The New York Yankees are starting to win and win a lot! After winning eight straight series against various teams, last night they won their first game of the White Sox Series, opening up for another series win. That win would be a win over a powerhouse team much like the Yankees. With hitting down and all the Yankee’s injuries, how is this happening? Repeat after me, pitching, yes pitching always beats out good hitting. New York Yankees 2 White Sox 1.
Jordan Montgomery plays Yankee’s ace
Going into last night’s game, according to the stats, it didn’t look good for a Yankee win with the Yankees facing Carlos Rodon. I won’t bore with all the facts, other than to point out Montgomery was 2-1 with an ERA hovering around 5.00, Rodon’s record was 5-1 with a tiny ERA of 1.47.
What happened was nearly the opposite. Jordan Montgomery pitched like the Yankee ace, having one of the best games of his short career. He had a career-high 11 strikeouts. He also went 7 innings, his longest outing of the season, throwing the most pitches. His ace-like performance wasn’t because Rodon failed. Rodon went pitch for pitch with Montgomery as both pitchers remained scoreless through six innings. With nearly 100 pitches, Rodon was out of the game. In the end, both pitchers pitched themselves out of the decision. It was the first time in major league history that both pitchers had 10 strikeouts without issuing a walk.
With Rodon out of the game, the New York Yankees struck first when in the bottom of the seventh Gleyber Torres homered to give the Yankees the 1-0 lead. That lead was short-lived. At the top of the eighth inning, the Sox played some small ball and answered, scoring a run. At the top of the ninth, with the game tied at home, the Yankees brought in closer Aroldis Chapman that had been lights out all season long, not allowing a run. For the first time in the season, Chapman got in trouble; with two on and no one out, Andrew Vaughn stepped to the plate, hit the ball directly at Gio Urshela. Urshela preventing the Sox from scoring, made a fantastic play. Instead of firing to first, Urshela went around the horn for the first Yankee triple play since 2014, when the Yankees completed a triple play against the Rays.
At the bottom of the ninth and Aaron Judge on third base, Gleyber Torres again stepped up his game in this game and singled, allowing Judge and the Yankees a walk-off win over the Chicago White Sox. To sum it up, last night’s game was the most exciting of the season next to Corey Kluber’s no-hitter.
The New York Yankee hitting still isn’t there
The New York Yankees have been winning games, but it isn’t because of the hitting; it’s because of stellar pitching. Last night the Yankees could only score two runs. In their last ten games, the Yankees have scored two or fewer runs in seven of those games. Only with lights out pitching were the Yankees able to win seven of their last ten games. Last night only one Yankee hitter, Gleyber Torres, was responsible for both Yankee runs. It should be mentioned that the Yankees are suffering the loss of some key players, but the lack of hitting has dogged them the entire season.
Aaron Hicks may miss the remainder of the season
In a game against the Baltimore Orioles, Aaron Hick had a wrist injury. A torn tendon sheath. Instead of traveling with the team to Texas, Hicks traveled back to New York to be evaluated by the Yankee team doctor Christopher Ahmad. The Yankees had originally thought anti-inflammatory medicine would handle the situation, but after consultation with Admad, they have given up on that idea, and instead, Hick will have surgery. Recovery for this type of surgery could be a month or just as likely could cause the end of the season for Hicks.
Although the loss to the club is significant, it’s not like they are losing one of their best players. Hicks never got his season going, so it’s not as great a loss as it could have been. However, It does present a problem for the Yankees that may only be solved with a trade. When the Yankees traded away Mike Tauchman, this reduced their backup outfielders. Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner, and Miguel Andujar are holding down the outfield, with only Tyler Wade in reserve.