Game 1: Masahiro Tanaka got through one bad inning, pitching into the seventh, as the Yanks pounded the Mets, 12-5.
The Yanks went up 1-0 in the second on a double by Didi Gregorius and an RBI single by Kendrys Morales.
Tanaka gave up 4 runs in the third, inc. a 3-run HR to put the Mets up 4-1.
In the bottom of the third, the Yanks got one back when Brett Gardner singled, he and D.J. LeMahieu were safe all around on an error, and with two out, Gary Sanchez singled to make it 4-2.
The Yanks got five in the fourth on a 2-run HR by Gio Urshela (5) and a 3-run bomb by Luke Voit (16).
With two out in the fifth, the Yanks tacked on two more runs on a double by Morales, RBI single by Urshela, and RBI triple by Gardner. 9-4.
After the Mets scored a run in the top of the sixth to cut it to 9-5, the Yanks got a run in the seventh when Clint Frazier and Urshela each doubled.
Sanchez hit a 2-run HR (20) in the bottom of the eighth for the final score of 12-5.
Voit 3-run HR (16)
Sanchez 2 hits, 3 RBI, 2-run HR (20)
Gregorius 2 hits
Morales 3 hits, RBI
Urshela 3 hits, 4 RBI, 2-run HR (5)
Gardner 2 hits, RBI
Tanaka (W, 4-5, 3.58) 6 2/3 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 7 H, 0 W, 7 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Kahnle 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.81
Hale 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.57.
Game 2: You worry about the Yanks’ pitching and their health and if they need or will get another pitcher. German on the IL for now, Tanaka’s elbow, CC’s knee, Severino and Montgomery haven’t pitched at all this year, Loaisiga on IL, and with Game 2’s starter, James Paxton, you wonder if his knee is affecting him. In his last two starts, Paxton’s ERA has gone from 2.81 to 4.04.
He was knocked out in the third. After just 11 pitches, the Mets, who won this game 10-4, were up 3-0 after a double, single, and 3-run HR.
The Mets tacked on three more in the third, knocking Paxton out of the box.
The Yanks got three in the bottom of the third to cut it to 6-3. LeMahieu singled, Voit walked. Sanchez singled to load the bases. Gleyber Torres singled in one run, and forceouts by Frazier and Urshela brought in two more.
But a 2-run HR off of Chance Adams in the fourth made it 8-3 Mets.
Adams, the “26th man” for the DH (and therefore going back down after the game), gave up another HR in the fifth, 9-3.
Stephen Tarpley gave up a run in the top of the ninth, 10-3 Mets.
Brett Gardner homered (10) in the bottom of the ninth for the final score of 10-4 Mets.
LeMahieu 2 hits, .316
Sanchez 2 hits
Torres 2 hits, RBI
Gardner 2 hits, solo HR (10)
Paxton (L, 3-3, 4.04) 2 2/3 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 2 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Adams 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 W, 3 K. Gave up 2 HR. 3.97
Cessa 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 5.10
Tarpley 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 8.53
Dellin Betances has been shut down for a few weeks. Lat issue.
The Yanks could be getting Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge back in about a week to two weeks.
First round draft pick Anthony Volpe (SS) has signed with the Yankees.
With the split, the Yanks (41-25) are tied for first with Tampa Bay. They are off Wednesday.
