On Friday night, Yankee Fans, myself included, were complaining about a lack of runs, as we saw them tied 1-1 with the Chicago Cubs after 12 innings, before winning it 2-1 in the 13th. They've made up for it in the 2 games since, smacking the ball all over the yard.
Ian Happ hit a home run off Jameson Taillon in the top of the 1st inning. It would be the last time the Cubs had hope. The Yankees scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st, 3 in the 2nd, 2 in the 3rd. A linescore of 53200? That's a ZIP Code in Milwaukee.
And this time, it wasn't all home runs. The 1st-inning runs came on doubles by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Joey Gallo, a single by Aaron Judge, an error that allowed Marwin González to reach base, and 3 straight walks, drawn by Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu and Matt Carpenter. (Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you.)
There were, of course, home runs. Carpenter hit one in the 2nd, and another in the 6th. Kyle Higashioka hit one in the 3rd, and another in the 8th, his 1st and 2nd of the season. But the Yankees scored 5 runs in the 7th, without a homer.
Believe it or not, there was a save situation. Taillon pitched the 1st 5 innings, and was taken out: No need to risk him further, with a 7-run lead. Miguel Castro pitched a scoreless 6th. And then Manny Bañuelos pitched the last 3 innings. According to the rule, a pitcher is credited with a save if he is the finishing pitcher, but not the winning pitcher, in a game won by his team, and he fulfills at least 1 of these 3 requirements:
1. He comes in with a lead of no more than 3 runs, and pitches at least 1 inning; or
2. He comes in with the tying run either on base, at bat, or on deck; or
3. "He pitches effectively for at least three innings."
That's exact text on 3. "Effectively" is open to interpretation. Bañuelos came in with a 9-run lead. Theoretically, he could have allowed 8 runs in 3 innings, and still qualified for the save. He allowed 1 run in 3 innings. He got the credit for the save.
Yankees 18, Cubs 4. WP: Taillon (7-1). SV: Bañuelos (1). LP: Keegan Thompson (6-2). It was the 1st time the Yankees had scored at least 18 runs since September 15, 2020, a 20-6 win at home to the Toronto Blue Jays. That was also the last time the Yankees won a game by 14 or more runs.
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So here's where things stand, 10 weeks into the 26-week Major League Baseball regular season:
* The Yankees are 44-16. They have won 4 straight games, 11 of their last 12, and 37 of their last 47. They are on a pace to win 119 games, which would be a new major league record.
* They lead the American League Eastern Division by 8 1/2 games over the Toronto Blue Jays, 9 over the Tampa Bay Rays, 12 1/2 over the Boston Red Sox, and 18 1/2 over the Baltimore Orioles. In the all-important loss column, it's 8 over the Jays, 9 over the Rays, 13 over the Sox, and 19 over the O's.
* In the race for home-field advantage throughout the Playoffs, the Yankees lead the AL West-leading Houston Astros by 7 games, the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins by 9, and the team with the best record in the National League, the Mets, by 5 (6 in the loss column).
* Injuries? On this front, the news is mostly encouraging. Gleyber Torres wasn't feeling well yesterday, and Jose Trevino had back tightness. Both are day-to-day, and are the only regulars who were night in the lineup yesterday.
Jonathan Loáisiga is on the personal leave list, tending to a family matter in his native Nicaragua, and could be back in a few days. Aroldis Chapman has been throwing in bullpen sessions, while Domingo Germán is about to start minor-league rehab, and both could be back by the end of the month.
Zack Britton might be back in August, but Chad Green had Tommy John surgery, and will be out until at least next year's All-Star Break.
The Yankees have today off. Tomorrow night, the Rays come in for 3 games. This could tighten the race back up, or it could, effectively, knock the Rays out of it. Come on you Pinstripes!