Well, this article is going to begin rather awkwardly. If you haven’t obtained the opportunity to read my article from earlier, I’ll fill you in. J.A. Happ has severely struggled this season for the New York Yankees, which isn’t a surprise to anyone. Happ has had major issues remaining consistent and has performed at a mediocre level at best. However, he proved many individuals wrong on Monday night, including myself.
While wins and losses don’t signify any importance, especially when a pitcher’s stats are below average, Happ bounced back from his last outing and pitched adequately. Through 5 solid innings of work, Happ gave up 2 hits, 3 runs, walked 3 and struck out 7 on 95 pitches. Although his 2.69 BB/9, 2.15 HR/9 and 20.3 % HR/FB remain a constant concern, this was an excellent performance from Happ, compared to a signification amount of starts in the past.
The offense, on the other hand, powered in 5 runs, including a pair of home runs collected by Mike Ford and a solo shot collected by Gleyber Torres. The Bronx Bombers released their inner domination in the top of the 2nd. Torres led the charge at T-Mobile Park, absolutely obliterating a solo homer to deep center field, traveling 438 feet with an exit velocity of 108.5 MPH. If that’s not the pure definition of a moonshot, I’ll just stand in my corner and remain speechless. Austin Romine recorded the 2nd run of the inning, driving in an RBI single to left field. Ford, easily the MVP of Monday night’s game, hammered a 2-run blast to right field, traveling 339 feet with an exit velocity of 91.0 MPH.
Happ endured a minor blow in the bottom of the 2nd, giving up a 3-run homer off the bat of Dylan Moore, cutting the deficit to a 1-run ballgame. The Yankees tacked on their last run of the game in the top of the 4th. Ford absolutely destroyed his 2nd home run of the game to deep right field, traveling 399 feet with an exit velocity of 97.9 MPH. The Mariners recorded 1 more run in the bottom of the 7th. Nestor Cortes Jr. was responsible for giving up a solo homer off the bat of Mallex Smith, cutting the deficit yet again to a 1-run ballgame.
Tommy Kahnle and Aroldis Chapman completed the job per usual in the 8th and 9th innings. Kahnle flashed his filthy, unhittable changeup, while Chapman pumped gas and utilized his disgusting slider. Combined, they allowed no hits and struck out 4 on 23 pitches.
With a 5-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners, the New York Yankees possess an 86-47 (.647) record, which is the best in the American League and tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best in the MLB. On Tuesday night, Masahiro Tanaka will battle Yusei Kikuchi (both Japanese-born players) and on Wednesday night, James Paxton will battle Justus Sheffield (poetry at its finest.)