The Yankees started out this season 1-4, then went 20-5. But have now lost 3 straight, and #YankeesTwitter is a flutter with suggestions that the last 3 games, when we haven't hit, are "the real Yankees," ignoring the team of 75 percent of the season thus far.
Don't panic.
Then again, for those who want to panic, here's what the Yankees got against the Houston Astros in the 1st 8 innings, last night at Yankee Stadium,: Singles by Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorius in the 2nd, a leadoff double by Judge in the 5th, and a leadoff single by Brett Gardner and Matt Holliday reaching on an error in the 6th, all off Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. And they were all stranded, meaning McCullers, who pitched better than his father ever did at the old Stadium.
For the Yankees, rookie Jordan Montgomery pitched well in the 1st 3 innings, but, in the 4th, gave up a 3-run home run to former Yankee Brian McCann. That was pretty much the game. He gave up another run in the 5th, and got through the 6th without further damage.
Jonathan Holder pitched a perfect 7th and Tyler Clippard a scoreless 8th, but Aroldis Chapman, for the 2nd time in his last 3 games, had nothing, and allowed another run. Considering his slump, this run was far from meaningless. Joe Girardi had to call on Giovanny Gallegos to get out of the inning.
Holliday led off the bottom of the 9th by again reaching without getting the ball out of the infield, beating out a grounded to 3rd. But Starlin Castro struck out. Jacoby Ellsbury singled. But Judge struck out. Gregorius singled Holliday home, but Ronald Torreyes struck out to end the minor rally and the game.
Astros 5, Yankees 1. WP: McCullers (3-1). No save. LP: Montgomery (2-2).
The series was supposed to continue this afternoon at 1:05, but, due to the rain, has been pushed back. Tomorrow, Mother's Day, will feature a split-admission doubleheader, at 1:05 and 8:05 PM, the latter game being Derek Jeter Night, giving Captain Clutch his Monument Park Plaque and retiring his Number 2, and televised on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.
The Yankees usually don't do well on players' days.
Panic?
No. Not yet. The Yankees are still, overall, playing .636 baseball, and are only half a game behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East.
Then again, Joe Girardi is still the manager, and Brian Cashman is still the general manager...
If it's August 1, and we're still within 7 games of a Playoff berth, and Cashman hasn't traded any starters for 117 "prospects," then, I think we'll be all right.
But if Cashman does trade a starter for "prospects,"that's when we should panic!