N.Y. Yankees: Jordan Montgomery to the Rescue

From the desk of: THE SULTANS OF SO WHAT

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

Series Tied; 2-2

I - NYY 9; TBR 3

II - TBR 7; NYY 5

III - TBR 8; NYY 4

IV - NYY 5; TBR 1

Yankees Hurlers Toss Three Hitter; Force Game Five

Many people should be thanking their lucky stars for Jordan Montgomery.  A Bronx sized blunder in Game Two is less of an issue now, but only if the Yankees win the series.  In the meantime, they've successfully forged a decisive Game Five against the Rays.  Gerrit Cole remains on course to fulfill his mission.

Making his first ever post-season start, southpaw Jordan Montgomery faces 17 batters, allowing one run on a fielder's choice in the third, three hits and three walks with five strikeouts through the game's first four innings.  In the second and third innings Tampa leaves five runners on base as Montgomery pitches through their threats.  Relievers Chad Green, Zach Britton and Aroldis Chapman then slam the door shut on Tampa.  In a dominant display the trio allows no runs, no hits and just one walk with seven strikeouts over the final five innings.  The Rays are limited to one extra base hit and go hitless in four at-bats with runners in scoring position.

No Rays pitcher goes unscathed.  The Bombers score twice against Ryan Thompson in the second on Luke Voit's first home run of the playoffs and a sac-fly by D.J. LeMahieu.  Glayber Torres connects on a two run home run off Ryan Yarbrough in the sixth and Kyle Higashioka drives in the Yankees fifth run against Aaron Slegers in the eighth.

Aaron Judge goes 0 for 4, and is now 3 for 27 (.111) for the series with two home runs and four runs batted in.  

Still no sight of Gary Sanchez.  He surely will not be catching Gerrit Cole and the Yankees aren't going to insert him at DH over Giancarlo Stanton.  Higashioka is now 5 for 15 (.333) in four starts with a home run and two runs batted in and only one strikeout.  Sanchez has four strikeouts in eight at-bats.  His only hit of the post-season is a home run against Cleveland.

SHOWDOWN

In four starts this season against the Rays, Gerrit Cole has yielded twelve runs (4.88 ERA) on 18 hits and eight walks with 35 strikeouts through 22.1 innings pitched.  His Game Five opponent will be Tyler Glasnow who likewise has made four starts this season against the Yankees allowing ten runs (4.71 ERA) on twelve hits and ten walks with 32 strikeouts over 19.1 innings pitched.  Cole was the winner in Game One; Glasnow the winner in Game Two.  This will be their third head-to-head confrontation of the season.  On August 19, the Rays defeated the Yankees four against two.  Glasnow allowed two earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched.  Cole also allowed two runs over 6.2 innings pitched.  On August 31, Tampa defeats the Yankees by a 5-3 final.  Glasnow allows no runs over six innings pitched.  Cole is roughed up for four runs in five innings pitched.  Gerrit Cole has surrendered seven home runs through four starts against Tampa.  Glasnow has yielded just four home runs to the Yankees in four starts but two came in Game Two.

N.Y. Yankees: Bronx Bombers Rain Destruction at Progressive Field

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE

WILD CARD ROUND

GAME ONE

Yankees   12

Indians      3

FINAL

GERRIT COLE JOINS ELITE COMPANY

New York announces their presence with authority.  

With mission in hand they open the bomb bay doors dropping four high kiloton dingers upon Progressive Field.  

Aaron Judge zeroes in right away when he blasts Shane Bieber's fourth pitch of the game over the right/center field wall for a prompt 2-0 lead.  Gleyber Torres also hits a two run home run off Bieber in the fifth.  Reliever Cameron Hill yields yet another two run home run off the bat of Bret Gardner in the seventh and Giancarlo Stanton closes out the Bronx Bombers barrage with a solo home run in the ninth.

The bottom portion of the lineup proves particularly devastating.  Number seven batter Gleyber Torres is a perfect 4 for 4 with a walk, three runs scored and three runs batted in and batting eighth  Brett Gardner goes 3 for 5 with two runs scored and three runs batted in.  The Yankees hit a combined 15 for 41 (.365), with five extra base hits, three walks and ten strikeouts.

American League Cy Young candidate Shane Bieber does not make it through the fifth.  It's easily his worst outing of the season.  Despite seven strikeouts he yields seven runs on nine hits and two walks through 4.2 innings pitched.

Otherwise, this is why Gerrit Cole gets paid the big bucks.  He joins Tom Seaver as the only two pitchers with 13 strikeouts and no walks in a post-season game, according to @MLBStats.  He surrenders just two runs on six hits through 7.0 innings pitched.  He throws 105 pitches with 73 (69%) going for strikes.

Gerrit Cole or not, the Indians can not play catch-up ball against the Yankees.  They go 8 for 35 with eight hits, three for extra bases, one walk and 14 strikeouts.  Left fielder Josh Naylor is the only disruptive bat of the lot, going 4 for 4 with a double, home run and two runs scored.

The Yankees play a clean game in the field after leading the circuit with 48 errors.

Masahiro Tanaka goes in game two.  This is his fifth post-season with the Yankees over which he's nothing but brilliant.  Through eight appearances dating back from 2015 Tanaka owns a 5-3 record with a 2.13 ERA and a stellar 0.90 WHiP.  He has walked just 11 batters and fanned 37 while yielding just 25 hits through 46.0 innings pitched.  In ten regular season starts Tanaka posted a 3-3 record with a 3.56 ERA and 1.17 WHiP.  He has allowed 48 hits in 48.0 innings pitched with eight walks and 44 strikeouts.

Cleveland is counting on 33-year old right-hander Carlos Carrasco to help stave off elimination.  He went 3-4 in twelve starts with a 2.91 ERA and 1.21 WHiP, and struck out a robust 82 batters in 68.0 innings pitched.

Game Called: COVID-19 Whitewashes Yankees vs. Mets at Citi Field

From the desks of: 

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  &   BLAME CARLOS MAY

GAME CALLED
COVID-19
SNY NEWS YouTube Channel

One player and one organizational member of the New York Mets tested positive for COVID-19.

I bid them and their families, and the Mets organization health, calm and peace of mind.

*

Just a reminder: I am on record as being opposed to the playing of the 2020 regular season.  But if players chose to play, earn a potion of their salaries, and in tun allow owners to recoup lost revenue through an expanded playoff, more power to them.  I wish them well.  However, as we see there are ramifications and repercussions to their decisions and actions.

Thursday's Mets/Marlins game in addition to Friday's Yankees/Mets game at Citi Field were postponed.  The Mets are now the tenth team to experience COVID related postponements.  That's ten out of thirty teams - you do the math.  The Yankees previously had a series against the Phillies postponed.  Both instances were related to trace contact with the Miami Marlins who earlier in this process experienced an outbreak of 18 players and team personnel.  Miami has so far been limited to just 18 games and to some extent their roster is unrecognizable.  BUGS BUNNY had the right idea when he hand-sawed Florida away from the continental United States.  On a personal note, my sister and some cousins live in Florida which keeps forever pensive.  Their state clown governor is a governor clown.  The Marlins are due in New York next week.  I say let them land at LaGuardia Airport, give them time for refueling, turn them right around and send that plane right back to South Beach.  The local Tri-State are did a superb job flattening the curve particularly here in New York City.  Last thing we need is a school of infected Fish swimming about in Flushing Bay.  Of course I speak somewhat in jest, but on a more serious note is appears Yoenis Cespedes and Marcus Stroman are owed apologies by all of those whom chastised them for opting out under the perceived pretense of self-centeredness and selfishness.  In fact Stroman himself expressed his anxiety over the upcoming road trip into Miami.

There's a lesson to be learned: temper yourselves.

ICYMI:

• N.Y. Yankees: Jury Still Out on Aaron Judge
• N.Y. Mets: Monster Matz is a National League Smash

The New York Mets presently own a 12-14 (.461) record, with 123 runs for and 130 runs against.  Between the starting rotation being in shambles and the ongoing issue of hitting w/risp, the Mets have more problems than a math book.  Things may look great for the Yankees.  The second place Bronx Bombers own a 16-9 (.640) record, one-half game behind the Rays, with 135 runs for and 107 against.  But they've already sustained injuries to Giancarlo Stanton, Zack Britton, Gleyber Torres, James Paxton, Luis Avilan, Aaron Judge, and now DJ LeMmahieu.

N.Y. Yankees: Astros Pitching Short Circuiting Bomber Bats

From the desk of: BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE 

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

ASTROS LEAD YANKEES; 2-1

I - NYY 7; HOU 0

II - HOU 3; NYY 2

III - HOU 4; NYY 1

GAME FOUR

Houston Astros

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

BRONX COUNTY

Having now faced Houston's big three, the Yankees trail the ALCS (1-2) with two games left to play at Yankee Stadium.  Baring a pinstriped implosion this series is heading back to Houston where the Yankees in game one score seven runs on 13 hits against Zack Greinke.  However, New York's momentum at the plate only carries them as far as the next game's opposing pitcher.  In game two Justin Verlander and five Astros relievers join in limiting the Yankees to six hits and a pair of runs.  On Tuesday Gerrit Cole and a trio of relievers yield just one run on five hits.  That's three runs on eleven hits for the Yankees over their last two games.  Not very Bomber like, save for Gleyber Torres.

• Gary Sanchez: 1 for 13 (.077); six strikeouts; and presently a defensive liability.

Game four strikes me as a coin flip.  Each manager has limited pitching options and none seem terribly promising.  The tentative plan is to bring Tanaka back on short rest.  Plan B would be to bullpen the game.  There's always C.C. Sabathia.  Or just pray for rain.

For what it's worth, Paxton would be on his bullpen day three days after being yanked from game two after allowing an earned run on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in just 2.1 innings pitched.

Meanwhile the Astros appear only slightly more well off handing the ball to Wade Miley.  This all remains to be determined.  But it sure looks like game four is building up to be a hitter's game.

Famous last words ...

Which ever team wins game four I believe seizes the advantage.  Houston, obviously, because they'll have three opportunities to win one game.  But if the Yankees should take game four, Masahiro Tanaka is in line for game five.  Tanaka pitches brilliantly against the Twins, and more so in game one at Houston in which he allows the Astros just one hit and one walk, with four strikeouts through six scoreless innings pitched.

Rewind back to the final weeks and days of June.  Brian Cashman turns his back on what he believes to be a rigged trade market, electing instead to hold his ground.  Luis Severino perhaps plays a part in Cashman's decision.  But we just witnessed the consequences of his decisions in game three and now leading into game four.  It's clear Severino is nowhere near mid-season form, much less ALCS ready.  But in lieu of pitching upgrades, this is precisely why Brian Cashman acquires Edwin Encarnacion ...

... to win game four.

N.Y. Yankees: Bronx Bombers Continue Befuddling Boston

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Yankees lead series 3-0

I - NYY 4; BOS 2

II - NYY 9; BOS 2

III - NYY 6; BOS 4

SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL

Boston Red Sox

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

South Bronx Grounds

You can forget what happened last weekend at Fenway.  Look what the Yankees did to the Red Sox ... again!  That's three straight; a double-header sweep on Saturday; with one more game to play in front of a national TV audience this Sunday evening - ESPN broadcast scrubs withstanding.

GAME ONE: The Boston Meltdown

Everything is fine through the first three innings.  The Yanks and Sox trade runs on solo dingers by DJ LaMahieu and Andrew Benintendi respectively.  Then comes Boston's fourth inning meltdown. Both Chris Sale and manager Alex Cora are ejected for arguing balls and strikes but not before Sale surrenders eight earned runs on nine hits - including LaMahieu's second home run of the game - with no walks and four strikeouts en rout to his eleventh loss of the season against just five victories.  All told the Yanks get four RBI from LaMahieu, two each from Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Gardner, and one from Breyvic Valera.  Domingo German yields just two earned runs on five hits (two home runs) with no walks and seven strikeouts through seven innings pitched.  He improves to 14-2 on the season with a staff leading 3.98 ERA.  Jonathan Holder pitches two scoreless innings in relief of German with three strikeouts.

GAME TWO: Boone's Bullpen and Gleyber Torres Dingers

Boston establishes two separate leads in the game and fail to protect either.  And therein lies the narrative of Red Sox Nation's disappointing season.  The Yankees complete a sweep of Saturday's twin bill at the Stadium.  Boston meanwhile are now losers of seven in a row.  Aaron Boone opts to bullpen game two, employing seven different pitchers whom join together in yielding four runs on eight hits and eight walks with ten strikeouts.  Starter Chad Green is limited to the first inning.  Tommy Kahnle earns the victory for his scoreless effort in the seventh.  Aroldis Chapman earns his 29th save of the season.  Gleyber Torres hits two home runs giving him three for the series.  Cameron Maybin and Mike Tauchman getting the start in right each drive in a pair of runs.  Rafael Devers connects on his 22nd home run of the season in the third off Nestor Cortes Jr. pitching in relief of Green.

• Chris Sale reveals to reporters in between games the Red Sox held a team meeting.  The Red Sox now trail the Yankees by 13.5 games.  But with a 59-54 record Boston is just five games back of the second Wild Card with 49 games left to play.  
• At 71-39 the Yankees are more than 30 games above .500 and are just one of three MLB teams to reach the 70 win mark to date.

N.Y. Yankees: Gleyber Torres is Grand Against The Red Sox

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

FRIDAY

Red Sox   2

Yankees   4

FINAL

GAME ONE

Bottom first: Aaron Hicks at the plate; 

one batter later Gleyber Torres hits grand slam home run to left.

Aaron Judge faces Eduardo Rodriguez

Boston opens the scoring right away in the first on J.D. Martinez' two run home run.  But as noted above, the Yankees load the bases in the bottom half of the frame.  With LeMahieu at third, Judge at second, and Encarnacion stationed first, Gleyber Torres deposits an Eduardo Rodriguez offering into the left field seats giving the Yankees a 4-2 lead and eventual margin of victory.  James Paxton performs like the pitcher Brian Cashman envisioned, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks with six strikeouts through six innings pitched.  He faces 23 batters and throws 100 pitches on the nose with 60 going for strikes.  Tommy Kahnle pitches a scoreless seventh with a strikeout.  Zack Britton takes care of the eighth, and Aroldis Chapman closes out the ninth for his 28th save of the season.  The Yankees and Red Sox still are scheduled to play eight more games.

N.Y. Mets All-Stars Shine Bright

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

2019 ALL STAR GAME

THE 90th MID-SUMMER CLASSIC

Jacob deGrom ~ Pete Alonso ~ Jeff McNeil

Jacob deGrom pitches a scoreless third inning with one strikeout.  He retires in order Houston Astro George Springer, the Yankees DJ LeMahieu, and Angels great Mike Trout, while throwing an all-star representative seven pitches.

Home Run Derby champion(!) Pete Alonso sparkles in the field, making a fine stretch in receiving Dodgers second baseman Max Muncy's throw from shallow right in the sixth.  He strikes out in his first at-bat.  But with the senior circuit trailing 4-1 in the eighth, Alonso steps in against Cleveland's Bradley Hand.  With two outs and the bases loaded Alonso lines a bullet that damn near through Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres.  Two runs score on the play.  Alonso also swipes second base uncontested.

Baseball's leading hitter is in the house.  Jeff McNeil enters the game as a left field replacement in the seventh.  He makes one putout.  He then flies out to left field during is only at-bat in the eighth.  The scoreboard incorrectly posts McNeil's name with Jacob deGrom's face.

Enjoy the remainder of the break.

#LGM

Yankees and Red Sox Rivalry Invades London

THE RIVALRY

LONDON SERIES

Yankees win series 2-0

BOSTON RED SOX

vs.

NEW YORK YANKEES

FROM

Across the Pond

LONDON

A year ago today the Yankees and Red Sox open a three game series at Bronx County.  First place Boston arrives in town with a 55-27 (.671) record.  Their second place hosts own a 52-26 (.667) record.  The Bombers wind up winning two of three and take over first place by percentage points over the Red Sox.  But whereas Boston stays the course with a 53-27 (.662) record over their final 80 games the Yankees fail to keep pace posting a 48-36 (.571) record over their final 84 games.  The Red Sox clinch the A.L. East at Yankee Stadium and go on to register an MLB best 108-54 (.667) regular season record.  Despite hitting the century mark in wins (100-62) the Yankees must settle for one of two Wild Card berths.  Their one game playoff victory over the Oakland A's at Yankee Stadium sets the stage for an ALDS showdown against the Red Sox.  Boston goes on to befuddle the Yankees in four games, and for a second time within three weeks pop off champagne celebrations in the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium.  The Red Sox roll on, defeating the defending world champion Houston Astros for the American League pennant then taking out the Los Angeles Dodgers in five to clinch Boston's ninth championship in franchise history.

The Yankees enter this year's London Series in first place of the A.L. East with a 52-28 (.650) record, the same number of wins as last season but with two more losses.  Remarkably they've not only withstood a season long spate of injuries but have thrived to the extent of achieving a tie with the Minnesota Twins for most wins in the American League.  Miguel Andujar has not been apart of the season; they most recently lost Giancarlo Stanton again this time to a knee injury; and still remain without Luis Severino.  Aaron Judge only recently rejoined the line-up.  In the meantime, acquisitions DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit are becoming stars before out very eyes.  Gleyber Torres is another.  The 22-year old has 19 home runs with 47 RBI in only his second season in the bigs.  This past Tuesday DJ LeMahieu and the Yankees break and set the MLB record for hitting a home run in the their 28th straight game.  With center field at London's facility reportedly only 385' away from home late (Olympic standards), there's a good chance this series devolves into a gas house gorillas skit.

The defending world champion Boston Red Sox enter London Series with a 44-38 (.537) record and in third place of the A.L. East, a distant nine games behind the Yankees.  This season, it appears the Red Sox will be the one sweating out a Wild Card berth while the Yankees run away with the division.  In that regard they must contend with the Tampa Rays, Cleveland Indians, and damn near the entire A.L. West save for Seattle.  Unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox Achilles heel has been their bullpen.  Out of 33 save opportunities, they've converted only 17 for a 51% rate of blown saves.  The Yankees on the other hand are saving 71% of their games.  And therein lies your difference from one season to the next.

True Story: I visited London back in 1989.  A waitress says to me, "Oh, you're from the colonies, are you?  I wanted to respond with something innocuous, but what came out of my mouth was far from that, "If by that you mean New Amsterdam, then, yes, I am."  To my fellow Americans crossing the pond, please behave won't ya!

NO ROUNDERS!

PLAY BALL!!

SATURDAY

Red Sox  13

Yankees  17

FINAL

In a game more resembling Batting Practice With the Stars, the Yankees outlast the Red Sox by an unsightly 17-13 final score requiring nearly five hours to decide.  Each team takes turns scoring six runs in the game's first inning alone.  With a total of 37 hits and 30 runs scored, Saturday's respective pitching performances leave much to be desired.  Parties of both sides are guilty as charged.  The feature match-up pitting Masahiro Tanaka against Rick Porcello never makes it out of the first as each are given the hook prior to recording a third out.  Perhaps we owe #UK fans an apology for treating them to such a poor exhibition of pitching.

The Yankees get home runs from Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, and Aaron Judge.  Boston matches them with one home run from Jackie Bradley Jr., and two off the bat of Michael Chavis.  DJ LeMahieu goes 4 for 6 with five runs batted in.  Didi Gregorius is 2 for 5 with a double and three RBI.  Yanks bat 9 for 18 with runners in scoring position.  Yankees are now 9-2 in their last ten trips.

With a 44-39 record Boston now trails the Yankees by ten games.

SCENES FROM LONDON STADIUM

Courtesy my cousin who made the trip.

SUNDAY

Yankees   12

Red Sox    8

FINAL

So what did we learn?  That pitchers need more time recovering from overseas flights?  It's my understanding when flying the body suffers dehydration.  Did pitchers need to better hydrate?  Is that it?  So much for Boston's $500,000 charter flight with all the fixings.  Let's face it, just about every pitcher from both the Yankees and Red Sox whom toed the rubber sucked.  The Yankees outscore the Red Sox by a 29-21 margin.  However Boston out-hits the Yankees 33-32 and hits six home runs to the Yankees four.  The common denominator is the roughly seven hour flight to London.  

Otherwise I have no idea ...

Congratulations London, England, and greater UK on your first ever major league baseball games.  Although the series lacked somewhat the more artistic aspects of pitching, sometimes a good old slug fest works just as well.  Thing about baseball is you never know what you're going to get.

Entering Monday night's action, the first place Yankees own a seven game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, and an 11 game lead over the defending champion Red Sox.  The Yankees 54-28 record presently tops the American League.  The Los Angeles Dodgers lead baseball with a 57-29 record.

N.Y. Yankees: Chris Sale Silences Bombers and Critics

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

GAME ONE

YANKEES   4

RED SOX    5

FINAL

New York Yankees: Move to bring in Rick Porcello saves the day.

Chris Sale is arm weary; Chris Sale is fading; Chris Sale is just not a good second-half pitcher.  All these maladies are based in truth.  Sale's history as a starter says so.  He indeed suffered shoulder inflammation this season.  To what extent, we don't know.  But his regular season speaks for itself.  After making 18 starts from March/April through June, he is limited to just nine starts from July through September.  His velocity goes from upwards of 98-mph in the first half, down to the low 90's by September.

However, Alex Cora continually downplays Sale's condition throughout the second-half.  As I wrote yesterday, no one person understands his own team better than Cora - Dave Dombrowski included. He put both the Red Sox and Yankees through a comprehensive audit last season while serving as bench coach with the Houston Astros.  Last year's post-season experience makes him a veritable treasure trove of information with unique insight into his own club, the Yankees, and the defending champion Astros.

For as long as the Red Sox maintain a somewhat commanding regular season lead over the Yankees, Cora is afforded an opportunity to utilize Chris Sale sparingly, and massage him back into the post-season rotation.  Friday against the Yankees, Aaron Sale is charged with two earned runs on five hits through 5.1 innings pitched, with eight strikeouts for the victory.  He tops out at 96-mph.

The Red Sox lead the Yankees 5-0 through the fifth.  With two on and one out in the sixth, Cora removes Sale.  That's when the fun stops.  Boston's bullpen goes on to surrender four earned runs (two charged to Sale) on five hits and three walks.  Despite their overall inefficiencies, Cora's move to bring in Rick Porcello proves brilliant.  Utilizing him on his throw day, Cora gets fifteen pitches and two important outs from his Game Three starter.

Aaron Judge's home run off Craig Kimbrel leading off the ninth cuts the Red Sox lead down to one.  But Kimbrel regroups to strike out the next three Yankee batters and complete a four out save.

So much for J.A. Happ's career success against the Red Sox - the very reason why Brian Cashman acquired him in the first place.  Happ surrenders a three-run home run to J.D. Martinez in the first inning, and is removed before recording an out in the third.  For the record, Happ allows five runs on four hits and a walk over two innings pitched for the loss.

Giancarlo Stanton goes 1 for 5 with four strikeouts.  The bottom four of the line-up (Didi Gregorius, Miguel Andujar, Gary Sanchez, Glayber Torres) go 2 for 13 with four strikeouts.  Yankee batters total 13 strikeouts for the game; the Red Sox fan seven times (three by Ian Kinsler).  On that note, the Yankees leave ten runners on base, and go just 1 for 7 with RiSP.  The Red Sox are 3 for 6 with RiSP, and leave just six runners on base.

Yet, the Yankees out-hit the Red Sox by a 10-8 margin, and more importantly make Boston pitchers throw 182 pitches, versus just 127 pitches thrown by the Yankees.  They were able to piece together three runs before Aaron Judge's blast in the ninth, which is important for a team that generally lives and dies with the long ball.  Meanwhile, Judge appears healthy as ever, going 3 for 5 with an RBI and run scored.

The Yankees bullpen throws six scoreless innings of four-hit ball, issuing just two walks and fanning five.  Although called upon to pitch more innings than anticipated, Sunday is an off day as the series shifts to Bronx.  For the moment, Aaron Boone should be able to absorb the tax.

Overall, the margin of difference in this game proves very slim.

The move bringing in Rick Porcello to pitch the eighth saves the day.

But make no mistake, the Yankees can easily escape Boston with a split.  Masahiro Tanaka faces off against Yankees pinata David Price in Game Two, Saturday night at Fenway Park.

N.Y. Mets: Roosevelt Ave Sluggers Too Much for Bronx Bombers

From the desks of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  and  BLAME CARLOS MAY

NEW YORK, NEW YORK;

It's a hell of a town.

The Bronx slipped up; Flushing Queens is down;

The people ride in a crumbling hole in the ground.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Run by a Bunch of Clowns!

Add C.C. Sabathia to the list of disabled.  He will miss his next two starts due to right knee inflammation.  On the brighter side, a troublesome knee is nothing new to Sabathia.  It's something he manages.  Nevertheless, it's an untimely setback for the Yankees starting rotation.  The news comes on the heels of Sunny Gray's demotion to the bullpen, and newly acquired J.A. Happ contracting Hand, Foot, Mouth disease.

Sabathia is coming off a six inning one-hit shut-out performance in Sunday's Yankees victory over the Texas Rangers.  In 22 starts to date, he's 7-4 with a very respectable 3.32 ERA and 1.28 WHiP, with 106 strikeouts through 119.1 innings pitched.

He was given a fourteen day break between starts during the all-star break.  This next 10-day stint on the disabled list just may prove beneficial for the 38-year old veteran.  If the Yankees are to catch the Red Sox, or at minimum maintain control of the Wild Card, they'll need a reliable C.C. in September.  Although it's "only" mid-August, if one considers the length of a post-season run, his creaky hinge comes into question.

That said, the Yankees are now down three very key components: Sabathia, Gary Sanchez, and Aaron Judge, whom is still experiencing pain in his wrist.  As such, their margin of error diminishes with every Boston, Oakland, and Seattle victory.

Despite Monday night's subway series make-up loss at the Stadium, the Yankees end the day with the second best record in baseball, but you'd never know it.  Fans officially are in a panic.  In a season only baseball can script, the best record of all belongs to the team atop the A.L. East standings hailing from Boston.  While the Yankees sport an impressive (74-34) record, the idle Red Sox entered Monday's action FIFTY!! games over .500, and now own a ten game lead over the Yankees.

Jacob deGrom  vs.  Luis Severino

The crosstown Mets give the Yankees something else to ponder Monday night.  They knock Yankees starter Luis Severino out of the box with a first inning home run by Amed Rosario, a fourth inning home run by Jose Bautista.  Overall Mets strike seven hits off Severino in just four innings pitched.  

• In his last seven starts, Luis Severino has surrendered 31 earned runs in 36 innings pitched for a very problematic 7.75 ERA.  Despite 35 strikeouts, he has allowed 54 hits and nine walks for a 1.75 WHiP.

The Mets receive much needed insurance on home runs by Todd Frazier, Brandon Nimmo, and Michael Conforto.

Starter Jacob deGrom surrenders three runs, just two earned, on five hits and a pair of walks through 6.2 innings pitched.  He exits on the winning side of a 7-3 game but not before fanning twelve batters.  Jerry Blevins closes out the seventh in relief of deGrom.  However, Seth Lugo surrenders a two-run home run to Miguel Andujar making it a 7-5 Mets lead.

• Mets have all of a sudden scored fifteen runs in Jacob deGrom's last two starts.  Jacob deGrom finally evens his record to 7-7 with a 1.81 ERA.  He has surrendered four runs in a game just once all season, against the Marlins back on Apr. 10 at Miami,and is now just four innings away from tying Dwight Gooden's club record of consecutive starts allowing three runs or less (per SNY post game).

In the top of the ninth, Gleyber Torres mishandles Didi's throw to second base on a potential double-play ball, allowing the Mets their eighth run of the evening, and their final margin of victory.

Robert Gsellman closes out the Yankees in the bottom of the ninth to earn his seventh save of the season.

The Mets win their 50th game of the season.

N.Y. Yankees: The Reeducation of Giancarlo Stanton

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Last year's N.L. MVP poised to play in most 

meaningful games of his baseball career.

New York Yankees: Oh, the story Giancarlo Stanton can write!

Giancarlo Stanton's arrival in the Bronx is not a matter of baseball subjugation.  By invoking his no-trade clause he essentially engineers his own reality by forcing the Marlins to deal with Brian Cashman and the Yankees - whom rather passively emerge as a lone remaining suitor capable of absorbing his otherwise prohibitive contract.

One could argue Stanton never before has participated in a regular season nearly as meaningful as this one, or that Mar. 29, 2018 at Toronto was the first ever meaningful regular season game of his career, or that his first hundred games with the Yankees have been far more meaningful than any of his 986 games played as a Miami Marlin.  But after four full months on the job he is experiencing well that winning a National League MVP for the second division Miami Marlins is one thing, and that being traded to New York and playing for a team which came within one game of last year's World Series is another.

He hit two home runs and drove in four runs in his Yankee debut, but after 28 games would finish April slashing just .230/.313/.425, with five home runs and 15 RBI, and not without having at least two terse exchanges with the media.  In May, he slashes .264/.330/.516, with six home runs and 14 RBI, then slashes .298/.373/.577, with eight home runs and 17 RBI in June.

Now one hundred games deep into the season, Stanton so far in July is slashing .349/.387/.542, with four home runs and 15 RBI, bringing his grand totals up to .281/.348/.512, with 23 home runs and 61 RBI.  He leads the Yankees with 110 base hits; is tied with Aaron Judge for most RBI; is second behind Judge in home runs; and is third behind Judge and Gleyber Torres in slugging.

This past Thursday, Aaron Judge suffered a fractured wrist during the Yankees 7-2 victory over the Royals at the stadium.  He is expected to miss the next three weeks to a month.  With that, the weight of the Yankees Universe falls on the shoulders of Giancarlo Stanton, who is now expected to carry what is effectively Aaron Judge's team. 

More conclusive proof that in New York City the spotlight finds you, and not the other way around. As such, Giancarlo Stanton is about to gain an entirely new understanding into what the dog days of summer truly entail.  Friday's rain-out makes Saturday's game against the Royals at the stadium the first the Bombers will play without Judge.  Tasked with performing under new conditions, Stanton will have all eyes focused squarely on him.

Stand or fall, he is once again in charge of his own narrative.  The game's biggest stage lies before him.  If Stanton helps the Yankees overcome their five game deficit behind the Red Sox before Aaron Judge returns, oh the story he will write.

N.Y. Yankees: Much Machado About Nothing

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

"He's a bluffin' bluffer ... Bluff!" - Ed Norton

New Yor Yankees: Why is Brian Cashman even remotely interested in acquiring Manny Machado?

... And why are the Red Sox seemingly expressing interest, for that matter?  At least Manny is a somewhat better fit with Boston than here in Bronx.  The Red Sox are unlikely to intrude on Xander Bogeart's space.  But depending on your opinion regarding Rafael Devers and Eduardo Nunez manning third base, acquiring Manny Machado might be worth investigating - for them.

But if you're an older Yankees fan, this may wreak of the 1980s all over again.  For the moment, though, this appears to be nothing more than scuttlebutt.  Otherwise, I just can't see the Yankees being serious about acquiring Manny Machado when they have Didi Gregoreous, Gleyber Torrez, Miguel Andujar, and a seeming glut of young emerging talent already in hand.

What the Yankees need is a starting pitcher.  Everyone knows that.

But this is just a theory: Brian Cashman is sly like a fox, and knowing how Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowsky ran the Tigers and the mess he left behind at Detroit, perhaps Cashman is merely driving up Machado's price in the hopes Boston Sox both depletes their farm system, then fail in retaining the looming free agent.

Then again, the Yankees trail the Boston Red Sox by 4.5 games heading into the All-Star break.  And neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox want the end the season hinging on a one game Wild Card playoff.

No wonder Yankee fans sound as if they're in a panic ...

N.Y. Yankees: Bronx Bombers Go Boom

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Greg Bird Rounds Bases After Hitting Fourth Inning Home Run

GAME ONE FINAL

Red Sox    1

Yankees     8

New York Yankees: Bombers Earn Slim Percentage Points First Place Lead Over Red Sox.

I was in attendance for Friday night's series opener between the Boston Red Sox and Bronx Bombers, and can testify to the high voltage coursing through Yankee Stadium's veins.

Starter C.C. Sabathia set the tone early by retiring the Red Sox in order to start the game.

In the bottom of the second, the young Yanks inflicted early damage against Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez.  Batting fifth, second baseman Gleyber Torres led-off with a triple off the center field wall.  Next up, third baseman Miguel Andujar blooped a hit where they aint, driving home Torres with the game's first run.

The Yankees then flexed their muscle in the fourth.  After Giancarlo Stanton drew a lead-off walk, Didi Gregorious struck a double to deep center.  Stanton would soon score on a sac-fly by Gleyber Torres.  After which, Miguel Andujar deposited a Eduardo Rodriguez offering into the left field seats for a two-run home run.  Greg Bird made it back-to-back home runs with an opposite field launch to left giving the Yankees a 5-0 lead.

With one out and Greg Bird on first base in the bottom of the seventh, Aaron Judge hit his 21st home run of the season.  And in the eighth, Greg Bird capped off the scoring with his second home run of the game, giving the Yankees an 8-1 final margin of victory.

C.C. Sabathia pitched very well in earning his fifth victory of the season.  He threw 97 pitches through seven full innings pitched, with 62 (64%) going for strikes.  He limited the Red Sox to just one run on six hits and a walk, while fanning five.

Relievers Chad Green and Chasen Shreve each contributed an inning of no hit scoreless ball, with three strikeouts.

GAME TWO MATCH-UP

Chris Sale

vs.

Sonny Gray

C.C. Sabathia deals in second inning.

YANKEES MUSEUM