The New York Yankees entered yesterday’s game after losing two straight to the Red Sox. In the seventh inning, it looked as though this would be another loss with only four outs left in the game. However, the Yankees erupted in the eighth with 5 straight hits and the 4-3 win. The Yankees now have a chance at splitting the series with Domingo German on the mound for the 1:05 pm game.
Jameson Taillon was economical
Last night Jameson Taillon set up the bullpen beautifully. He went seven innings, only giving on one earned run as he was economical from the start. Unfortunately, he was saddled with two unearned runs early. But that didn’t put him down; he remained aggressive, using all of his pitches mystifying the Red Sox hitters. The Red Sox remained scoreless after the third inning.
Taillon, who is still recovering from not pitching for nearly two years, has pitched really well during July, better than the stats show. Now that he is using his two-seamer and curve more, he is getting quality start after quality start. After going seven, Jonathan Loaisiga, who hadn’t pitched in two weeks, came in and pitched a scoreless eighth. Then, Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman came in and closed it out for the Yankees.
Yankees explode in the eight
In the first seven innings of yesterday’s game, the New York Yankees could only get five meaningless hits off of Nathan Eovaldi; they seemed lifeless, almost like they were going through the motions. They went 0-7 with men in scoring position. The Yankee fans in the stands at Fenway Park were saying; here we go again. But in the eighth inning Estevan Florial and Brett Gardner sparked the lineup that would see the Yankees come back from 3 behind with 4 outs to go, for the first time since August 2020.
Estevan Florial led off the eighth inning and got a lead-off double. Brantly popped out to third. LeMahieu flew out to Duran in center. Gardner got an RBI single to easily drive in Florial the get the Yankees on the board. That hit knocked Eovaldi out of the game. The Yankees are now 10-71, with runners in scoring position this season against the Red Sox. Stanton faced another ex-Yankee in reliever Adam Ottavino, and he got a ground-rule double as the ball bounced into the right-field fans, moving Gardner to third base.
After Stanton’s double, Tyler Wade came in to pinch run for Stanton. Odor doubled off the green monster scoring two to tie up the game at 3. Torres singled, driving in Odor to give the Yankees the lead in the game for the first time. Torres stole second. Allen got plunked and went to first. Gittens tapped in front of the plate for the final out as the lineup turned over, but the Yankees picked up four runs in the half. New York Yankees 4 Boston Red Sox 3.
Sit tight; help is on the way
The New York Yankees have had their share of injuries this season. That was exacerbated recently by the Covid outbreak that put six Yankees players on the Covid list. Since then, the Yankees have had a ragtag lineup. But help is finally one the way. Yesterday Jonathan Loaisiga returned and played an integral part in holding back the Red Sox. Today star third baseman Gio Ushela is scheduled to be in the lineup.
Beyond that, for the Tampa Bay series next week, all of the remaining Covid list players should be returning. In addition, just days from August, the Yankees are also hoping for the return of two starting pitchers, Corey Kluber and Luis Severino. With the Yankees sit in the running for a wild card slot, these additions to the team will be significant.
Notes: Chris Gittens left the game with an ankle sprain. After one major league start, Asher Wojciechowski was immediately designated for assignment to make room for Jonathan Loaisiga on the roster. He rejected the assignment to Scranton and has elected for free agency.