Last night, the Yankees began a 3-game home series against the Baltimore Orioles.
As Joe Garagiola taught us, baseball is a funny game. You wouldn't think, when the final score was 12-8, that there would be much praise for the Yankees' starting pitcher. Nevertheless, Luis Severino was terrific again. He had a perfect game going until a walk with 2 out in the 5th inning, and a no-hitter until 1 was out in the 6th. Then he allowed a walk and a home run, and was relieved.
Fortunately, the Yankees had already scored. Isiah Kiner-Falefa led off the bottom of the 3rd with a single, and Kyle Higashioka drew a walk. After a couple of outs, Anthony Rizzo hit a home run. 3-0 Yankees. Joey Gallo made it 4-0 with a home run in the 4th. DJ LeMahieu led off the 5th with a single, and Rizzo hit another home run, to make it 6-0.
Then the O's ended Sevy's great night. Clay Holmes allowed a run in the top of the 7th, and suddenly, it was 6-4. The Yankees weren't going to blow this, were they?
They were not. In the bottom of the 7th, LeMahieu again led off with a single. Aaron Judge, celebrating his 30th birthday, followed with another. Rizzo drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Giancarlo Stanton got LeMahieu home with a single. Josh Donaldson struck out, but Gleyber Torres hit a triple to clear the bases. As they used to say in the heyday of CB (citizens' band) radio, "10-4, good buddy." (Yankee broadcaster Michael Kay made that reference as well.)
"Double digits, it's great to see," manager Aaron Boone said. "I think guys are just getting settled more."
Boone sent Lucas Luetge out to pitch the top of the 8th, but he didn't have it, allowing a run. Nor did Jonathan Loáisiga, who allowed a 3-run homer. He allowed only 3 home runs all of last season. We're not out of April yet, and he's already allowed 2. Now, it was 10-8.
The Yankees responded. Judge crushed a drive to left-center field, bouncing off an ad for State Farm Insurance. Where that ball landed, like a good neighbor, State Farm was there. He became the 3rd Yankee to hit a home run on his 30th birthday, following Lou Gehrig in 1933 and Jerry Mumphrey in 1982.
Rizzo followed this with a considerably less impressive drive, that just barely stayed fair, and just barely got over the fence, at the 314-foot mark in right field, the shortest of "short porch" home runs. The umpires' crew chief, Lance Barksdale, even ordered a review, just to be sure. Fine with me: Better to get the call right than not. The replay proved it was a home run, and the call stood.
Boone's July 18, 2019 declaration to umpire Brennan Miller that "My guys are fucking savages in that fucking box" was once again true, necessary because, after the 5th inning, the pitching just wasn't there. Good thing it was there before that.
Boone sent Aroldis Chapman out to pitch the top of the 9th. Of course, he didn't make it easy, walking 2 batters. But he got the job done. Yankees 12, Orioles 8. WP: Severino (12-8). No save. LP: Jordan Lyles (1-2).
That's 6 of our last 7. We are half a game behind the Toronto Blue Jays for 1st place in the American League East, even in the loss column.
Worth noting: Most "Yankee Legends" have won Pennants before their 30th birthday. Judge, the signature Yankee of this generation this far, has not. Check out this list, and this is just the Monument Park honorees as players:
Mickey Mantle won 9, keeping in mind that he was only 19 when he won the 1st. Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter each won 6, although the Babe's 1st 3 were with the Boston Red Sox. Whitey Ford and Andy Pettitte each won 5. Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Elston Howard, Roger Maris, Willie Randolph and Mariano Rivera each won 4.
Bill Dickey won 3. So did Reggie Jackson, all with the Oakland Athletics, as he was already 30 when he became a Yankee. There were 2 each for Phil Rizzuto, Ron Guidry, Goose Gossage and Jorge Posada. And 1 each for Red Ruffing, Mel Stottlemyre, Thurman Munson, Paul O'Neill (with the Cincinnati Reds, as he was already 30 when he became a Yankee), Tino Martinez and Bernie Williams. Allie Reynolds didn't win any before turning 30, but won 6 thereafter. Don Mattingly, of course, never won any.
For Judge, and for the rest of the "Baby Bombers" -- no longer even toddlers -- it is time.
The series continues tonight. Jordan Montgomery starts against Tyler Wells.