As for said game: I don't care how the Yankees win games, as long as they win them, and do it within the rules. 1-0, 10-0, 10-9, I'll take any of them.
Yesterday afternoon, the Yankees went for the sweep against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Masahiro Tanaka started, and went 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits and 1 walk, with 5 strikeouts.
The 1st half of the game did not go the same way as the rest of the series, as the Orioles led 1-0 after 4. But the 2nd half sure did. Clint Frazier tied the game with a home run in the 5th. Cliche Alert: Walks can kill you. In the 6th, DJ LeMahieu and Kendrys Morales drew walks, Luke Voit doubled and Gio Urshela singled. In the 7th, a walk and a stolen base by Thairo Estrada and a single by Austin Romine made it 4-1 Yankees. Voit hit a home run in the 8th to make it 5-1 Yankees.
Unfortunately, Tanaka threw 95 pitches, which appears to be Brian Cashman's tragic number. Aaron Boone did as he was ordered, and pulled him for Jonathan Holder, who allowed 3 runs in the 7th. Then Boone brought Tommy Kahnle in for the 8th, and he allowed the tying run.
Mychal Givens took the mound for Baltimore in the 9th. He struck Brett Gardner and Cameron Maybin out, and it looked like "Blow it in the bottom of the 9th, or extra innings," neither of which was an appetizing possibility.
Did I mention that walks can kill a baseball team? Gleyber Torres worked Givens for a walk. Gary Sanchez singled. LeMahieu walked to load the bases. And Aaron Hicks drew yet another walk to give the Yankees the lead.
Whatever works. As New York music legend Lou Reed might have said, "Hey, babe, take a walk on the Pinstriped side."
Boone sent former Oriole Zack Britton to the mound to close it out. Yankees 6, Orioles 5. WP: Kahnle (2-0). SV: Britton (2). LP: Givens (0-2).
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The Yankees remain in 1st place in the AL East, by 2 games over the Tampa Bay Rays, 1 in the loss column. The Boston Red Sox are 5 1/2 back, the Toronto Blue Jays 12 1/2, and the hapless Orioles 17 1/2 back.
The Yankees have flown on to the Midwest, and begin a series against the Kansas City Royals. Tonight's starters are Chad Green for us, Jakob Junis for them. Most likely, Green is once again being intended as an "opener," and will be replaced in the 3rd or 4th inning, no matter what. I hope so, because his days as an effective pitcher appear to be not only over, but wasted in the Cashman Throwaway Years of 2016, '17 and '18.