The New York Yankees had a disastrous night in an ugly game that the Yankees will want to put in the rearview mirror and look forward to winning a Game 3 to regain the ALDS lead in San Diego. Last night was a game filled with more questions than hits for the Yankees, from managerial pitching decisions to the Yankees striking out 18 times in nine innings, to lousy umpire calls. The Yankees also blew two starters in one game, when they are already short on proven starters. The Yankees committed one error in the 7-5 loss.
If the New York Yankees are going to keep from going a game behind in the series, they are going to have to turn it around tonight completely. They will have to have Tanaka go deep into the game to save the bullpen, which was overused last night. The Yankees will have to improve hitting and make the most of any home runs that are hit.
The only good that came out of last night’s game was that Giancarlo Stanton continued his tear, hitting two home runs on the night and driving in four of the Yankee’s five runs. One of his long balls was for 458′. In the postseason this year, Stanton has hit at least one home run in each of the games. But Stanton can’t carry the team on his back, although he seems to be trying to do it. They will need more production from the likes of Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu, who only has one hit between the two games, Luke Voit, who is hitless in the series, and Gary Sanchez who looks like a dear in the headlights at the plate. He was 0-4 last night.
Tonight at 7:10 pm EDT, the weather at Petco Park under the setting sun will be mostly clear and with temperatures in the low ’70s. The game will be nationally televised on TBS, with pre and post-game coverage on the YES network.
Tonight the home-field advantage at Petco will switch around, and the New York Yankee will have the fake home-field advantage. The Yankees will send out the postseason reliable Masahiro Tanaka to try for a win and put the Yankees back out in front in the ALDS. Tanaka was 3-3 with an ERA of 3.56. The Yankees won his last start, but Tanaka did not pitch well; he gave up six earned runs in only 4 innings in the Wild Card round against the Cleveland Indians. Hopefull for the Yankees, that game was an anomaly, as Tanaka, in his eight postseason starts for the Yankees, has never given up more than three runs in a game.
The New York Yankees will face off against the seasoned veteran Charlie Morton. Morton is in his second season with the Tampa Bay Rays after pitching successfully with the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates. In his 13 years in the majors, he has appeared in 7 postseason games, going 4-2 with an ERA of 3.70. In the postseason, he last beat the Yankees in the Houston 2017 ALCS, when the Astros were proven, cheaters. This season he has gone 2-2 with an ERA of 4.74. Because the Rays took the Blue Jays Wild Card Series in just two games, Morton has not pitched in this year’s postseason. The Rays won his last start against the Phillies on 25th, although he gave up three earned runs in just five innings. He hasn’t pitched in 12 days.
It’s really crucial for the Yankees to come away with a win tonight and get a game ahead. A game four, which is a surety, will probably be started by Jordan Montgomery now that Garcia and Happ were used last night. The Yankees are really missing Luis Severino, Domingo German, and reliever Tommy Kahnle who are all out for the season, making the pitching a challenge. Should there be a gave five, Gerrit Cole will most likely take the mound on short rest. With Cole on the mound, the Yankees will have the advantage in the Series.