strain, singled. Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled home Andujar to cut KC’s lead to 4-2. After another out, Kiner-Falefa scored on a single by D.J. LeMahieu.

The Yanks went ahead with two runs in the top of the seventh inning. Kiner-Falefa walked, and PH Anthony Rizzo was HBP. LeMahieu walked to load the bases. Judge grounded out, scoring Kiner-Falefa and moving up all runners. Josh Donaldson reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Rizzo.

Judge’s second HR of the game (9), a solo shot in the ninth, gave the Yanks an insurance run.

Judge 2 hits (both HR, (9)) 3 RBI
Andujar 2 hits.

Severino 5 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 7 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 WP. 3.75
Schmidt (W, 2-2) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.08
Luetge (H, 2) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.70
King (H, 3) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0W, 2 K. 0.61 He has been fabulous so far this season.
Chapman (S, 6) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 0.00

Miguel Andujar and Clarke Schmidt sent down to Scranton following today’s game, as rosters go from 28 players to 26.

Game 3. Boston edges Yankees, 4-3.

It seemed like the whole game was decided in the first inning.

With one out, Boston got a bloop single into no man’s land, then a shot up the middle. If Yankees’ starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery fields that hard hit ball, it’s a 1-6-3 DP. Instead, the liner hit the back of his leg, and became a single. Montgomery lay on the ground for a while, and lucky for him it hit the back of his knee. Had it hit flush on the kneecap, it’d have broken it.

I wondered if he’d be able to continue, and be able to push off that leg. He did, but a double for a run, a HBP and SF made it 2-0 Boston.

The Yankees had their chances, but couldn’t come through with the big hit. They loaded the bases with two out in the first, but Gleyber Torres flied out.

Giancarlo Stanton singled in a run in the bottom of the third, but with the bases loaded and one out, Aaron Hicks GIDP to end the inning.

Boston scored a run in the top of the fourth, courtesy of a WP on a K that enabled the leadoff runner to reach base.

Anthony Rizzo singled in two runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at three.

The Yanks had runners on second and third with only one out in the bottom of the fifth, but didn’t score as Hicks popped up and Isiah Kiner-Falefa struck out. The Yanks left 11 on in the game.

In the top of the sixth, Yankees’ reliever Clarke Schmidt gave up a HR to Bobby Dalbec, and that was the deciding run in the Yankees (2-1) 4-3 loss to Boston Sunday night.

Rizzo 2 RBI
Judge 2 hits
Stanton 3 hits, RBI.

Montgomery 3 1/3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 W, 4 K. 8.10 1 WP 1 HBP
Schmidt (L, 0-1) 2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 H, 1 W. Gave up 1 HR. 3.38
Luetge 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00
Loaisiga 1 IP, 0 r, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 0.00
Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W 2 K. 0.00

S.T. Game 17. Yanks fall to Toronto, 7-5.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Josh Donaldson each hit a 2-run HR, but Luis Gil struggled as the Yanks (7-9-1 in spring training) lost to Toronto 7-5 Sunday afternoon.

Besides Donaldson having two hits, Max McDowell also had a two-hit game for the Yanks.

Pitching Line:

Gil 2 1/3 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 1 W, 2 K. Also a WP, Balk, and an error.
Schmidt (L) 4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR
Gomez 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Miller 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.

S.T. Game 12. Yanks crush Phils, 14-2.

The Yanks (5-6-1 in Spring training) crushed the Phils, 14-2, in Spring training on Tuesday.

After Clarke Schmidt started, the rest of the pitching was of guys who all should be bullpen to start the season.

Marwin Gonzalez continued to crush the ball, hitting a 3-run HR, driving in 4 runs, and going 3 for 3. The swtich-hitter who can play six different positions appears to have mde the team in my eyes.

Kyle Higashioka also continued to be hot this spring, crushing his fourth HR of spring training.

Minor Leaguer Max Burt hit a grand slam, and minor leaguer Ben Cowles also homered.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa had 2 hits.

Pitching line:

Schmidt 3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Luetge (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Peralta (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Holmes (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Green 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Loaisiga 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Abreu 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.

Hopefully nothing serious. Luis Severino with some arm soreness. The rotation to start the season is Cole, Severino, Montgomery, Taillon, and Cortes.

S.T. Game 7. Yanks falter late, lose 5-3 in rain-shortened game.

In a game delayed then shortened by rain to 7 innings, the Yankees (2-4-1 in spring training) lost to Detroit 5-3 Thursday afternoon.

Clarke Schmidt, J.P. Sears and Jonathan Loaisiga pitched five scoreless innings, but Joely Rodriguez only got two outs, and gave up 5 runs, including 2 HR.

Marwin Gonzalez hit a 2-run HR for the Yanks, Miguel Andujar was 2 for 2 with a walk, and Jose Peraza had two hits and an RBI.

Schmidt 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Sears 2 iP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 W, 4 K.
Loaisiga (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Rodriguez (L) 2/3 IP, 5 R, 5 H, 0 W 1 K. Gave up 2 HR.
Loseke 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Abreu 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.

Minor League Action from 9-30-21

SWB won 6-4. DH Miguel Andujar on rehab–2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR.
CF/1B Ryan LaMarre 2 hits, 2 RBI.
C Rob Brantly 3 hits

Starting P Clarke Schmidt (#5 prospect) 6 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 WP.

Minor league action, 9-24-21. Tampa gets swept in their Championship Series.

AAA: SWB completed a suspended game in this strange 10-game final stretch series that AAA is playing right now, winning 5-3. This was a game Jameson Taillon started a few days ago as a rehab stint (3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 2 K). Just promoted Hayden Wesneski (#15 prospect) 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Luis Gil pitched two scoreless innings for the save, getting all six outs via the strikeout. He did walk two and give up two hits.

Rehabbing LF Miguel Andujar was 0 for 2. SS Oswald Peraza (#3 prospect), who like Wesneski, was just promoted, hit a solo HR. 2B Oswaldo Cabrera (#16 prospect), the third of the promotions, 2 hits. RF Ryan LaMarre 2-run HR. OF Greg Allen 2 hits, RBI.

SWB lost the regularly scheduled game (7-inning affair) 7-3. Starter Clarke Schmidt (#5 prospect) gave up 4 runs in 4 2/3 IP, but 3 were unearned (Peraza error). He struck out 8. LF Andujar 2 hits, RBI. 2B Cabrera 2-run HR.

AA Somerset and High A Hudson Valley seasons are over.

Low A Tampa lost their championship series by getting swept in three straight. Game 3 was an 11-3 loss. SS Trey Sweeney (#7 prospect) 2 hits, RBI, HR. DH Tyler Hardman 2-run HR.