Recap and Perspectives: Yankees Salvage Series Finale 9-6

Ok. Whew! The long national nightmare is over. Domingo German pitched through five innings. The Yankees won. They Yankees are now, once again, 10 games up in the loss column.

Let’s get to it.

Big Leads – I have always been a believer that early season wins mean just as much as wins in July, August, or September. The Yankees built a huge lead in the first half of the season that gave them the cushion to withstand a period when it seemed the sky was falling (and it was). One win, last night against the Red Sox, doesn’t “right the ship,” but it does make things a little better. The Yankees put themselves in a position where they could play terrible baseball against the Sox, winning only one of four games, and still leave that series with a ten game lead. That’s huge. Gigantic. There is still a lot to be concerned about with the starting pitching, but this final win of the series takes some of the sting away from a weekend of losses.

Pitching – Before the game, the New York Mets landed Marcus Stroman. That was a shocker. What they do with him, or some of their other pitchers over the next 48 (or so) hours will be very telling. Teams may come begging to the Mets offering all sorts of riches. The Yankees need pitching. The Mets just put themselves in a position demand a ton from the Yankees (or any other team) for one of their starting pitchers. By many accounts, the Mets also gave an underwhelming package in return for Stroman. Could the Yankees have matched or bettered that offer? Who knows, but it does make one wish that they had. Of course, maybe the Yankees know something about Stroman that made them uncomfortable. It hurts, as a fan, to see good pitchers go to other teams when the Yankees need starting pitchers.

MadBum or an Ace, Please!- Alex Rodriguez made the point on the ESPN game broadcast that teams sometimes have to go out and make things happen in regard to trades. I think the Yankees are in a position where they absolutely have to go offering the sky and the moon for a pitcher like Madison Bumgarner. They have to make it happen. If the Astros or the Red Sox (or the Twins) get some pitching, and the Yankees don’t, it could be a quick post season in the Bronx. Brian Cashman has said that teams are asking for too much, and I get it, but the Yankees put themselves in this position where getting a pitcher (or two) is going to hurt. The Yankees can’t just keep walking away from deals. This is the year, right now, when they have to get it done. The next two days should be exciting. (I hope.)

Last Night – The Yankees continued to score runs. But, the big story was Domingo German who pitched like an ace. He is the Yankees’ ace this year. German is young, and he sometimes has growing pains, so I’d be reluctant to start him in Game 1 of a post season series, but he sure pitched like a guy who could do that last night.

German took the Yankees into the 6th inning. He allowed only four hits and one walk. He struck out 9 batters. He did allow three runs, but he pitched with a seriousness of purpose and with the effectiveness that has been missing from the Yankees starters over the last week. Of course, every pitcher is doing his best, but German finally showed a great deal of effectiveness in his work.

German is now 13-2 on the year. It’s impressive.

Bullpen – Tommy Kahnle, Adam Ottavino, and Zack Britton combined to pitch 2.2 innings allowing only one run. Aroldis Chapman’s struggles continued. He gave up two ninth inning runs, but held on to close out the victory. The bullpen struck out five batters. Yankees’ pitchers struck out 14 batters in total last night.

The Yankees Runs:

In the top of the third, Cameron Maybin walked and Austin Romine hit a two-run homer.(Yankees 2-0)

In the top of the fourth, Luke Voit walked and Didi Gregorius homered for two more runs. (4-0, Yankees)

In the top of the sixth, Gregorius walked and was erased at second on a fielder’s choice with Gleyber Torres reaching base. Gio Urshela then doubled home Torres giving the Yankees a 5-2 lead. (By then German had allowed two runs). Cameron Maybin then drove home Urshela (6-2).

With the bases loaded and one out, Didi Gregorius hit a shallow flyout to center field. Jackie Bradley Jr. of the Red Sox then made a throwing error (throwing to first base where no Red Sox was covering). Two runs scored giving the Yankees an 8-3 lead.

In the top of the eighth, Cameron Maybin doubled, went to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch. That was the Yankees’ 9th run. (9-4 Yankees)

Rest Up – The Yankees have a much needed and well-deserved day off on Monday. They resume playing on Tuesday at home with a quick two game series with Arizona. The Yankees will be off on Thursday as well before the Red Sox come to town for four games next weekend.

Off-Night Classics – Come back to tonight for a special Off Night Classics. We’ll be showcasing some mighty fine pitching.