Last night, the Yankees were totally flat in the opener of their home series against the Toronto Blue Jays. I was hoping they would be considerably better.
They weren't. They were just barely better enough.
Gerrit Cole started, but after letting him go the distance in his last start, this time, Aaron Boone panicked, and took him out after 96 pitches, when it was 0-0 in the 6th inning. Ron Marinaccio and Clay Holmes got the Yankees through the 7th with no damage.
So runs were required. But they didn't come. Alek Manoah was even more effective for the Jays. With 1 out in the 3rd, Oswaldo Cabrera doubled, and Oswald Peraza drew a walk, but Manoah stranded them. The Yankees didn't get another baserunner until Gleyber Torres singled in the 7th.
Finally, with 2 out in the 8th, Peraza singled, and Anthony Volpe hit a home run. It was 2-0 Yankees, and victory looked likely.
But Boone sent Wandy Peralta to the mound for the 9th, and he gave up a 2-run homer to Kenley Jansen, letting all the air out of the balloon in The Bronx. Jimmy Cordero had to be brought on to get out of the inning.
The Yankees didn't want extra innings. I certainly didn't. Anthony Rizzo led off the bottom of the 9th with a double. Isiah Kiner-Falefa was sent in to pinch-run for him. Torres hit a grounder to short, and there was no play: 1st & 3rd, nobody out. Torres stole 2nd without a throw, a play designed to get a throw and possibly get the runner on 3rd home. Willie Calhoun drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out.
I thought, "If we don't get any runs home here, and lose the game in extra innings, that's the season, right here."
DJ LeMahieu had been given the day off, but Boone sent him up to pinch-hit for Franchy Cordero. The Jays brought the left fielder in as a 5th infielder. It didn't work: DJLM singled to left anyway, and the game was over.
Yankees 3, Blue Jays 2. WP: Cordero (1-0, his 1st win as a Yankee). No save. LP: Jordan Romano (2-1).
The series concludes tomorrow afternoon. Clarke Schmidt, Mr. Hole In the Rotation, is scheduled to start against Kevin Gausman, who usually pitches well against the Yankees. Don't get your hopes up.