Last night in Philadelphia the New York Yankees put out their “B” team to try and take the four-game series from Joe Girardi’s Phillies, but it was not to be had. The game was basically over in the first inning when Yankee starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery made one mistake to J T Realmuto that allowed a three-run home run just into the first few rows on the left-field stands.
Montgomery got into trouble right away in the first inning. Hoskins and Harper got on base and then Realmuto took a hanging curveball into the stands for the early 3-0 lead. The Phillies would never relinquish that lead. In the top of the second inning with Gardner and Urshela on base, Gary Sanchez struck out. The hot Mike Tauchman stepped to the plate and hit a long single driving both Gardner and Urshela, making it Phillies 3 and the Yankees 2.
Moving on to the bottom of the 3 inning with Montgomery still on the mound he allowed one on, walked Harper, and Phil Gosselin doubled off Monty, driving in two, for the Phillies 5-2 lead, leading to the end of Montgomery’s night. The score stayed that way until the seventh when the New York Yankees staged a failed comeback.
At the top of the Yankees seventh, Gio Urshela doubled off Phillies reliever Nick Pivetta. Gary Sanchez who has been miserable behind the plate, with a .80 batting average came to the plate. Sanchez got his first homer of the year, driving in Urshela for the two-run shot. Phillies 5, Yankees 4, and that’s how the game would end up, with the Yankees just falling short.
The “B” team tried but just couldn’t make it without DJ LeMahieu who always gets on base and the toured Aaron Judge and his home run power. It is somewhat of a mystery when with the series on the line, manager Aaron Boone chose this lineup. Late in the eighth inning Boone did bring in Judge but he struck out. In the ninth Boone brought in LeMahieu who singled, but Luke Voit flew out ending the game. The reinforcements were brought in but it was too late for the Yankees as they split the series with the Phillies.
There were not many significant takeaways from the game, but the Yankees have to be thrilled with the continuing hot hitting by Gio Urshela and Mike Tauchman. Brett Gardner also got two hits on the night and Giancarlo Stanton continues his plate discipline, getting a hit in the game. With Gary Sanchez’s home run, they hope his hitting will now kick in. In relief of Montgomery, David Hale and Jonathan Holder pitched four scoreless innings as the bullpen continues to do their job. Sanchez’s home continues a streak of 24 home runs for the Yankees on the season. That’s an average of two home runs per game.
The New York Yankees, after the game, took their first air flight of the season, for a four-game matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Masahiro Tanaka will take the mound for the New York Yankees tonight, and Gerrit Cole will pitch the first game of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday.