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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 30, 2020 9:20:34 GMT -5
Excuses, excuses! Yankees’ Brian Cashman defends new training staff amid more nonstop injuries Today 6:30 AM Yankees injuries
Yankees GM Brian Cashman (right) claims he was warned that his club could have another slew of injuries during the first season after making sweeping changes to the organization's strength-and-conditioning and training staff, and it's proving true.AP By Randy Miller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s lineup card for Saturday’s game against the New York Mets had Jordy Mercer at shortstop, Tyler Wade at second base, Mike Tauchman playing right, Erik Kratz catching and Clint Frazier DH-ing.
It turned out to be a good day. The Yankees pulled out a 2-1 victory to avoid their first eight-game losing streak since 1995 when Mets reliever Dellin Betances uncorked a walk-off wild pitch and …
DJ LeMahieu returned from the IL and ...
Nobody got hurt!
Amazing, huh?
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As hard as it was believing what the Yankees endured last season when they won 103 games despite sending an MLB record 30 players to the injured list and logging 39 total stints, it’s been even more surreal that it’s happening again.
It’s happening again after the Yankees overhauled their strength-and-conditioning and training staffs last winter to try ensuring that their slew of injuries in 2019 was a one-time nightmare.
Nothing’s changed despite head strength coach Mark Krause being fired, head trainer Steve Donohue getting demoted to an emeritus role and two Cressey Sports Performance gurus being brought in - co-founder Eric Cressey as director of player health and performance, and Matt Blake as pitching coach.
Their midterm grades in health are Fs.
The Yankees hit the halfway point of their 60-game schedule with 13 players having been on the IL for 15 stints, eight of them current. Not included is third baseman Gio Urshela, who hasn’t played since Thursday due to a bone spur in his throwing elbow that supposedly isn’t serious.
What in the names of groin strains, hamstring pulls and Tommy John surgeries is going on again?
Cashman got defensive providing his take before Saturday’s game.
He’s blaming it on COVID-19 cutting spring training short and forcing a long layoff and then an even shorter summer camp. Also, Cashman says that he was forewarned that a new training staff could lead to an increase of injuries in the first year instead of a decline.
“The historical data does show that when teams make significant changes, even if they’re for the better, you get some exposure and increased injuries that do hit,” Cashman said. “That was being shared by just objective data and some engagement with other sports franchises that shared, ‘Hey, don’t be discouraged if the following happens in the transition, but you know it’s a long haul and you’re shooting for higher ground over the course of time and don’t try to judge something too quick.’
“It was a cautionary tale that I got from a team in the NBA that I really highly respect. So I feel very uncomfortable with the personnel we have in place and the efforts they’re putting forth, and we’re certainly hoping that we can get the guys that are down right now back sooner than later.”
We’ll see about that. If you’ve been following the Yankees, you know that minor issues can turn into major ones. Just google what went down in 2019 for Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Aaron Hicks and Betances.
So far this season, Severino’s expected rebound season ended in spring training with a Tommy John surgery and just this week Judge re-injured his calf in his first game back, and he went right back on the IL before Saturday’s game.
Fluky or not, shortstop Gleyber Torres, designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton reliever Zack Britton and Judge all were shut down after pulling leg muscles running, and LeMahieu got hurt swinging and missing at a pitch.
These injuries and others all happened in August.
Don’t blame the training staff, Cashman kept saying.
“Injuries obviously are very difficult when they come and certainly our interest always is to provide the best player care we possibly can,” Cashman said. “That’s why we’ve made adjustments.”
Cashman expects the new additions will begin to pay dividends as Yankee players become better adapted to new training methods, which differ from the old regime’s.
“Everybody (new to the staff) got put in place in January, and this first year especially you start building relationships, start sharing your new programs to try to get buy in,” Cashman said. “It’s not necessarily something that you say, ‘Hey this is a mandate. This is what you’re going to absolutely do now over the course of time.’ You get a lot of these players to make adjustments to what their routines are and what their programs are. You find out what makes them tick and make suggestions along the way.
“With all that being said, I feel like we’re 10 percent into where we are in terms of establishing our new programs, establishing the information feed. None of these are excuses. These are just facts.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 30, 2020 9:21:37 GMT -5
Yankees look to build momentum in twin bill against Mets FLM
For most of the past two weeks, the New York Yankees spent postgame media sessions discussing frustrating things such as not getting a timely hit or making key pitches. Those topics were discussed following seven straight games, putting the Yankees on the verge of their longest skid in 25 years.
Instead the Yankees will head into Sunday's doubleheader against the New York Mets coming off their first win in nearly two weeks.
The Yankees are coming off a 2-1 win on Saturday when Clint Frazier scored on a wild pitch in the ninth inning by Dellin Betances. Frazier's winning run gave the Yankees their first victory since beating the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 17.
During the skid, the Yankees lost five games by two runs or less, including the previous three on late homers. On Wednesday, Freddie Freeman homered off Chad Green in the sixth inning and Friday, Green gave up three homers in the sixth of a 6-4 loss and Aroldis Chapman allowed a walk-off homer to Amed Rosario in the seventh to send the Yankees to a 4-3 loss.
If the Yankees took another loss Saturday, they would have entered their fifth doubleheader of the abbreviated season on their first eight-game losing streak since Aug. 19-26, 1995.
"It was big," said Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu, who returned from missing nearly two weeks with a sprained thumb. "It was definitely a grind-out win, not the prettiest win but we needed that bad today. Hopefully, that sparks us and we get back playing to how we should be playing."
The Mets will play their third doubleheader since Tuesday and will be the home team for the nightcap, just like on Friday.
The Mets have six wins in their last nine games. They have scored nine runs in the sixth inning or later in their last four games after getting blanked in both ends of a doubleheader to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.
On Saturday, the Mets got a game-tying homer from Wilson Ramos in the eighth and they have five homers in the series off Yankees relievers.
The Yankees will start Mike King in the opener and top prospect Deivi Garcia start will make his major league debut while the Mets will go with Rick Porcello and Seth Lugo.
Porcello is 1-4 with a 6.43 ERA in his six starts and has allowed eight runs on 15 hits spanning nine innings in his last two starts.
"It's been frustrating," Porcello said. "It's always frustrating when you're not going out there and giving your team a chance to win every fifth day consistently."
Porcello is pitching in a second straight doubleheader game. He started the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader and allowed four runs in three innings before not returning following a 65-minute rain delay.
The right-hander has extensive experience against the Yankees and is 11-10 with a 3.96 ERA in 26 starts against them. He also has struggled in the Bronx by going 1-5 with a 5.96 ERA in eight starts at Yankee Stadium.
Lugo will make his second start after making nine relief appearances. He pitched three hitless innings on 39 pitches in the nightcap of Tuesday's doubleheader and is 2-1 with a 3.75 ERA in six career outings against the Yankees.
King is making his second start and first appearance since Aug. 17. In his only start this season, King allowed three runs and five walks in 3 2/3 innings in a 5-3 loss at Tampa Bay on Aug. 8.
Garcia quickly rose through the minor leagues last season and was 5-9 with a 4.28 ERA at three levels when he struck out 165 hitters in 111 1/3 innings.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 30, 2020 11:00:39 GMT -5
Game one
1. Brandon Nimmo (L) CF 2. Michael Conforto (L) RF 3. J.D. Davis (R) 3B 4. Dominic Smith (L) LF 5. Robinson Cano (L) DH 6. Pete Alonso (R) 1B 7. Jeff McNeil (L) 2B 8. Wilson Ramos (R) C 9. Andres Gimenez (L) SS
1. DJ LeMahieu (R) 3B 2. Luke Voit (R) DH 3. Aaron Hicks (S) CF 4. Mike Tauchman (L) RF 5. Gary Sanchez (R) C 6. Mike Ford (L) 1B 7. Brett Gardner (L) LF 8. Jordy Mercer (R) SS 9. Tyler Wade (L) 2B
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 30, 2020 11:04:20 GMT -5
Yankees, Mets lineups Game 1 Sunday | Michael King gets start in opener; Deivi Garcia debuting in nightcap (8/30/20) Updated 11:29 AM; Today 10:46 AM Michael King
Yankees pitcher Michael King will take a 1-1 record and 6.59 ERA into his start against the Mets on Sunday in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.AP By Randy Miller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Playing their third doubleheader in five days, the Yankees will go with two of their inexperienced arms to start Sunday’s twinbill at Yankee Stadium against the Mets.
Michael King will make his second big-league start and appear in his sixth game in the opener, then 21-year-old touted prospect Deivi Garcia will make his Major League debut in the nightcap.
First pitch for Game 1 is 1:05 p.m.
The Yankees won 2-1 on Saturday to snap a seven-game losing streak that was their longest since 2017.
Here is the Yankees’ Game 1 lineup:
1. DJ LeMahieu, 3B
2. Luke Voit, DH
3. Aaron Hicks, CF
4. Mike Tauchman, RF
5. Gary Sanchez, C
6. Mike Ford, 1B
7. Brett Gardner, LF
8. Jordy Mercer, SS
9. Tyler Wade, 2B
Michael King, RHP
And here is the Mets’ Game 1 lineup:
1. Brandon Nimmo, CF
2. Michael Conforto, RF
3. J.D. Davis, 3B
4. Dominic Smith, LF
5. Robinson Cano, DH
6. Pete Alonso, 1B
7. Jeff McNeil, 2B
8. Wilson Ramos, C
9. Andres Gimenez, SS
Rick Porcello, RHP
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Here are Yankees game notes from the team’s media relations department:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees will the finish their three-day, five-game series vs. the Mets with a doubleheader. This is part of an eight-game homestand that will also feature three games against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays from Monday-to-Wednesday. ... Following this homestand, the Yankees will play the Mets at Citi Field on Sept. 3.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees recorded their first walk-off win of the season on Saturday vs. the Mets. ... LHP J.A. Happ (7.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5K) made the start and did not record a decision despite tossing 7 1/3 scoreless innings. Happ was the first Yankees starter to reach the eighth inning this season. ... 1B Luke Voit (1-for-4, HR, RBI) hit his 12th homer in the first inning. ... 3B DJ LeMahieu (1-for-4, triple) was reinstated from the injured list prior to the game and tripled in the third inning...DH Clint Frazier (0-for-2, run, 2 BB) scored the game-winning run in the ninth on a wild pitch by former Yankees reliever Dellin Betances. ... LHP Aroldis Chapman (1 IP) tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his first win. He pitched on back-to-back days for the first time this season.
LET’S PLAY TWO: Today the Yankees play their fifth doubleheader of the season (splits on Aug. 5 at Philadelphia and Aug. 8 at Tampa Bay and losses on Wednesday at Atlanta and Friday vs. the Mets). ... The Yankees are 3-1-2 in six twin-bills vs. the Mets. ... The Yankees in the midst of playing three doubleheaders in the span of five days for the first time since 1991, when they played three in the span of four days. ... The Yankees are 7-2-6 in twin bills since the start of 2018.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 30, 2020 11:18:27 GMT -5
Giancarlo Stanton’s return is a long way off, Yankees say By Kristie Ackert New York Daily News | Aug 30, 2020 at 12:04 PM
It has been three weeks since Giancarlo Stanton was placed on the injured list with a strained left hamstring, but the slugger is not close to a return to the lineup, Aaron Boone admitted Sunday morning.
“He’s still not all the way there. He’s doing well through his progressions,” the Yankees manager said. “Today is a very light day for him; no baseball activities. He’s not all the way kind of out of the woods yet as far as the injury, but he is running at I think about 75-80%.
“Hitting and doing that stuff is not a problem yet. We just want to make sure we get him to the finish line with the injury.”
This is an ongoing issue for the Yankees, who traded for Stanton, who is under contract for another seven years.
In 2019, Stanton missed all but 18 regular season games because of injuries. He strained his left biceps the first weekend of the season. While rehabbing from that, Stanton also dealt with a strained left shoulder and then, as he was beginning to rehab he strained his left calf. The 30-year-old returned to play six games before he jammed his knee running bases and missed 73 games before returning in September.
And then he suffered a right quad strain during the ALCS, playing in just two games of the series that ended the Yankees’ season. This spring he played in just one Grapefruit League game because of a strained calf.
Stanton slashed .288/.403/.492 with three home runs and 13 RBI in those 18 regular-season games last season. He hit .230 with two RBI in 13 postseason at-bats.
In the sixth year of the 13-year, $325 million deal he signed with the Marlins, Stanton’s first two and change years with the Yankees has been disappointing because of the ongoing injury issues.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 30, 2020 14:55:20 GMT -5
MLB rumors: Yankees-Diamondbacks talk Starling Marte as Aaron Judge insurance Updated 2:19 PM; Today 2:19 PM Starling Marte
The Yankees and Diamondbacks have discussed a possible trade for outfielder Starling Marte, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)AP By Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The Yankees and Diamondbacks have been in contact regarding outfielder Starling Marte, according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.
With Aaron Judge likely out until at least mid-September thanks to a aggravated right calf strain, Marte would certainly work as a replacement.
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Owed about $1.17 million the rest of the season, per Sherman, Marte has been plenty productive. In 32 games going into Sunday, he had hit .322 with two homers and 14 RBI. He had a .853 OPS. He’s a career .288 hitter, averaging 18 bombs a year. In 2019 with the Pirates, Marte hit .295 with 23 homers and 82 RBI.
The Yankees have been playing Clint Frazier, Mike Tauchman and Brett Gardner in the outfield corners with Judge and Giancarlo Stanton each hurt.
Marte would be a natural fit in right field, though he could handle center field, too.
It’s unclear how much the Yankees would have to surrender for a month of Marte, who will be a free agent at season’s end.
The Yankees could also try to add more players to the deal. Arizona is thought to be open to trading starting pitcher Robbie Ray and closer Archie Bradley. The Yankees badly need pitching and general manager Brian Cashman called it is main focus in the trade market on Sunday.
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Judge spent 14 days on the injured list before getting hurt again in his first game back. Cashman said his current stint could last twice that time.
“Typically, as we have done in the past or as we move forward,” Cashman said, “if you have a reoccurrence of the same injury, the application from at least (team physician) Dr. Chris Ahmad’s side — and it was a warning early in when he got hurt — in our conversations with Aaron Judge, we’ve got to make sure that you communicate properly which I know he did to the best of his abilities and, but if we don’t get it right, you’re looking at double the time on the rehab side.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 30, 2020 15:48:05 GMT -5
Yankees rise from grave, pull out stunning 8-7 win over Mets in Game 1 | Rapid reaction Updated 4:44 PM; Today 4:39 PM Michael King
Yankees right-hander Michael King allowed two runs over 3 2/3 innings starting Game 1 of a Sunday doubleheader against the Mets.AP By Randy Miller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Even with games shortened to seven innings, any ballclub that’s forced to play three doubleheaders in a span five days is going to have to reach to find enough pitching to get through all of these games. When you factor in injuries, you dig deeper to find arms.
That’s where the slumping and banged-up Yankees were heading into Sunday with two more games at Yankee Stadium on the schedule.
Their green-behind-the-ears pitching didn’t get the job done in the opener.
In the nick of time, the Yankees’ depleted offense saved the day.
Down five runs heading into their last ups, the Yankees rallied to tie the game by scoring five in the seventh, then they pulled out a huge 8-7 win in the eighth playing their first extra-inning game with the new rule in place.
Aaron Hicks capped the Yanks’ seventh-inning rally by tying the game at 7-7 with two-out, two-run homer, then they earned a walk-on win in the eighth on a game-winning hit by Gio Urshela after starting the inning with a runner on second base.
Urshela entered the game in the fifth as a pinch-hitter after not playing for two days due to a bone spur in his throwing elbow and wound up being the hero in his third at-bat by driving in Mike Tauchman with a two-out hit to right off Mets reliever Edwin Diaz.
“You usually don’t win many of those,” manager Aaron Boone said. “A lot of good jobs by people.”
Tauchman started the inning on second base, then stayed there until Urshela won the game.
Before the Yanks prevailed, Chad Green (3-2) preserved the tie by working a scoreless eighth with the Mets having a runner in second position to start the frame. After allowing four homers in blowing games in his two previous outings, the righty rebounded by striking out the side.
Earlier, the Yankees looked like they were dead trailing 7-2 through six innings.
Rookie Michael King allowed two runs over 3 2/3 innings in his second start and five big-league outing, then Brooks Kriske entered a 2-2 game and allowed five runs over 1 1/3 innings in his third Major League appearance.
Ben Heller, who has pitched just 29 times as a big leaguer and 10 times since 2018, turned the game into a rout after relieving Kriske in the fifth with the bases loaded and the Mets leading 4-2. The righty let in two runs when Michael Conforto doubled and a third when Pete Alonso was by a pitch with the bases loaded.
With the Yanks down big, Boone pulled leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu for Thairo Estrada.
But the Yanks weren’t done. They got a break starting the seventh when Mike Ford reached on a throwing error by Mets third baseman Andres Gimenez, then after two outs Tyler Wade walked and Estrada was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Voit followed with a two-run single to right to make it a 7-4 game, after Mets closer Edwin Diaz replaced Jared Hughes, a run scored on a wild pitch and then Hicks tied the game with a homer to right.
“That was huge,” Boone said.
NOTABLE
-- Kriske was optioned to the Triple-A camp after the game and replaced by rookie right-hander Albert Abreu, who was called up.
-- King pitched better than his line, as he shut out the Mets for the first three innings on one hit and a walk before allowing two fourth-inning runs on five hits, four of which weren’t hit hard but found holes.
-- Deivi Garcia making his Major League debut starting Game 2. The 21-year-old right-hander is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Yanks’ third-best prospect behind outfielder Jasson Dominguez and pitcher Clarke Schmidt. Garcia was called up from the Yanks’ alternate camp to be their 29th player for the doubleheader.
-- Robinson Cano put the Mets ahead 4-2 in the fourth with a two-run homer that was his 2,600th career hit. The first 1,649 came during his nine seasons with the Yankees from 2005-13.
-- The Yanks tied the game 2-2 in the fourth when Mets left fielder Dominic Smith got turned around tracking a deep flyball hit by Ford that dropped on the warning track for a gift RBI double.
-- Catcher Gary Sanchez is hitting .123 after an 0-for-4 day that has him 2-for-20 in his last eight games. He also had more problems blocking balls in the dirt.
-- The Mets put pitchers Dellin Betances and Steven Matz on the injured list prior to the doublheader. Drew Smith and Franklyn Kilome were recalled. The Yanks won 2-1 on Saturday when Betances’ threw a ninth-inning wild pitch that ended the game.
LOOKING AHEAD
Sunday: Mets at Yankees, 4:05 p.m., YES, SNY, ESPN (out of market). RHP Seth Lugo (1-2, 2.03) vs. RHP Deivi Garcia (MLB debut).
Monday: Tampa Bay Rays at Yankees, 7:05 pm., YES. RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 5.14) vs. RHP Gerrit Cole (4-1, 3.51).
Tuesday: Tampa Bay Rays at Yankees, 7:05 pm., YES. TBA vs. RHP Masahiro Tanaka (0-1. 3.48)
Wednesday: Tampa Bay Rays at Yankees, 7:05 pm., YES. TBA. vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery (2-1, 4.44).
Thursday: Yankees at Mets, 4:10 p.m., YES, SNY. LHP J.A. Happ (1-1, 4.05) vs. TBA.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 30, 2020 15:52:23 GMT -5
Game 2 Garcia vs Lugo
1. DJ LeMahieu (R) DH 2. Luke Voit (R) 1B 3. Aaron Hicks (S) CF 4. Clint Frazier (R) RF 5. Gio Urshela (R) 3B 6. Mike Tauchman (L) LF 7. Erik Kratz (R) C 8. Tyler Wade (L) SS 9. Thairo Estrada (R) 2B
Does it even matter for the Mutts?
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Post by Kimmi on Aug 30, 2020 20:04:55 GMT -5
Stupid Mets.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 31, 2020 2:57:14 GMT -5
Not again! Yankees’ Game 1 hero Aaron Hicks gets hurt in Game 2, leaves early with calves issue Updated Aug 30, 2020; Posted Aug 30, 2020 Aaron Hicks
Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks left Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Mets due to cramping in both of his calves, an issue that set in during his fifth-inning at-bat at Yankee Stadium.AP By Randy Miller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks went from hero to hurting in a span of a couple hours Sunday at Yankee Stadium.
That’s par for the course for this reeling team that has been plagued with nonstop injuries.
In Game 1, the Yankees won 8-7 in eight innings after Hicks capped a five-run rally in the seventh with a game-tying, two-run, two-out homer off Mets closer Edwin Diaz.
In Game 2, the switch-hitter was in obvious painwhile batting in the fifth inning and he was replaced for a pinch-runner after working a walk.
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Hicks, who grimaced after fouling back a 3-1 pitch batting right-handed against Mets left-hander Chasen Shreve, was suffering from cramping in both calves, the Yankees announced.
After the Yankees won 5-2 in eight innings, Hicks said he was fine and that he’ll be available to play Monday night’s series opener at Yankee Stadium against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
“When I took that swing on a 3-1 pitch, it kind of cramped up in both calves,” Hicks said. “Right after I took the ball four pitch I started running down the line and I felt fine but I guess they worried that it was both calves cramping up and it was smart for me to get out of there.”
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Hicks stepped out of the box for about 30 seconds trying to shake off whatever was hurting, and this led to manager Aaron Boone and a Yankees trainer coming out of the dugout to check out him.
Hicks talked his way into finishing his at-bat, then he worked a walk on the next pitch and jogged to first. At that point, Boone opted to get Hicks out of the game and inserted Brett Gardner in to pinch-run.
Crushed by injuries two seasons in a row, Yanks already are playing without a bunch of key players. Barely halfway through the 60-game season, they already have had 13 players on the injured list and nine currently are sidelined, a group that includes stars Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres and Zack Britton.
The Yanks were leading 1-0 at that point with 21-year-old Deivi Garcia pitching a masterpiece in his Major League debut. The Dominican right-hander ended up allowing just an unearned run over six innings with six strikeouts and no walks.
It’s been a rough season so far for Hicks, who is batting just .209 with three homers and 10 RBI in 28 games.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 31, 2020 2:58:20 GMT -5
Gary Sanchez’s grand slam saves Yankees, Deivi Garcia dominant vs. Mets | Rapid reaction Updated Aug 30, 2020; Posted Aug 30, 2020 Deivi Garcia
ClearTrySearch 3 of 50001269751813 NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 30: Deivi Garcia #83 of the New York Yankees pitches during the third inning against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) By Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
NEW YORK — Gary Sanchez walked a few steps, turned toward the Yankees’ dugout and flipped his bat.
The look on his face seemed to say two words to his haters: Shut up.
There would be not a single derisive word uttered in Sanchez’s direction after his grand slam sealed the Yankees’ 5-2 win at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. It was their second extra-innings win of the doubleheader.
Typically, it would been another walk-off for manager Aaron Boone’s club. But they were the visitors in their own stadium, a necessity after the coronavirus postponed last weekend’s series vs. the Mets at Citi Field to this weekend.
The slam meant the Yankees wouldn’t waste an incredible big-league debut from top pitching prospect Deivi Garcia, who gave up just a run over six innings, striking out six and walking none.
It was Sanchez’s sixth home run of an otherwise brutal season for the slugger, who was hitting .134 and who had let a ball zip through his legs to the backstop and as runners advanced in Game 1. it traveled 453 feet and was his second career grand slam and first career pinch hit blast.
Sanchez made a little history with it, too. It was the team’s first pinch hit, extra-innings grand slam in team history. The Yankees hadn’t hit a pinch hit grand slam since Stephen Drew did it in 2015.
The rally started with Gardner on second as the extra-innings runner. Clint Frazier worked a walk and Gio Urshela, who had the walk-off single in Game 1, hit a high fly to deep left. Gardner moved to third and Frazier got to second tagging up. Mets manager Luis Rojas then intentionally walked Mike Tauchman to get to Erik Kratz. The Yankees pinch hit Sanchez for Kratz.
That was all she wrote.
Jonathan Holder took over in the seventh and giving up a run in the eighth. Luis Cessa got the last out, a swinging strikeout of Wilson Ramos with the bases juiced.
It all came with the Yankees’ front office scouring the trade market as Monday’s 4 p.m. deadline loomed.
It wasn’t all good
Center fielder Aaron Hicks left in the fifth inning with cramping in both calves, the Yankees said.
What it means
The win improved the Yankees’ streak to three and brought them to 19-13. They started the contest four games back of the first-place Rays in the American League East, with the Blue Jays right on the Yankees’ heels (1/2 game back). The Mets fell to 15-19.
Dominante Deivi
Garcia, the Yankees second-best pitching prospect behind Clarke Schmidt, befuddled Mets hitters with his deceptive delivery that reminds scouts of Luis Tiant.
Holding the ball on his right hip and turning his back to the plate until almost the last second, Garcia’s mid- to low-90s fastball exploded on hitters and his curveball acted like the hammer fans have drooled over through his rapid ascension through the minors.
His first pitch was a 90 mph fastball that produced a foul ball. He touched 96 mph and he struck out the side in the third, claiming Amed Rosario, Jake Marisnick and Ali Sanchez his victims in a row.
The only run that came with him on the mound was when Dominic Smith singled in Jeff McNeil in the sixth. McNeil had reached when he smoked a grounder down the first base line and Luke Voit couldn’t backhand it. It was ruled an error. McNeil reached second. Two at-bats later, Smith drove him in to tie things at 1-all.
You should know
Tyler Wade’s solo shot in the third inning put the Yankees ahead, 1-0.
It was Wade’s first homer of the year and fourth of his big-league career, just getting over the wall in right-center. Wade let out a roar as he rounded first base and pointed at the Yankees’ dugout.
They had a great shot at more runs in the fourth but fell short. Wade had the bases loaded with two outs and flew out to shallow right field.
Kratz (40) and Garcia (21) formed to make the biggest age gap between battery mates for the Yankees since 1906.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 31, 2020 3:12:52 GMT -5
Boone confident in relievers; injury updates
By Bryan Hoch @bryanhoch August 30, 2020
NEW YORK -- The Yankees lauded their bullpen as one of their greatest strengths coming into this season, and manager Aaron Boone says that confidence has not been shaken despite a rough week.
"We understand that there's going to be pitfalls along the way," Boone said on Sunday. "Even in our most successful seasons, we're going to hit a bump in the road. A great reliever's going to give up an important home run or give up a game. Those things are going to happen in a great season, and we're equipped to handle that."
When right-hander Adam Ottavino surrendered a game-tying home run to the Mets' Wilson Ramos on Saturday, it marked the fourth consecutive game in which the Yanks' bullpen had coughed up a lead with six or fewer outs to go.
Entering Sunday, the Bombers' relievers owned an 11.37 ERA with eight home runs allowed in their last six games. Chad Green allowed five earned runs and four homers over his last two innings, while Ottavino had surrendered four earned runs over his previous three appearances.
"At the end of the day, we have great players and we believe in each other," Ottavino said. "I know that everybody will kind of get this out of their system and we'll get on a roll. It's like a snowball. Start small and we'll keep going and going and hopefully have a better streak going the other direction."
There is help on the way. Left-hander Zack Britton tossed from the bullpen mound on Sunday, his second time doing so since sustaining a left hamstring strain on Aug. 19. Britton could be activated as soon as Monday, according to Boone.
"That goes a long way in shoring up the back end," Boone said. "But nothing really changes as far as the confidence we have in these guys. We look forward to them going out and continuing to do their job the next time they get that opportunity."
Comeback trail Giancarlo Stanton (left hamstring strain) continues to progress as he aims to rejoin the club. Stanton was placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 9, and the Yankees said at the time that Stanton would miss three to four weeks. Sunday marked exactly three weeks.
"He's still not all the way there," Boone said. "He's doing well with the progressions and stuff. He's not all the way out of the woods yet as far as the injury, but he is running at about 75 to 80 percent. Hitting and doing that stuff is not a problem. We just want to make sure we get to the finish line with the injury."
Gio Urshela (bone spur in right elbow) was out of the lineup for Sunday's first game, the fourth straight game he missed after aggravating the injury during the Atlanta series, but Boone said he expects Urshela to play in Game 2.
"It's possible that it is something that's been there for a while," Boone said. "He felt it on a swing in his last at-bat Atlanta; it was almost like a hyperextension feeling, but the symptoms have really dissipated a lot over the last couple of days. It doesn't seem to be a real concern at this point."
Kyle Higashioka (right oblique strain) could rejoin the active roster on Monday or Tuesday, Boone said. There has been no decision yet on whether the Yankees will carry three catchers; they would have to expose Erik Kratz to waivers if they attempt to option him to the alternate training site.
Hicks exits Game 2 Aaron Hicks was forced to exit Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader with cramping in both calves, but both the outfielder and Boone do not believe that the issue is significant. Boone checked on Hicks when he winced during a fifth-inning at-bat, then removed him for a pinch-runner, but said that he is “not too concerned. This date in Yankees history Aug. 30, 1939: Yankees rookie right-hander Atley Donald participates in an experiment with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, throwing a fastball that is clocked at 94.7 mph by a speed meter. That slightly edged a previous record held by the Indians' Bob Feller.
Up next Right-hander Gerrit Cole (4-1, 3.51 ERA) will be on the mound Monday at 7:05 p.m. ET as the Yankees open a three-game series with the Rays at Yankee Stadium. Right-hander Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 5.14 ERA) is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 31, 2020 3:14:15 GMT -5
Cole, Yankees begin key series with rival Rays FLM
When the Tampa Bay Rays made their first trip to Yankee Stadium two weeks ago, they were just starting to roll.
Now they are on a full-blown surge and will attempt to get their sixth straight win and widen their lead in the AL East on Monday night when they visit the New York Yankees for the opener of an important three-game series.
The Rays lead the season series 6-1. They took three of four at home Aug. 7-9 and then completed their first sweep in New York since 2014 on Aug. 18-20.
Tampa Bay entered its first series with the Yankees holding a 5-7 record and trailing in the division. Since then, the Rays are a sizzling 19-4 and own a 3 1/2 game edge on the Yankees.
The Rays head to New York coming off a 12-7 win over the Miami Marlins that completed a three-game sweep and gave them a 12th win in 14 games.
"This team is talented," said Rays left-hander Blake Snell, who noted before the first series that his team celebrates wins over the Yankees a little bit more. "We're so excited to play, and it's refreshing. Through all this, with no fans and everything, we still show up and the guys work hard. It's a fun team to be a part of. Everybody wants to win, everybody knows we're going to win. That's the whole goal."
Tampa Bay posted shutouts in the first two games and then scored its third-most runs of the season by hitting four homers on Sunday. Willy Adames hit a grand slam while Joey Wendle, Yoshi Tsutsugo and Kevin Kiermaier also homered.
"When you're winning, everything is fun," Adames said. "We talked about this at the beginning of the season, how it was going to be a little different, but I think we're feeling really comfortable right now with the way that we're playing and how we're enjoying the season."
New York's three home losses to Tampa Bay were part of its first seven-game losing streak since June 13-20, 2013. The Yankees snapped the skid by getting three close wins over the New York Mets in games that were decided in their last at-bat.
On Sunday, the Yankees completed a doubleheader sweep by getting an 8-7 win in the opener and a 5-2 victory in the nightcap. Gio Urshela had the game-winning hit in the eighth inning of the first game and slumping catcher Gary Sanchez hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning of the nightcap.
"It's just very important for us to get wins, especially with the Rays coming in," Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks said. "That's a team that we need to beat. We need to get back kind of into that winning spirit of expecting to win and knowing we have the ability to win, because we do."
The first pitching matchup will be the third meeting between Tampa Bay's Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 5.14 ERA) and Gerrit Cole (4-1, 3.51 ERA).
They opposed each other in the Yankees' 5-3 win in the first game of a doubleheader on Aug. 8 when Cole fell an out of qualifying for a win, and then again on Aug. 19 in New York in Tampa Bay's 4-2 win.
Glasnow last pitched Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles when he struck out a career-high 13 while allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings.
Cole last pitched in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader at Atlanta when his 20-game winning streak ended in a 5-1 loss. He allowed three homers in five innings and lost for the first time since May 2019.
Glasnow is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in four career starts against the Yankees while Cole is 0-2 with a 3.65 ERA in six career starts against the Rays.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 31, 2020 3:37:26 GMT -5
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 31, 2020 4:15:31 GMT -5
Jon Heyman @jonheyman · 8h Yankees have talked to Brewers about Hader but no belief there’s any traction at all there yet. Yanks have checked in on Clevinger, too, but no belief anything’s close there either. There’s still tomorrow but there appears to be big gaps in talks for those two, at least.
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 7h Building the greatest bullpens in the league hasn’t worked out for the Yanks the last few years. They need starting pitching. Should go all in for Clevinger.
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