New York Yankees: 4 Major takeaways from Yankees sweep of Miami

Mar 5, 2020; Lakeland, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (47) walks back to the dugout after being removed from the game in the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees entered last night’s game in Miami against the Marlins, hoping for a sweep after only being able to sweep four of ten possibilities. Instead, they got that sweep as they head into long homestand tonight. The Yankees won the first game 3-1, the second 4-2, and last night Jordan Montgomery led the Yankees in another 3-1 win to complete the sweep. The Yankees are now 56-48, 7 games behind the East-leading Tampa Bay Rays. They have won 6 of their last 10 games and are 2.5 games out of the second wild-card slot.

Will Yankee fans show the love?

By the trade deadline, most industry analysts believe that the New York Yankees were the AL winners in improving their team by the deadline. This deadline is different from previous years, where teams could still trade after the deadline to acquire players off of waivers. However, that is not the case this year; the team they have at the deadline is the team they will live with for the rest of the season.

The Yankees picked up three new pitchers and two lefty hitters to add to the lineup. As a result, the Yankees can now produce a lineup with five lefty hitters, should the need arise. Two of those new Yankees are Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo. Gallo, who the Yankees got from the Rangers, has had a solid defensive start for the Yankees, but only last night did he get his first hit, a double in the seventh that almost topped the centerfield wall for a homer.

The other new New York Yankee hitter is Anthony Rizzo; he has been nothing short of amazing, almost single handily winning all three Marlin games for the Yankees in his Yankee debut weekend. He homered in the first game, homered in the second game, going five for five at the plate, and last night although not homering, he, with the Yankees scoreless to start the eighth inning, supplied the go-ahead run for the Yankee lead that they would not relinquish.

Today the New York Yankees return to Yankees Stadium in the Bronx to face the Baltimore Orioles. Yankee fans are some of the toughest fans in baseball, showing their disappointment when the team or a particular player is not playing well, but at the same time, they are not shy of showing their love. So when Anthony Rizzo takes to the field at first base, he will surely be welcomed; the only question is how loud a welcome he gets when he walks to the plate at the bottom of the first inning.

Montgomery has another good outing

Poor Jordan Montgomery struggled to find his way in the first inning, giving up a run, but then settled in and gave the Yankees a shot at winning the game. He pitched well as he found his curveball. In the end, he went five innings giving up just that one run while striking out six. But again, he got no runs support at all. The Yankees didn’t score until the eighth inning.

Montgomery has now given up 10 runs in his last 32.5 innings with absolutely no run support at all. Over the span, he has a .057 ERA. Last night, new Yankee pitcher Joely Rodriguez (J-Rod) got the won after throwing just one pitch for the Yankees to add insult to injury. Life isn’t fair.

Yankees lose a starter to the IL

Last night it was announced that Yankee starter Domingo German was being put on the 10 IL for right shoulder inflammation. Manager Aaron Boone said German would get an MRI exam in New York on Monday. After the Yankees did not make any significant pitching upgrades by the trade deadline, this is just another blow to the rotation this season. However, this type of injury is not totally unexpected as pitchers all over baseball adjust to playing a 162 game season after only going 60 games last season.

New New York Yankee starter Andrew Heaney, a lefty with a 6-7 record with an ERA of 5.27 and 113 strikeouts, will start tonight’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. German’s next scheduled start is for the first game at the Stadium against the Seattle Mariners; on August 5, Nestor Cortes Jr will most likely be started.

Yankees made the plays

Although the Yankees did not score until the eighth, mostly due to Sandy Alcantara’s superb pitching, the scoreless innings still supplied some excitement. Although Brett Gardner was overshadowed by the play of Tyler Wad and Anthony Rizzo, Gardner has an excellent game; he ran down fly balls and even climbed the wall once getting an out. He also led off the rally in the eighth that eventually got the win for the Yankees.

At times during the night, Tyler Wade and Anthony Rizzo put on a show, making challenging plays. Tyler Wade, who is not a natural third baseman, completed an almost impossible play that a Gold Glove third baseman might not make. At the Marlins, half of the eighth Chisholm hit into a double play to end the inning. Rizzo made a spectacular scoop, fired to second, and made the catch to complete the double play. Rizzo is the real deal.

In the pitching department, Aroldis Chapman got his 22nd save of the season.