Yanks pull off major deal, reconfigure infield.

As I was about to write about the Yankees’ inactivity in the free agent and trade market, I woke up to a major trade the Yankees have made that has reconfigured their infield. I am now waiting for more dominoes to fall.

The Yankees have traded C Gary Sanchez and INF Gio Urshela to the Twins for 3B Josh Donaldson, INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa (who the Twins just picked up from Texas the day before) and C Ben Rortvedt.

Going: Sanchez hit .204-23-54 (OPS+ 99) for the Yanks last year. His defense behind the plate has been a problem. After a great start to his career (20 HR in 53 games in 2016, 33 HR in 2017 and a 2x All-Star), Sanchez hasn’t fulfilled his potential. Since 2017, he has only hit .201, including seasons of .186 (2018) and .147 (2020).

Urshela was with the Yanks 2019-2021, and established himself with the club. Only a .225 hitter before coming to the Yanks, Urshela broke out in 2019, hitting .314-21-74, OPS+ 133 that season. Last year he hit .267-14-49, OPS+ 96. As a Yankee, he hit .292 in 243 games, with 41 HR and an OPS+ of 119 while providing great defense at 3B.

Coming: Donaldson, 36, is a 3x All-Star and 2x Silver Slugger who won the MVP award for Toronto in 2015, when he hit .297-41-123 and led the AL in RBI (OPS+ 151), the majors in runs scored and the league in total bases and SF. He has received MVP consideration 6x, and finished in the top 10 three other times besides his winning the award in 2015. Last year he hit .247-26-72, OPS+ 127. He has played for Oakland (2010, 2012-2014), Toronto (2015-2018), Cleveland (2018), Atlanta (2019) and Minnesota (2020-2021). It’ll be interesting how Donaldson and Gerrit Cole get along after Donaldson’s comments about the Spidertack and Cole last season. His 162 g. average is .269-34-98, OPS+ 135. In 39 postseason games, he has hit .260-5-16.

Kiner-Falefa, 27 soon, can play 3B, SS and even catch. He won a Gold Glove at 3B in 2020. Last year he hit .271-8-53 with 20 SB for Texas, OPS+ 85. His 162 games average is .265-7-49, 16 SB, OPS+ 81. He’ll be a stopgap until prospects like Oswald Peraza and/or Anthony Volpe are ready. If the Yanks are only going to hae a stopgap SS for a year or two, he’s the one I wanted. Kiner-Falefa has played for Texas (2018-2021).

Rortvedt, 24, is a lefty hitting catcher who only has 39 games of MLB experience, all last season. He hit .169-3-7 (15 for 89), OPS+ 41. As of now, Kyle Higashioka takes over as the Yankees’ #1 catcher, so I am waiting for another shoe to fall. Is another trade coming?

The Yankees also signed two guys for minor league depth.

They brought back Tim Locastro, OF, 29, who played in 9 games for the Yankees last year. Locastro was selected off the Yankees in November via waivers by Boston but then Boston released him later. Locastro is known for his speed (31 SB in 34 attempts) and is a .231 career hitter with 5 HR and an OPS+ of 78 in 432 at bats. Loacastro has played with the Dodgers (2017-2018), Diamondbacks (2019-2021) and Yankees (2021).

They also signed 1B Ronald Guzman (Texas 2018-2021), a lefty hitter. Guzman hit 16 HR in 2018 for Texas and has a .227 career batting average with 31 MLB HR in 737 at bats, OPS+ 86.

Waiting for more signings/trades.

Gallo a GG finalist.

Joey Gallo is one of three finalists for the Gold Glove award, mostly for his defensive work he did for Texas while playing RF. Aaron Judge is not one of the three finalists.

Gallo is the only Yankee up for the award. He previously won the award in 2020.

Gio Urshela, for all his defensive prowess, wasn’t a finalist, nor has he ever won the award.


Nelson Cruz won the Roberto Clemente Award. Kyle Higashioka was the Yankees’ nominee.

Is Corey Seager in the Yanks’ sights?

The Gleyber Torres at SS experiment failed. He’s going back to 2B. Gio Urshela was a stopgap but he isn’t a SS. So the Yanks admit they need a SS. There are a lot of top SS on the market in free agency this year. Are the Yanks targeting Corey Seager?

(And before I go on, did you notice how poorly Didi Gregorius did (.209) with the Phillies this year?)

Seager checks a lot of boxes. 2x All-Star. Former Rookie of the Year. NLCS MVP. WS MVP. 2x Silver Slugger. 3x MVP consideration, twice finishing in the top 10. That doesn’t even include any accolades he may get for this season.

Lefty hitter for a righty-dominated lineup. Lefty hitter for Yankee Stadium. 25-30 HR capability, but WITHOUT the low batting average (.297 career hitter). 27 years old, in his prime. OPS+ 131 for his career (average is 100). His 162 game average is .297-26-93.

Seems like a perfect fit, and scouts think he would have to be moved to third later on. The Yanks could use him at SS for a couple years until either Oswald Peraza or Anthony Volpe is ready at SS (with apologies to current 3B Gio Urshela).

Seems like a perfect fit. Won’t come cheap. The Yanks have admitted the need for a SS. Will Hal, Cashman, etc. go all-in for Seager?


In other news: 1B coach/OF coach Reggie Willets is leaving the Yanks to become an assistant coach at his alma mater, Oklahoma.

Game 162. Yanks squeak out 1-0 win, gain 2nd wild card seed. Play Boston Tuesday Night.

The Yankees squeaked out a 1-0 win over Tampa Bay in the last game of the regular season, and in so doing, became the second wild card team. They will play Boston Tuesday night in Boston in the sudden-death wild-card game.

A possible three or four-way tie for the wild card slots didn’t develop. Boston and the Yankees each won to finish with 92 wins, each tied for second in the AL East. Boston got the first wild-card spot based on beating the Yanks 10 out of 19 times this season. Toronto won its game but finished with 91 wins. Seattle lost and finished at 90.

The winner of Tuesday’s wild card game plays Tampa Bay in one ALDS. The other ALDS is the Chicago White Sox vs. the Houston Astros.

In the NL, the Dodgers have to play a one-game sudden-death wild card game despite winning 106 games. They’ll host St. Louis with the winner facing the 107-win Giants in one NLDS. The other NLDS has Atlanta vs. Milwaukee.

Going into the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees only had one hit in the game. (They sure didn’t make it easy on us or themselves). Rougned Odor led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, and Tyler Wade PR for him. Gleyber Torres flied out, Wade moving to second. Anthony Rizzo singled Wade to third and moved to second on the throw. Aaron Judge’s infield single won the game and put the Yanks in the playoffs.

It’ll be Gerrit Cole for the Yanks vs. Nathan Eovaldi (an ex-Yankee) for Boston.

Gio Urshela made a fabulous catch of a foul popup before running into Tampa Bay’s dugout on Sunday. Luckily he wasn’t seriously hurt.

Before the game, D.J. LeMahieu had to be put on the IL. If the Yanks make it to the ALCS, he’s available but it doesn’t look good. Luis Gil was brought up.

Judge GW RBI.

Taillon 3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K. 4.30
Peralta 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 WP. 3.35 (SF/NYY)
Holmes 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.60 (Pit/NYY)
Green 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 3.12
Loaisiga 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.17
Chapman (W, 6-4) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.36

Game 160. Yanks lose, 4-3. M’s loss means Yanks magic # to get in is 1. Guarantee Game 163 if nec.

The Yanks lost to Tampa Bay Friday night, 4-3, but did get help as the Angels beat the Mariners 2-1. The Yanks control their own destiny as far as getting into the playoffs. They do NOT control their own destiny as to where the wild card game would be. There are just two games left in the season, with a Game 163 a real possibility.

WILD CARD STANDINGS:

YANKEES 91-69 — top wild card as of now.
Boston 90-70 -1
Seattle and Toronto 89-71 -2, and 1 game behind Boston.

If the Yankees win both Saturday and Sunday, they host the wild card game. That is the easiest way. They can also host it if they win one game and Boston loses one game. They just may not know who they host. If the Yanks and Boston tie with 92 wins, Boston hosts the Yankees. The most Seattle and Toronto can get is 91 wins. Of course if Boston finishes with 92, the Yanks 91 and the other two at 90, Boston hosts the Yankees.

But what if there is a three or four way tie at 91 wins? We won’t go there. Of course (and doubtful, since Boston and Toronto are playing cellar-dwellers) is that the Yanks end with 91 and the others all tie at 90.

One thing we know. The Yanks have at least guaranteed themselves a game 163 tiebreaker if necessary.

Got all that? Easy solution. Just win.

Nestor Cortes is not flashy or dominant, nor does he go deep into games, but he does keep you in them. Nestor did so last night, but the Yankees bats didn’t help him out. Cortes gave up a HR to Nelson Cruz in the first inning and Tampa Bay was up 1-0. It was HR #449 of Cruz’ career.

Gleyber Torres led off the bottom of the first with a double, and scored on a Giancarlo Stanton single as the Yankees tied the game. They wouldn’t score again until the ninth.

A nubber and a blooper helped Tampa Bay score a run in the second and the Rays were up 2-1. It stayed that way until the ninth.

A couple of walks by Domingo German (pitching for the first time in quite a while—just off the IL) led to two Rays’ runs and a 4-1 lead in the ninth.

The Yanks almost came back. With one out, Stanton doubled and went to third on defensive indifference. Joey Gallo did what he had to do. With the Rays putting on the shift and conceding the whole left side, Gallo bunted there to bring in Stanton and bring the tying run to the plate. Gio Urshela singled and was PR for by Tyler Wade. Brett Gardner singled to make it 4-3. But then PH Gary Sanchez and Rougned Odor both struck out to end the game.

Stanton 2 hits, RBI
Urshela 2 hits
Gardner 2 hits, RBI

Cortes (L, 2-3) 4 2/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 0 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.90
Holmes 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 3.65 (Pit/NYY)
Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1 HBP 3.44 (SF/NYY)
Loaisiga 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.21
German 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 W, 3 K. 4.58
Abreu 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 5.15

Game 158. Jays edge Yanks, 6-5. 4 games left and 4 team WC scramble.

Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole didn’t have it last night as the Yankees’ 7-game winning streak was snapped by Toronto, 6-5.

A few starts ago, Cole had to leave the game early with tightness in his hamstring. The Yanks have not said anything since, but Cole hasn’t been the same since. I wonder if there is a correlation, and if it is still bothering him. Cole could be forced to start Sunday on three days rest if the Yankees need to win Sunday to make the postseason.

It is a 4-team scramble for the two wild card spots. Oakland has been eliminated.

Wild Card Standings:

YANKEES 90-68 — top wild card for now, four games to go
Boston 89-69 -1 2nd wild card for now
Seattle 89-70 – 1 1/2 just 1/2 game behind Boston
Toronto 88-70 -2 1 game behind Boston

By the way, Houston still hasn’t clinched the AL West. Their magic # is 1 over Seattle. And how would you like to be San Francisco or the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West? 104 wins for SF, 102 for LAD so far. One will have to host a one-game, sudden-death wild card game despite winning more than 100 games!

If the Yanks do make the postseason, here is hoping no one on the Yanks does what P Devin Williams of Milwaukee did in celebrating. He punched a wall and broke his throwing hand. No postseason for him, and a big loss for the Brew Crew.

Bo Bichette has killed the Yanks this year, hitting seven HR. Last night he hit two in Toronto’s win.

Cole gave up a 2-run HR in the first inning to Marcus Semien. Semien’s 44th HR of the season set a new record for second basemen in a season.

Cole gave up a run in the second. Bichette hit his first HR of the game in the third. After three, it was 4-0, Toronto.

With two out in the top of the fifth, the Yanks got two runs when Gleyber Torres doubled, Gio Urshela singled in Torres, and Brett Gardner doubled in Urshela. Torres was the first Yankee to reach base.

Cole gave up another run in the fifth, and on one double, wasn’t helped by his defense, especially Joey Gallo. 5-2, Toronto.

The Yanks got a run in the top of the sixth to cut it to 5-3. D.J. LeMahieu led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a SF by Aaron Judge.

The Yankees tied it at five in the top of the seventh, but not without injury cost. Gallo led off the inning by getting HBP and had to leave the game later. Torres singled. After an out, Luke Voit PH and struck out but on a WP, both runners advanced, and Voit got injured. Kyle Higashioka singled to tie the game.

Gallo had to go for x-rays, and had to be PH for in the ninth inning. No word yet. Voit may be day-to-day.

In the bottom of the eighth, Bichette hit his second HR of the game, this one off reliever and losing pitcher Clay Holmes, and it was the game-winning blow. 6-5 Toronto.

Before the game, Jonathan Loaisiga activated of the IL, and Andrew Heaney optioned down.

Torres 3 hits
Higashioka 2 RBI


Cole 6 IP, 5 R, 9 H, 0 W, 6 K. Gave up 2 HR. 3.23
Loaisiga 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.22
Holmes (L, 8-4) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.71 (Pit/NYY stats).

Game 157. Yanks and Stanton stay hot, beat Toronto 7-2. Open up WC lead.

The Yankees and Giancarlo Stanton stayed hot, and in so doing, expanded their lead for the top wild card spot. The Yanks won their seventh straight game, beating Toronto 7-2, and Stanton homered yet again.

With the loss, the Blue Jays dropped behind Seattle in the wild card standings, and the Yanks now have a 2-game lead for the top wild card slot. Oakland is all but out of it. Seattle is closing in on Boston, who lost to Baltimore Tuesday night.

Wild Card Standings:

YANKEES 90-67 —
Boston 88-69 -2
Seattle 88-70 – 2 1/2, and just 1/2 game behind Boston
Toronto 87-70 -3, and 1 game behind Boston
Oakland 85-73 -5 1/2, and 3 1/2 behind Boston. All but eliminated.

The Yanks had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the first inning but could not score.

Jameson Taillon came off the IL to start (Albert Abreu going down), gave up a run in the first and had to leave in the third because of re-injuring the ankle. He’s most likely done for the season.

The Yanks tied it up in the top of the third inning when Aaron Judge hit his 37th HR of the season.

Toronto went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth, scoring off of Michael King, who relieved Taillon.

The Yanks got two runs in the top of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead. With one out, Gio Urshela singled and D.J. LeMahieu walked. Anthony Rizzo singled, scoring Urshela, and both he and LeMahieu moved up on the throw. Judge hit a SF to score D.J.

The Yanks broke in open in the top of the seventh. With one out, LeMahieu singled. One out later, Judge walked. The red-hot Stanton then hit a 3-run HR (35) to make it 6-2, Yanks.

Gio Urshela homered (14) in the ninth for the final score of 7-2.

Rizzo 2 hits, RBI
Judge 2 for 2, 2 walks, 2 RBI. Solo HR (37)
Stanton 2 hits, 3 RBI, 3-run HR (35)
Urshela 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (14)

Taillon 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 4.40
King (W, 1-4) 2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 3.21
Holmes (H, 12) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K. 2 WP. 3.63 (Pit/NYY)
Green 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.20
Severino 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00
Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.51 (SF/NYY)

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 150. Yanks slide further back in WC race with 11-1 loss.

Gerrit Cole has been the Yankees’ best player this year in terms of WAR (wins against replacement), with Aaron Judge #2.

Cole, the Yankees’ ace pitcher, didn’t have it yesterday as the Yankees got hammered by Cleveland, 11-1. In leaving the mound, Cole undeservedly got booed by Yankees fans frustrated by the loss and by the fact the Yankees’ postseason hopes may be slipping away.

There are some guys that may deserve the boos, but Cole isn’t one of them. For without him, where would they be? But the frustration, after two losses of 11-3 and 11-1 this weekend, was understandable, if misdirected.

If the Yanks don’t right themselves, they may find themselves being behind yet another team in the wild card standings.

Wild card Standings
Boston 86-65 — top Wild Card seed as of now
Toronto 84-65 -1 from Boston, 2nd wild card seed as of now
YANKEES 83-67 – 2 1/2 from Boston, -1 1/2 from Toronto
Oakland 82-67 -3 from Boston, -2 from Toronto and only 1/2 game behind the Yankees.
Seattle 80-69 -5 from Boston, -4 from Toronto and 2 1/2 behind the Yankees.

Cole didn’t have it from the get-go, giving up 2 runs in the first. I don’t know if that hamstring issue was bothering him.

He gave up 3 more in the third, and it was 5-0 Cleveland.

The Yanks got their only run in the bottom of the third on a HR by Gio Urshela (13).

Cole gave up a HR in the fifth, 6-1. Another HR in the sixth, 7-1.

Cleveland got an unearned run in the seventh courtesy of an error by D.J. LeMahieu. 8-1.

The bleeding continued as the Indians, with help from a passed ball by Kyle Higashioka, got two runs in the eighth off of Clarke Schmidt. Yet another passed ball by Higashioka led to the final Cleveland run in the ninth. 11-1.

2 errors, 2 passed balls, 2 unearned runs. The Yanks need to tighten the defense.

After his outing on Friday, Luis Gil was sent down and Estevan Florial was brought up. After his outing Sunday, Clarke Schmidt was sent down. Expect Domingo German up.

LeMahieu 2 hits
Rizzo 2 hits
Urshela 2 hits, Solo HR (13)

Cole (L, 15-8) 5 2/3 IP, 7 R, 10 H, 1 W, 7 K. Gave up 2 HR, 1 HBP. 3.03
Luetge 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.74
Schmidt 2 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 W, 4 K. 5.68

Cole’s chances for the CYA took a hit with this outing.

Remaining games: 3 at home vs. Texas, 3 @ Boston, 3 @ Toronto, close with 3 at home vs. Tampa Bay. Personally, I think the Yanks have to go at least 9-3 to make the playoffs. We’ll see.

Game 148. Yanks shutout Cleveland 8-0, hit 5 HR. Jump back into a WC spot.

Boston 84-65 1st WC Slot.
NYY 83-65 – 1/2, 2nd WC Slot
Tor 82-65 – 1 from Bos, – 1/2 from NYY
Oak 80-67 -3 from Bos, – 2 1/2 from NYY
Sea 79-68 – 4 from Bos, – 3 1/2 from NYY

From mlb.com

Scenario: Three-team tie for two Wild Card spots. If the Blue Jays, Yankees and Red Sox were all tied, with no other non-division winners in the AL ahead of them, the three teams would choose/receive A, B and C designations. Club A would host Club B. The winner of that game would be one Wild Card club, while the loser would then play Club C on the road to determine the other. The winners of the two games would face each other in the Wild Card Game. The three designations are decided by head-to-head records. The Red Sox went 10-9 against the Blue Jays and, as of this writing, are 10-6 against the Yankees, so they would have the first pick of designation. The Blue Jays are also 10-6 against the Yanks, as of this writing, so they would pick second. The Yankees would get whichever designation is left over. The first selection comes down to a choice of playing up to two games (Club A) or taking your chances as the home team in a single elimination game (Club C).

Ok, figured I’d give an update on the standings and the 3-way scenario first. The Yanks beat the Cleveland (Indians now, next year the [ugh] Guardians) 8-0 last night, hitting 5 HR. Corey Kluber, Michael King and Lucas Luetge combined for the shutout.

Lots of scoreboard watching this time of year. One way to avoid it, of course, is to take care of business earlier, so as to have a nice lead right now where it isn’t necessary, as Tampa Bay has done.

But it is what it is. As for now, the Yanks just have to keep winning.

Joey Gallo got the scoring started with a HR (36) in the bottom of the second to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead. He was not finished.

Aaron Judge hit one out in the bottom of the fourth to make it 2-0. HR #35 for Judge.

It stayed that way for a while. The Yanks broke open a tight ballgame by scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Gallo led off the inning with a single because 1B Bobby Bradley slipped. Gleyber Torres walked, and Gio Urshela singled in a run. After a pitching change, Brett Gardner hit a 3-run HR (9) to make it 6-0.

In the bottom of the eighth, Giancarlo Stanton and the red-hot Gallo hit back-to-back HR to make it 8-0. For Stanton, #29, and for Gallo #37 (combined Tex/NYY).

Judge 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (35)
Stanton solo HR (29)
Gallo 3 hits, 2 RBI. 2 solo HR (37, Tex/NYY)
Urshela 2 hits, RBI
Gardner 3-run HR (9)

Kluber (W, 5-3) 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 2 W, 4 K. 1 HBP. 3.68
King (H, 2) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.36
Luetge 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.79

Before the game, Clarke Schmidt was brought back up and Sal Romano was placed on the IL.

Luis Severino and Domingo German are close to returning. Both would be bullpen options to close out the season.