Game #59. Sevy’s awful first inning dooms Yanks. Dodgers win 8-4.

When you are facing a future first ballot Hall-of-Famer, you don’t want to give him a big cushion to work with. But that is what Luis Severino did. Sevy had an awful first inning, giving up six runs, and after one inning Dodgers’ starter Clayton Kershaw had a 6-0 lead.

The Yanks saw a couple of familiar faces for the first time in a while and were probably glad that they won’t see them as often since they are out of the division with the Dodgers and not with the Red Sox anymore. That would be Mookie Betts (probably a future HOF in his own right) and J. D. Martinez (who can also make a case for the HOF).

Betts hit Severino’s second pitch of the game for a HR, and after a hard-hit out and a single, Max Muncy hit a 2-run HR to put LA up 3-0. Just what you don’t want against Kershaw. If you look at the Dodgers’ team stats on baseball-reference.com, guess who the #1 Dodger of all-time is according to WAR? It’s not Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson or name another Dodger great. It’s Kershaw. Giving him a 3-0 lead is usually death to your team.

But the Dodgers were not done in the first. Four straight singles made it 4-0. A SF made it 5-0. Even the outs were hit hard. The Dodgers batted around, and Betts hit a single to make it 6-0. And Betts wasn’t done for the night.

The only thing encouraging for the Yankees was that both of the sluggers who came off the IL after being on it for over a month homered last night. The first was Josh Donaldson, whose solo HR (2) in the top of the second made it 6-1. Donaldson would hit another HR, a two-run shot, in the top of the ninth.

But Martinez hit a solo HR in the bottom of the third for LA to put the Dodgers up 7-1. It was the third HR Sevy gave up for the night. As I mentioned, even the outs he got were loud outs.

Giancarlo Stanton, the other Yankees’ slugger activated off the IL before the game, homered (5) in the top of the fourth off of Kershaw and it was 7-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, Betts proved he wasn’t done, hitting his second HR of the game, this one off of Ryan Weber, to put the Dodgers up 8-2. Betts was 4 for 4 last night with 2 HR and 3 RBI.

Donaldson’s second HR of the game (3), a 2-run shot, closed out the scoring. Yanks lost 8-4.

The Yanks only got five hits on the night, and three of them, all HR, were by guys just off the IL in Donaldson and Stanton.

The loss dropped the Yanks to 34-25. They are in 3rd place in the AL East, 6 1/2 behind first place Tampa Bay and 3 behind second place Baltimore. If the playoffs started today, the Yanks would have the 6th and last playoff spot in the AL. They hold that spot by 2 1/2 games over Toronto. Long way to go, though.

Stanton solo HR (5).
Donaldson 2 HR (3). Solo and 2-run shots.

Severino (L, 0-1) 4 IP, 7 R, 9 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 3 HR. 5.28
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 0.00 SEASON DEBUT JUST OFF IL
Weber 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.14
Abreu 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.45

I’m starting to worry about Anthony Volpe. He hasn’t stolen a base since May 13. Of course, you can’t steal if you aren’t getting on base. His average is down to .190. Since May 14, he is 7 for 58. That is a .121 batting average in that span. He has just 3 walks to go against 21 strikeouts. He is noted for his good eye and his speed and baserunning ability, but neither has shown up lately. Since May 2, he’s only hitting .152 with five walks and 36 strikeouts. It’s not just a recent slump. It’s been going on a while. He’s only 22, and we all (myself included) advocated for him after his phenomenal spring training. We do need to be patient with him, but remember he only had 22 games of AAA experience before the jump to the majors. For those who say AAA doesn’t matter and want to jump players right from AA to the majors, I disagree and point to Volpe as an example. Sure, some stars can do it. But it is rare. Some, like Al Kaline, never played a day in the minors. But it is rare. You wonder if Volpe, like Mickey Mantle in 1951, needs to be sent down to get his mojo back. Oswald Peraza has been raking at AAA lately. Is a switch in order? Volpe is on a pace for 22 HR and 60+ RBI. He is also on a 35 SB pace. Those are great numbers, but that pace has dropped off. I’m patient, but .190, OPS+ 71 and .152 over the last month is concerning. He’s human and at some point, you probably feel he is pressing or starting to press. You don’t want to destroy his confidence, but at some point, you need to see better results. Here’s hoping he turns it around, but maybe it has to start back at AAA.

Game #54. IKF wins game for Yanks in the bottom of the 10th, 3-2.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the tenth to give a sellout crowd (including me) a happy ride home. The Yanks (31-23) beat San Diego, 3-2.

Luis Severino was fabulous in just his second outing since coming off the IL. In just his second outing of the season, Sevy gave up just one hit in 6 2/3 IP.

The Yanks got on the board right away in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Aaron Judge singled. He got a bad break when the ball didn’t bounce into the stands for a ground rule double. It was hit so hard down the LF line that he was held to a single. Anthony Rizzo followed with a single that moved Judge to third. D.J. Lemahieu then doubled down the line, scoring Judge. From my seat in Section 205 in RF I was hollering “Hold!” but I didn’t scream loud enough, I guess. Third base coach Luis Rojas sent Rizzo as well, and it was a bad send. Rizzo was a dead duck.

In the top of the fourth, Severino gave up his only hit of the game, a game-tying HR to Fernando Tatis, Jr. Tatis had homered the night before, and Tatis was peppered with boos throughout the game because of his suspension last year and part of this year for steroids.

In the top of the seventh, Sevy got the first two outs, then gave up a walk. He lobbied for one more batter to finish the inning, and got a grounder, but Gleyber Torres booted it for an error. Sevy was then taken out, having thrown 82 pitches and because he had just recently come off the IL. Reliever Michael King gave up an RBI single to put the Padres up 2-1 before getting a strikeout to finish the inning.

LeMahieu homered (6) in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game.

The game went into extra innings, with that ghost runner I hate.

Clay Holmes got a short flyout to RF for the first out, and the runner could not advance. A strikeout for out #2. Then a slow roller to Lemahieu and the batter was originally called safe, moving the runner to third, but replay overturned the call for the third out.

Greg Allen PR for Rizzo in the bottom of the tenth. LeMahieu was intentionally walked. Harrison Bader put down a bunt that didn’t exactly work as planned. San Diego got a force on LeMahieu at second, but the main job, getting Allen to third, was accomplished. Bader advanced to second on defensive indifference, then IKF grounded one sharply down the LF line and past the dive of ex-Yankee Roughned Odor for the game-winning hit.

The season is now 1/3 over, with the Yanks 31-23. They are in third place in the AL East, 7 games behind Tampa Bay and 3 behind Baltimore. If the season ended today, they would have the sixth and final playoff spot (they lead Boston by two for that spot) and play the Twins in a best-of-3 (all games in Minnesota) in round one. But that’s a long way away. Keep doing what you are doing, and get people back, healthy and productive. First off, Donaldson, Stanton, Trevino and Kahnle, then Rodon, then maybe at the end of the year Montas and Loaisiga.

Not to mention maybe a trade at the deadline for more help.

LeMahieu 2 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (6).
Kiner-Falefa GW hit.

Severino 6 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 W, 5 K. 1.59 Was just great.
King 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1.88
Peralta 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.45
Holmes (W, 3-2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.00

Game #49. Yanks sweep Reds behind Bader, Gleyber HRs. Sevy strong in coming off IL in 1st start of season.

Luis Severino pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up only one disputed run in coming off the IL. It was Sevy’s first start of the season. Now we continue to wait on Rodon’s return.

The Yanks beat the Reds, 4-1, Sunday in a game that started at 11:35 AM Eastern Time. With the win, the Yanks swept the three-game series from Cincinnati. Tomorrow (Monday) is an off day for the Yanks. It was the fourth win in a row for New York, sixth in the last seven games and 11th in the last 14 games. After ending April at 15-14, the 29-20 Yanks have gone 14-6 so far this month.

Aaron Judge was given the day off so that with the off day on Monday, he’d have two days off before the Yanks take on Baltimore and San Diego in the upcoming days.

Severino gave up his only run in the bottom of the first inning. A leadoff walk, then two outs, but then a fly ball down the RF line was originally ruled foul but then overturned to fair. The umpires ruled the runner to score and placed the batter on second. Manager Aaron Boone argued against the run scoring and was ejected. (Reds’ manager David Bell would be ejected later in the game). The runner was going on the pitch with two out, so he probably WOULD have scored, but once the ball was incorrectly called foul, everyone stopped. I think Boone’s argument was that if they were going to overrule the call with the correct call and give a double and two bases, then the runner should not be given the run but be stopped at third.

The umps must have had a tough time waking up for the early start. Sevy picked off a runner only after the original call was overturned, and Anthony Volpe was called out on strikes on a pitch a replay clearly showed was high for a ball.

The 1-0 score stood until the top of the fifth, when Harrison Bader hit a 2-run HR (4) to give the Yanks the lead. That trade of Montgomery for Bader doesn’t look too bad now. Monty is doing OK with the Cardinals, 4.21 ERA but only a 2-6 record to show for it. Since the deal he is 8-9, 3.60. Looks like he isn’t getting much help over there. It’d be nice to have Monty but boy, can Bader go get them in CF and he is showing more power than we thought (5 HR in last year’s postseason and 4 already this year). Bader is bringing a great deal of energy.

Gleyber Torres upped the lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth with his seventh HR of the season.

In the top of the seventh, Jake Bauers walked with two out, and newly acquired Greg Allen ran for him. Allen stole second and went to third on a WP. Anthony Volpe doubled home Allen to make the score 4-1.

Clay Holmes gave us a scare in the bottom of the ninth by loading the bases before closing out the game.

Because Sevy was coming off the IL and had a pitch limit, he was pulled one out away from earning the victory.

Torres solo HR (7).
Bader 2-run HR (4).

Severino 4 2/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 W, 5 K. 1.93
Abreu (W, 2-1) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.24
Cordero (H, 3) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.14
Peralta (H, 5) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1.93
Holmes (S, 5) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 3.26

Game #48. Judge and Rizzo lead Yanks to 7-4, 10-inning win. Rortvedt debuts. Yanks DFA Hicks.

In my post regarding Game #47, I mentioned how the Yanks traded for Greg Allen. Allen was added to the major league team right away and in order to make room for him, the Yanks DFA’d Aaron Hicks, eating the rest of his contract.

It may have been a surprise move to some, that the Yanks would eat that much money remaining on the contract (I’d guess about $28MM and the rest of this year plus two more years?) but it was a long time coming. Hicks was hitting just .188-1-5 this year with an OPS+ of only 46 (100 is average). Since his best year of 2018 (.248-27-79, OPS+ 127 and 22nd in MVP voting), Hicks only hit .218 with an OPS+ of 92 whiles being frequently injured. His defense also has suffered, and the former CF was moved to LF what with Harrison Bader taking over the CF job. From 2017-2020, Hicks’ OPS+ was 120, but injuries hurt his 2017 and 2019 seasons, and Covid shortened the 2020 season to 60 games. The big drop-off in Hicks’ production started in 2021 when more injuries limited him to 32 games. He hasn’t been the same since.

Allen doesn’t have the power Hicks does, but does have more speed and unlike Hicks, who has been a starter, has been a bench player for his whole career, so he doesn’t have to adapt to the role like Hicks has had to this year. Like Hicks, Allen is a switch-hitter.

As for the game, the Yanks rode Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo to a 7-4, 10-inning win. Catcher Ben Rortvedt made his Yankees’ debut and got hits in his first two plate appearances.

Jhony Brito struggled and was sent down to AAA after the game to make room for today’s starter, Luis Severino, who will be coming off the IL and will be making his season debut today. It will be a strange starting time today (Sunday) of 11:35 AM.

The Reds struck first in yesterday’s game, getting a run in the bottom of the first. Brito hurt himself with a walk and a balk before giving up an RBI single.

The Yanks came right back in the top of the third to tie the game. Rortvedt doubled in his first ever Yankee at bat and was brought home on a single by Judge.

The Reds took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third. Once again, Brito hurt himself. After getting the first two hitters out, he walked the next three batters then gave up an infield single.

In the bottom of the fourth, Brito once again couldn’t close things out with two out. He got the first two hitters, then gave up a single and a 2-run HR and the Yanks were in a 4-1 hole.

They came right back to tie the game at four each with three runs in the top of the fifth. Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a solo HR (2) with one out in the inning. Rortvedt and Gleyber Torres followed with singles. Judge doubled in a run to make it 4-3. Rizzo singled to tie the game, but Judge was thrown out at the plate on a bad send by third base coach Luis Rojas. It hurt at the time because D.J. LeMahieu singled right afterward. You think, hey, Judge would have then scored, but then you have the fallacy of the predetermined outcome. Oh, well.

The game stayed tied and went into the tenth inning. Allen, who arrived in the middle of the game, pinch-ran for Rortvedt as the ghost runner in the top of the tenth. He was moved to third on a flyout by Torres, and you thought that Cincinnati would then walk Judge to try to get out of the inning by making Rizzo GIDP. Instead, they pitched to Judge, and Judge broke the tie with an RBI single—his fourth hit of the day—to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead. But it didn’t matter if the Reds would have walked Judge, for (but once again, the fallacy of the predetermined outcome) Rizzo homered (11) to give the Yanks a cushion with a 7-4 lead, and that is the way the game ended.

The Yankees are 28-20 (3rd in AL East, 6 1/2 out), and even with some guys still out (most notably Stanton, Donaldson, Rodon, Montas, Loaisiga, Hamilton, and I won’t list guys who won’t even be back at all this year like Trivino and Effross) are 13-6 this month.

The AL East is one tough division. Toronto is 25-21, which isn’t a bad record, but they are in LAST place in the division.

Torres 2 hits.
Judge 4 for 4 with a walk, 3 RBI.
Rizzo 2 hits, 3 RBI. 2-run HR (11).
Kiner-Falefa solo HR (2).
Rortvedt 2 hits. (First two at bats as a Yankee, two hits. Yankee debut).

Brito 4 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 4 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 balk. 5.58 Sent to AAA after game.
Marinaccio 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 4.09
King 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.10
Holmes (W, 2-2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 3.44
Weber (S, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K 3.68

The Yankee bullpen tossed six shutout innings, giving up just one hit.

Game #45. Yanks lose on walk-off HR in 10th, 3-0.

Wandy Peralta gave up a three-run HR in the bottom of the tenth inning and the Yankees (25-20) lost to Toronto 3-0 Wednesday night.

The Yanks had their best chances to score in the eighth and tenth innings. In the eighth, with two out, the Yanks drew three straight walks, but PH Anthony Volpe struck out to end the inning.

In the top of the tenth, PR Isiah Kiner-Falefa (the ghost runner) was on third with one out but Gleyber Torres struck out. After Aaron Judge was intentionally walked, Anthony Rizzo struck out.

It was a great pitcher’s duel until the unfortunate ending.

The Yankees only got three hits in the game and made three errors.

Judge 1 for 3, 2 walks.
Calhoun 1 for 3, walk.
Cabrera 0 for 4, 3 strikeouts.
Torres 0 for 5, 2 strikeouts.

Cole 6 IP, 0 R, 7 H, 2 W, 6 K. 2.01
Holmes 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.63
J. Cordero 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.37
King 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 2.28
Peralta (L, 2-1) 1/3 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. Gave up GW 3-run walk-off HR. 2.16

Luis Severino will come off the IL and start on Sunday for the Yankees. No corresponding move yet.

Nick Ramirez was brought up to replace Ian Hamilton, who went on the IL.

Minor League Report. Games of 5/16/2023. Sevy Rehabs, Prospects mash.

AAA: SWB (18-22) won 14-5. The Railriders hit 6 HR in the game.

CF Estevan Florial 3 hits, 4 RBI. 2 HR (3-run and solo). (6) .301
SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits, RBI (REHAB) #3 prospect. .311
DH Rodolfo Duran 3 hits, 4 RBI. 2 HR (3-run and solo) (6) .317
3B Jamie Westbrook 3 hits, 3 RBI. Solo HR (6).
2B Jesus Bastidas 2 hits, RBI Solo HR (3)

Sean Boyle (W, 2-2) 5 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 W, 6 K. 1 WP Gave up 1 HR. 6.40
M. Gomez 1 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 WP 1 HBP 9.00
Loseke 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.59

AA: Somerset (21-12) won 14-10. Rehab stint for Luis Severino.

SS Trey Sweeney 2 hits, 3 RBI. #7 prospect.
CF Jasson Dominguez 3 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (5). #2 Prospect.
C Austin Wells 3 hits, 4 RBI. 3-run HR (5 at AA, had 1 HR on rehab at Low A). #4 prospect.
LF Everson Pereira 3 hits, 2 RBI.
3B Tyler Hardman solo HR (6) #20 prospect.

Severino 3 1/3 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 W, 3 K. 5.40 REHAB STINT.
L. Santos 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.79
Maese (BS, 2) 1 2/3 IP, 5 R, 5 H, 1 W, 3 K. gave up 2 HR. 6.30
Myatt (W, 1-0) 1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 3 W, 0 K. 1.80
Giacone 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.69

High A: Hudson Valley (22-12) won 9-6.

CF Spencer Jones 2 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (7). #5 prospect. .308
LF Aaron Palensky 2 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (10). .330
RF Aldenis Sanchez 3 hits, 2 RBI.

Jo. Valdez 4 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 W, 7 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3 WP 1 Balk. 7.30
Aguilar (W, 2-0) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.35
Dees 2 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.94
Ry. Anderson 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1 WP 4.42

Low A: Tampa (12-22) won 12-7.

SS Jared Serna 4 hits, RBI. Solo HR (5). .349
RF Anthony Hall 2 hits, 3 RBI 3-run HR (2).
LF Daury Arias 2 hits, 3 RBI.
1B Omar Martinez 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (4).

Merda 3 1/3 IP, 5 R, 4 H, 5 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 6.49
Gray 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 3 W, 2 K. 5.60
Gabonia (W, 1-0) 2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 5.79
M. Ramirez 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K. 10.50
Ayers 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 4.40

Minor league Games from 5/10/2023. Sevy starts rehab.

AAA: SWB (16-19) won 4-3.

DH Michael Hermosillo GW walk off solo HR.

Severino 3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.70 REHAB
Norwood 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 4.85
Loseke 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 W, 1 K. 1.84
McGarity (W, 3-0) (BS, 1) 2 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K 1 HBP 2.37

AA: Somerset (18-10) lost 6-5 in 10 innings.

CF Jasson Dominguez 2 hits, RBI. #2 prospect. After very slow start, finally has average up to .200.
3B Tyler Hardman 2 RBI, solo HR (5). #20 prospect.
2B Max Burt 3 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (5)

Richard Fitts 2 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 2 W, 1 K. Gave up 2 HR. 6.07 #10 prospect.
Maese 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 W, 1 K. 4.41
Wilson 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 1 WP 3.72
L. Santos 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 5 K. 1 WP 2.70
Diaz (L, 0-1) 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1 WP 1.38

High A: Hudson Valley (18-11) lost 3-2.

#5 prospect Spencer Jones (CF) didn’t play, but I read one report by a scout that says he’s actually the Yankees’ best prospect by far.

SS Alexander Vargas 2 hits.
2B Eduardo Torrealba 2 hits, RBI

Yulie 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 9 K. Gave up 1 HR. 5.16
Cortijo (L, 4-1) (BS, 1) 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1 WP 3.31
Watson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.45

Low A: Tampa (11-18) lost 8-3.

CF Nelson Medina 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (3)

Pestana (L, 0-2) 3 2/3 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 3 W, 2 K. Gave up 3 HR. 1 WP 6.20
Bustamente 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 5 K. 2 WP 3.21
Vinyard 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.12

Standings

SWB 7th out of 10 in IL East 9 1/2 out
Somerset 2nd out of 6 in Eastern League Northeast, 1 1/2 out.
Hudson Valley Tied for first out of 6 in South Atlantic League North.
Tampa 6th and last in Florida State League West, 11 out.

Game 34. Bader comes off bench to spark Yanks to 3-2 win.

Harrison Bader didn’t start yesterday’s game, but he decided it.

His 2-run eighth inning single was the game winner in a 3-2 Yankees (18-16) win.

Yankees’ starter Domingo German gave up two first inning runs (more on that in a moment), then settled in. But the way the Yankees’ offense has been, you wondered if those two runs were going to be two runs too many.

Getting back to the bottom of the first. With two on and two out, German threw a nasty 2-1 pitch that was strike two. Catcher Kyle Higashioka started to go toward the dugout as if it were strike three. On the next pitch, German gave up a two-run double that ate up Yankees’ 3B D.J. LeMahieu. After the inning, Anthony Rizzo had a good talking-to with the embarrassed Higashioka. The wipeout pitch that was used to hopefully get out of the inning was already used and now the batter was ready for it if it was thrown again. Higgy’s mistake may have been the cause for the next pitch being the one that gave up two runs. You don’t know, but Higgy heard about it in the dugout after the inning.

Higgy made up for it later in the game with a key caught stealing at a crucial moment in the game. It turned out to save a run.

Jake Bauers later made a fine defensive play, throwing out a runner at third. These plays enabled the Yanks to stay in the game and proved crucial in their comeback win. Tampa Bay threatened a few times after the first inning but couldn’t add on.

Meanwhile, the Yanks offense wasn’t doing anything. But in the top of the eighth, Rizzo singled with one out. Gleyber Torres followed with a single, moving Rizzo to second. A double by LeMahieu cut the Rays’ lead to 2-1. After another out, Bader, who didn’t start the game, flared a 2-run single to give the Yanks the lead, 3-2, and they hung on for the win.

After Bader’s single, Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled, but for the second time in the game, Aaron Hicks left men on second and third. Even though the game was in Tampa, Hicks heard a lot of boos from the Yankees fans who were at the game. The Yanks are going to have to something about Hicks. It’s like the Gallo situation they had last year.

Getting the save wasn’t the struggling Clay Holmes, but instead Ian Hamilton.

The win was huge. It meant being 9 back instead of 11 back, and with ace Gerrit Cole going today for the Yanks, hopefully they can shave another game off of Tampa Bay’s lead. The rest of the division looks tough, even the Orioles, who are playing good ball. Boston, who most people had finishing last in the division this year, has won eight in a row. The Yanks need to keep pace.

It looks like Aaron Judge will return to the lineup on Tuesday. Luis Severino is headed to SWB to begin rehab.

LeMahieu RBI double.
Bader 2 for 2, 2 RBI, and didn’t even start the game.
Kiner-Falefa 2 hits.

German 5 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 W, 5 K. 1 HBP. 4.35
Peralta 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.25
Marinaccio (W, 1-1) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.76
Holmes (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.09
Hamilton (S, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.42

Side note: Yesterday was Willie Mays’ 92nd birthday. The legend is the oldest living Hall-of-Famer.

Game #2. Yanks fall to Giants, 7-5.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this, you know.

When the Yanks signed Carlos Rodon to a six year, $162M contract, he was supposed to follow a Gerrit Cole gem with one of his own. Not only that, but Luis Severino was supposed to follow Rodon.

Instead, with both Rodon and Severino (and also Frankie Montas) on the injured list, the game 2 starter yesterday was Clarke Schmidt, who was projected to be in either the bullpen or AAA, and today’s game 3 starter, making his MLB debut, will be Jhony Brito, who was projected for AAA. This month of April will be interesting, at least until Rodon and Sevy return.

Schmidt got through three scoreless innings, but at a price. His pitch count was up. He took a 2-0 lead into the fourth, courtesy of a run the Yanks got on a Giants’ error in the bottom of the first, and on a third inning solo HR by Giancarlo Stanton (1).

But Schmidt gave up 3 runs on 2 HR while getting knocked out in the fourth, and relievers Michael King and Clay Holmes got knocked around later on in the Yankees’ (1-1) 7-5 loss to San Francisco yesterday.

The Yanks tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on an Anthony Rizzo double but after that double, with men on second and third with no one out, Stanton grounded out, Josh Donaldson struck out and Gleyber Torres grounded out. The failure to add on proved fatal. Stanton would get another chance later, but once again, wouldn’t come through.

The Giants got two runs in the top of the sixth off of King. A little dribbler in front of the plate brought in one run, and another scored on a ball that ate up rookie SS Anthony Volpe.

The Yanks made it 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth on a HR (1) by Josh Donaldson, but Holmes gave up two runs in the top of the ninth to put SF up 7-4.

The Yanks got a run back in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Aaron Judge and had the bases loaded with one out. But Stanton GIDP to end the game.

On Opening Day, Gerrit Cole pitched six shutout innings to gain the win for the Yankees. Yesterday, his brother-in-law, Brandon Crawford got Cole and the Yanks back by going 3 for 5, driving in 3 runs (a double and 2-run HR) and also getting a SB.

Yanks’ rookie SS Anthony Volpe got his first MLB hit.

Judge 3 for 5, RBI
Rizzo RBI
Stanton solo HR (1)
Donaldson solo HR (1)
Volpe 2 for 4, SB First MLB hit.

Schmidt 3 1/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR. 8.10
Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1 HBP 0.00
King (L) 1 2/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1 HBP 10.80
Abreu 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1 WP 0.00
Holmes 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. 27.00
Cordero 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 0.00

Before the game, Colton Brewer placed on MLB roster and Estevan Florial DFA’d.

Montas, Rodon, now Sevy to the IL

When the Yankees signed Carlos Rodon, they were supposed to have one of the strongest rotations in baseball with Cole, Rodon, Severino, Cortes and Montas.

Montas will miss at least half the season. Rodon will miss the first 4-5 weeks.

Now it was announced today that Severino will start the season on the injured list with a strained lat. For Sevy, concerns about his health in this, his walk year, will surely affect his free agency status at the end of the year.

Cole, Cortes, … now German and Schmidt. Schmidt will now start the second game of the season after Cole goes on opening day.

Jhony Brito, the Yanks’ #27 prospect (RHP, 25, 11-4, 2.96 between AA/AAA last year) could open the season as the #5 starter.

Of course, should the Yanks decide to go with Volpe at 2B and Peraza at SS, Gleyber could be dealt for a pitcher. Just saying.

As a former Yankees manager was prone to say, “It’s not what you want.”