In between the Pinstripes #14

In between the Pinstripes_14: Dirtying White Sox

Almost a perfect team game. With the blemish in the 9^th inning for Adam Warren, the bombers almost escaped the first game of the series against the Chicago White Sox. Derek Holland pitched to his career numbers against the Yanks, going 4.2 innings, giving up 10 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), one walk, and 6 strike outs on 97 pitches. Holland look good at limited points in the game, but giving up a 3-run homer to Holiday and a 2-run shot to Aaron Judge is not a good recipe for success. The bombers exploded for 5 runs in the 3^rd and never looked back.

Jordan Montgomery had a great second Major League start and got his first Major League win in the process. Only going 6 innings, Montgomery still had the White Sox guessing all night long. Montgomery showed good control of his fastball, a good change in speeds with that circle change, and two good breaking balls (especially the slider). Montgomery’s second career line looks like this: 6 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strike outs on 88 pitches. Montgomery pitched into the 7^th but got into trouble allowing two runners to reach base, then gave up his only mistake of the night—a 3-run bomb to Yolmer Sanchez which ended his night. I would have liked to see Girardi leave the rookie in the game, with nobody on following the home run and only 88 pitches. Let him throw twelve more pitches and see if he can get himself out of a rough inning to end his 1^st career win on a high note. Teaching Montgomery the ability to bounce back in an inning will go a long way in his development. However, Adam Warren did pitch well until the 9^th were he allowed a RBI double that ended his night, following was Chapman to slam the door shut on the bombers 8^th consecutive win. In a perfect world, Chapman never enters the game and the Yankees give their bullpen a needed night off. Hopefully all of the arms at the back end of the pen will be ready for tonight or the rest of the series following Warren’s 2.1 innings tonight.

On a night were the bombers scored 7 runs, the offense must be the focus of the night. Starlin Castro continued his hot hitting going 3-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Matt Holiday had a 3-run bomb to start that 5-run 3^rd inning, but that was his only hit. The Focus Player of the Day on the other hand stole the show, again. Aaron Judge went 2-4 with a 3 RBI’s. 2 of them came on a blast into the Chicago bullpen in the 5^th, putting the nail in the coffin for Holland, and beat out an infield single to get the 3^rd RBI. Aaron Judge’s fingerprints are all over this 8-game winning streak and rightfully so. Judge has 4 homers on the home stand and doesn’t seem like he wants to live the Bronx anytime soon. Yankee fans should be crossing their fingers that this hot hitting continues, and doesn’t end when Gary Sanchez re-enters the lineup.

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s game; the bombers look to win their 3^rd consecutive series with a strong outing from Luis Severino. Sevey pitched well in his last start pitching 7 innings were he only gave up 2 runs. The man on the mound against the Yankees is Miguel Gonzalez who is looking to rebound from a start against the defending American League champ Cleveland Indians, where he didn’t pitch 5 innings. Gonzalez gave up 8 hits, 3 runs, walking 4, and striking out 5. Gonzalez lifetime against the Yanks is 4-4 with a 3.80 ERA in 85.1 innings. This bomber lineup is one of the hottest in the entire league, and will be a tall task for every starter they face right now. However, the Yankees did win 7-4 for 8 straight, so you can “Start spreading the news” after this win, and hang your hat on 8 STRAIGHT WINS.

Sources:(mlb.com, baseballreference.com)

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