After the way the middle game of their 3-game home series with the Washington Nationals ended, the Yankees needed to do better in yesterday's finale.
That's got nothing to do with the Nats. I like Washington as a city, Nationals Park is a good one, and I will always be grateful to the Nats for beating the cheating Houston Astros in the 2019 World Series.
Yankees 3, Nationals 2. WP: Chapman (2-0). No save. LP: Hand (2-1).
The Yankees are now 18-16, in 2nd place in the American League Eastern Division, 3 1/2 games behind the hated Boston Red Sox, 3 in the all-important loss column.
Domingo German started, and he got into a little bit of trouble in each of the 1st 6 innings, but worked out of it each time. That would not be the case in the 7th, as he tired, and allowed a leadoff double to Josh Bell and a home run to Kyle Schwarber. Michael King got the last 2 outs in the 7th and the 1st 2 outs in the 8th. Wandy Peralta got the last out in the 8th.
But, once again, for most of the game, the Yankees didn't get the hits and runs they needed. They wasted 1-out walks by Giancarlo Stanton in the 1st and Mike Ford in the 2nd. But Brett Gardner drew a leadoff walk in the 3rd, and Stanton drew another after a DJ LeMahieu flyout. Aaron Hicks, who has finally begun to hit, singled Gardner home, rendering correct the cliche that walks can kill you, especially the leadoff variety. Still, that left men on 1st and 2nd with 1 out, and the Yankees couldn't get another run, as Gleyber Torres grounded into a force play and Gary Sanchez struck out.
They wasted a 1-out single by LeMahieu in the 5th. The 6th looked like it might be their inning, as Torres led off with a home run, and Sanchez drew a walk. But he ended up stranded. Then game the 7th and the Schwarber home run, and that tied the game at 2-2.
LeMahieu walked with 2 out in the 7th, but was stranded. Hicks drew a leadoff walk in the 8th, and I thought this was going to be it. But Torres grounded out, and Sanchez struck out. The Torres groundout got Hicks to 2nd, so, in spite of his pathetic batting average, Ford was walked to set up the force play. It wasn't necessary, as Clint Frazier popped up.
Aroldis Chapman was brought in for the top of the 9th. He got Bell to ground out, then allowed a single to Starlin Castro -- you know, the All-Star 2nd baseman (now playing 3rd base) that the Yankees traded away to get Stanton. It would have looked very bad if it had been Castro who started the winning rally for the Nats. Chapman ensured that wouldn't happen by inducing a lineout by Schwarber to Torres, and striking Yan Gomes out.
Bottom of the 9th. Nobody wanted another Ghost Runner game. Brad Hand pitching for Washington. Leadoff walks are bad enough, but starting an inning by walking Tyler Wade? Who doesn't even belong in the major leagues? That's a sign that maybe you don't, either.
Aaron Judge did not start the game, but Aaron Boone sent him up to pinch-hit for Gardner. Hand walked him, too. LeMahieu grounded into a force play: Judge was out at 2nd, but LeMahieu reached 1st, and Wade was at 3rd, the winning run with only 1 out.
Stanton was up. Before his recent hot streak began, this would have had "inning-ending double play" written all over it. That streak began with the start of this series: He hadn't yet gotten a hit in it. And the Nats had been pitching him inside the entire series, usually just missing his knee, at least once just missing his chin.
Stanton decided he'd had enough of this: He hit a grounder that found the hole between 3rd base and shortstop. Wade scored. Ballgame over.
Yankees 3, Nationals 2. WP: Chapman (2-0.) No save. LP: Hand (2-1).
The Yankees are now 18-16, in 2nd place in the American League Eastern Division, 3 1/2 games behind the hated Boston Red Sox, 3 in the loss column.
The Yankees have today off. Tomorrow, they start a long roadtrip: 3 games at Tampa Bay, 3 in Baltimore, and 4 at Texas, before returning home on Friday, May 21 to play the Chicago White Sox. They are getting things done, and they need to keep it going on this trip.