After losing two games to the Cleveland Indians, the New York Yankees took to the field with a new urgency to get back a wild-card berth. The Yankees didn’t disappoint; they won the game 4-3. They have two more games with the Rangers; then the remaining schedule gets tough when they play three teams that are ahead of them.
Nestor Cortez kept the Yankees in the game
On September 15, Nestor Cortes Jr. had one of his best games of the season, striking out 11 Orioles in a Yankee win. Last night he wasn’t quite that good, but he kept the Yankees in the game. He lasted 4.1 innings with 7 strikeouts and giving up three runs. The fifth was led off by Culberson, who homered to left. Taveras hit a ground-rule double. Kiner-Falafa doubled, scoring Culberson. Manager Boone pulled him, replacing him with Chad Green, who got the final out, holding the Rangers to three runs to prevent any further damage.
Bullpen leads the way in win
Last night unlike some games recently, the Yankee bullpen was stellar. After Cortes Jr. was taken out of the game, Chad Green pitched 1.2 innings of hitless ball. He was followed by Clay Holmes, who allowed just one hit in another 1.2 innings of work. Joely Rodriguez came in to get the last out of the eighth. Then it was nail-biter time. With only a one-run advantage in the game, Aroldis Chapman came in to close out the game.
Chapman facing Heim was stuck out put out. Culberson grounded out to third. Taveras, as the last hope for the Rangers, struck out for the Yankee win. for the first time in a long time, Chapman left the game with a defiant look on his face. The final score was the New York Yankees 4 and the Texas Rangers 3. The winning pitcher was Chad Green, and the loser was A.J. Alexy. Aroldis Chapman got his 28th save of the season.
Gary Sanchez mixed bag, Boone says no!
Gary Sanchez has had a horrid week defensively, costing the Yankees big time. Yet manager Boone continues to sing his praises and says that Yankee fans scrutinize him too critically. On the offensive side, Sanchez has had 8 hits during 13 games in September, four of them for home runs.
The New York Yankees especially Boone have supported Sanchez regardless of this lack of focus at key times, boneheaded running mistakes, and passed balls. He has been a lightning rod for controversy during his entire career, yet the support continues. What do you think?