The day my twin nieces Ashley and Rachel were born, the Yankees won, beating... the Minnesota Twins.
That would not be the case on their 16th birthday, and not just because they were, instead, wrapping up a series away to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ace Gerrit Cole started, and, for the most part, he did his job: He went 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 5. He has fallen victim to the gopher ball a few times, but did not allow a home run this time.
But Jordan Montgomery became the latest in a long line of former Yankee pitchers to pitch well against the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees didn't score off him until the top of the 7th inning, when Jake Bauers doubled home Isiah Kiner-Falefa. And that would be the only run the Yankees would score.
The poor pitching of Jimmy Cordero put the game out of reach, as he allowed 2 runs in the 7th and 1 in the 8th. The Yankees stranded Bauers on 2nd in the 7th, and wasted a leadoff walk by Oswaldo Caberera in the 8th (no Cliché Alert here). With 2 out in he 9th, Anthony Volpe singled and Bauers walked, making a comeback look possible. But Kyle Higashioka grounded out to end the game.
Cardinals 5, Yankees 1. WP: Montgomery (6-7). No save. LP: Cole (8-2). The Yankees are 9 1/2 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Eastern Division, 8 games in the loss column. If the current standings hold to the end of the season, the Yankees will have the 5th seed in the AL Playoffs.
The Yankees come home, to play a 4-game home series with the Baltimore Orioles. The Tuesday game is the 4th of July, and thus a matinee, while the others are night games.