Series Recap: Toronto tops bumbling Bombers
Back in the Bronx and hosting the flailing Toronto Blue Jays, the New York Yankees hoped to right the ship. Instead, the banged-up Bronx Bombers endured another bullpen meltdown and found themselves without a series victory for the seventh consecutive series, going 0-6-1 in the stretch. It's the worst stretch since 2013. If the organization truly believes in contending this season, it may want to make some moves a few weeks ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.
GAME 1
The Yankees found themselves back in the friendly confines of the Bronx and the AL East. Despite the nail biter ninth it was a satisfying 6-3 victory over the Blue Jays.
TANAKA TIME
Masahiro Tanaka provided the men in pinstripes and stars and stripes with a quintessential stopper start. Earning his seventh victory, Tanaka sports an ERA of 1.29 in his past three outings. Everything was working for the Japanese hurler, producing a biting slider. The New York righty joined Ron Guidry, Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia as the only Yankees' starters to throw seven frames of one-run, eight strikeout ball against Toronto.
WHO DO YOU WANT ME TO PLAY THERE?
Before the game general manager, Brian Cashman was asked about the third base situation with Chase Headley. Cashman responded thusly, "Who do you want me to play there? Headley's is our third baseman. I'm sorry you don't like it." Well, the Yankees liked it plenty Monday evening.
Headley went 2-for-3 with three-RBI, including taking one for the team with the bases loaded in the first and adding a pair of insurance runs with a booming two-run double to right in the eighth inning. Chase also displayed some heads-up base running in scoring New York's sixth run during the same frame. With the Blue Jays making the game interesting in the ninth with a runner on second and two outs, Headley snagged a bullet by Russell Martin to end the contest.
CRAZY EIGHTH
Facing Ryan Tepera, the Bronx Bombers received contributions from up and down the lineup in breaking open a 2-1 contest. All-Star and June AL Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month Aaron Judge added his second hit of the evening with a single to left to set the table. Fellow All-Star and home run derby participant Gary Sanchez added his second hit with a booming double to left, giving the Yankees runners in scoring position. Potential Yankee All-Star Didi Gregorius coaxed a free pass to load the bases. As mentioned above, the ensuing batter Headley rocked a two-run double to right. After a Jacoby Ellsbury strikeout, Ronald Torreyes grounded into a fielder's choice back to Tepera, who threw home to catcher Luke Maile, who when attempting to apply the tag to Gregorius, lost the ball when it made contact with Torreyes' bat on the ground. Amid the confusion, an alert Headley followed all the way from second base to score. https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/882057557602435073
A ROLL OF THE DICE
While Dellin Betances bounced back in the eighth, Aroldis Chapman didn't look right in the ninth. Chapman yielded three hits and two runs on 26 pitches before recording the final out. Perhaps the lack of a save situation altered his approach but whatever it was it left some wondering where the dominating, reach back, rock and fire Chapman went.
GAME 2
The second game marked the return of CC Sabathia and Adam Warren to the Yanks staff. Unfortunately, some early fireworks and lack of a spark on offense meant a New York fizzle in a 4-1 loss to Toronto.
SABATHIA'S FALSE START
Perhaps the initial diagnosis was correct and Sabathia needed more of a tuneup before his return to the starting rotation. The big man only managed 2.2 frames of work after the Blue Jays pieced together a four-run third.
If you're thinking, heck, Luis Cessa could have done that, well, that would be unfair to Cessa, who tossed 4.2 innings of scoreless relief. Yet, the damage was all but done by that point. https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/882325702028267524
ALL JUDGE AND NO JURY
Providing the offense was Judge, crushing a solo bomb to center during the fourth. Judge's home run was No. 28 on the campaign and made it a 4-1 contest. https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/882305120419139584 Unfortunately, the pinstripes could only cobble together four hits against J.A. Happ and zero against the bullpen. Even Judge whiffed three times on what was a rough afternoon for the New York lineup.
CHRIS CARTER CUT
The writing appeared to be on the wall when Tyler Wade was called upon to pinch hit for Chris Carter in the ninth. After the game, the club designated Carter for assignment, which could mean a trip to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
GAME 3
Despite a valiant comeback effort, the Yankees kicked away the series, falling 7-6 to the Blue Jays Wednesday afternoon.
TORONTO TATERS
Once again not even a matinee outing at home could help Michael Pineda. Toronto went big fly against "Big Mike." Home runs by Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales in the third and Kevin Pillar in the fourth, chased Pineda and placed the pinstripes in a 5-0 hole.
Even as the Yanks would rally back, a Martin home run against Chad Green would tie the game in the seventh.
JOLTIN' JUDGE
For the second time in as many days, Judge helped get the Bronx Bombers on the board. During the fourth, the MLB home run leader added to his total, swatting No. 29 on the season, a two-run blast off Marco Estrada. The home run tied a Yankees single-season rookie record held by Joe DiMaggio. https://twitter.com/BronxPinstripes/status/882669463564431361
JI-MAN-BINO
After New York jettisoned Carter, they called up their seventh first baseman of the year in Ji-Man Choi. In the fifth, Choi delivered a two-run homer to right against Estrada. https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/882675041187635200 Later in the frame, Gregorius came through with another clutch two-run double and the Yankees battled all the way back to take a 6-5 lead. https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/882678774189391872
IFS, ANDS OR BUNTS AND BETANCES
With the game tied in the seventh, Tyler Wade reached with a leadoff walk against Aaron Loup. The Yankees decided to have Brett Gardner bunt and Toronto responded by intentionally walking Judge. The move effectively took the bat out of Judge's hands and neither Sanchez or Gregorius could push home a run against Danny Barnes. During the eighth, it took four walks around a strikeout and the Blue Jays taking the lead for manager Joe Girardi to remove Betances from the game. This was an instance where the "eye test" should have taken precedence over the "formula" with the "eighth inning guy." After Betances walked in the go-ahead run, Girardi went to Warren, who worked 1.2 frames of scoreless ball but the damage was done.
ON DECK
At 44-39 on the campaign, the Yankees resume their homestand at Yankee Stadium and will close out the first half facing the Milwaukee Brewers in a three-game series starting Friday night. Pitching probables include Junior Guerra vs. Jordan Montgomery, Brent Suter vs. Luis Severino, Jimmy Nelson vs. Masahiro Tanaka.