BRONX, N.Y. β Apparently one game counts as a series. Then again a knockout Wild Card game counts as the postseason. It’s 2020 and I don’t make the rules. In any event, the New York Yankees took care of the Philadelphia Phillies with a 6-3 victory.
The Yankees-Phillies contest Tuesday was already postponed due to the storm moving up the East Coast. Hence, they’ll play a double-header in Philly and the Yankees will be the “home team” in one of those games. Got it? Good.
GOOD ENOUGH GERRIT
Gerrit Cole’s respectable starts are better than most average pitcher’s best outings. Cole’s first start in pinstripes wasn’t dominating per se but it was certainly a quality start. New York’s ace spun six solid innings, striking out four, yielding one run on five hits and one walk. The lone blip was a Jay Bruce solo swat to right in the third inning.
That was a Cole'd one. pic.twitter.com/hmXUlwNk82
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 4, 2020
OUR HOUSE. OUR PORCH. OUR RULES.
In a parallel universe, Joe Girardi is managing at Yankee Stadium in 2020 with Bryce Harper in right-field, Didi Gregorius at shortstop and David Robertson as the closer but not in the third-base dugout. Yet, the Yankees are still in great shape.
Somewhat fittingly in the first frame, DJ LeMahieu, who the Yankees management chose rather than the likes of Harper and Manny Machado, led off the game by porching a homer over Harper’s head in right, off Jake Arrieta’s full-count sinker.
Machine Crush Monday. pic.twitter.com/64LyWxyDcD
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 3, 2020
OPPO TACO GARDY?
Speaking of parallel universe, Brett Gardner hit an opposite-field home run. Gardner lined the laser into the left-field seats during the third inning.
Gardy party!ππ pic.twitter.com/pqhnQDgctL
— Bronx Pinstripes (@BronxPinstripes) August 3, 2020
The knock didn’t go unnoticed by Gardner’s ex-teammate Phil Hughes on Twitter.
.@PJHughes45 calls out Happy Fun Ballβ’ on Gardy's oppo taco homer | #Yankees #NYYforNY
βοΈ By: @MikeGwizdala
π² Read here: https://t.co/71DBlNf0ik pic.twitter.com/Oi1B7mll7H
— Bronx Pinstripes (@BronxPinstripes) August 4, 2020
Later in the frame, the Yankees would score on a non-home run, as Aaron Hicks doubled home Aaron Judge, who did not homer on this evening.
A-Aron adds one βοΈ pic.twitter.com/ofr2aaZQ79
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 4, 2020
UR SHELL SHOCKED
Gio Urshela, who flashed the corinthian leather, broke open the sky with a three-run bop to left off Phillies reliever Deolis Guerra during the sixth inning. It would hold up as the eventual game-winner, as the Bronx Bombers increased their lead to 6-1.
GIO PROVING HE AINT NO FLUKE! pic.twitter.com/Y3hMnTOReo
— Bronx Pinstripes (@BronxPinstripes) August 4, 2020
NOTABLES
After the rain delay, Aaron Boone attempted to steal some outs here and there, even with an off day. The combination of Brooks Kriske, Chad Green, and his newfound curveball, Luis Avilan and Zack Britton and his apparently now favorite slider, finished off the Phillies.
ON DECK
At 8-1, the Yankees possess the best record in baseball and are tied for the best start since 2003 and 1988. The team has won seven straight games. The Yankees head to Philadelphia for a double-header Wednesday and another makeup game Thursday.