Photo Credit: Sarah Stier, Getty Images
After a successful road trip, the New York Yankees looked to continue to add to their lead in the AL East, taking on the Chicago White Sox for the second time in under a week. With the first game set to start on Friday, Mother Nature had other ideas, forcing a double header at The Stadium on Sunday.
In game one on Saturday, Nestor Cortes toed the slab looking to continue his dominance and case for the American League all-star team. After allowing an early single to Tim Anderson in the first, “Nasty Nestor” struck out the side and continued to show us just how good he is.
In the bottom of the second, the Yankees posted five runs thanks to an Isiah Kiner-Falefa single and a DJ LeMahieu grand slam into the short porch. Chicago responded in the third with three runs, and Josh Donaldson, who’d be the center of a lot of controversy in this game drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. Chicago got the best of Michael King in the sixth, driving in two runs. Anthony Rizzo’s sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the sixth gave Clay Holmes a cushion. Holmes continued his dominance and case for best reliever in baseball in the ninth, extending his scoreless inning streak and retiring the Sox in order, collecting two strikeouts in the process. Holmes now has season numbers that most can only find in MLB The Show.
Despite his recent struggles, LeMahieu’s four RBI’s should give him some confidence. Rizzo needs to wake up, as well Aaron Hicks who is completely lost right now. A few pieces of the bullpen haven’t been themselves either lately, causing a bit of an issue for the Yanks and their manager.
Now to the conflict. It is of no surprise that Donaldson’s feud with the White Sox carried over from his time in Minnesota to his time in Pinstripes. After a conflict with Anderson in Chicago about a week prior, Donaldson made a comment that Anderson did not like. After being called out by Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal, the benches and bullpens cleared. Both sides remained very opinionated after the game, but nothing seemed to carry over to the doubleheader.
In other news, along with prospect Luis Gil, Yankees reliever Chad Green will also undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. After years of being reliably healthy, this is certainly a loss for the Yankees. We wish Green the best of health and luck with his recovery.
In game one of the single admission double header at The Stadium, the Yankees couldn’t seem to string many hits together. The White Sox led for the vast majority of the contest, but Aaron Judge’s eighth inning blast into the second deck in left field kept the Yankees in the game. Aroldis Chapman came in for the ninth, and did what he’s been doing all season – struggling. Chapman came in and allowed a solo homer to AJ Pollock, and after not being able to command his pitches, he allowed an RBI double to Adam Engel to give Chicago a 3-1 lead. Chapman was pulled only to hear the boo birds calling his name on the way to the Yankees’ dugout. Chicago wouldn’t look back, and Liam Hendriks picked up the save. The Yankees squandered a very good start from Jameson Taillon, who went seven innings and fanned seven Sox hitters, allowing only five hits and a walk along with the run. Hicks made a critical base-running error as well in the loss, causing him to be picked off, killing a potential Yankee rally. Overall, game one of the doubleheader as a disappointment for the men in pinstripes.
In game two, the Yankees squandered yet another start in which their starter went seven innings. This time it was Luis Severino, who gave the Yankees everything they needed to win. Sevy tossed seven innings, striking out five batters while issuing no walks and allowing no runs. After Severino was pulled by Aaron Boone, the Yankees deteriorated. Jonathan Loaisiga allowed two runs on singles, and then left two men on for Miguel Castro, who allowed a three-run homer to guess who? Tim Anderson. It felt like the collective energy had been drained out of The Stadium, as many fans made their way to the exits. With the game out of reach, one thing is becoming clear. This Yankee team has been met with some adversity.
It’s not time to hit the panic button, it’s not time to worry. But this next stretch is a huge test for what has been a great Yankee team thus far. Every team goes through adversity, it’s simply about how the team manages it. What’s becoming clear is that more bats need to wake up, the bullpen needs to step it up, and the Yankees need to show some more life. Outside of Judge and Stanton, it’s been an issue finding production lately. LeMahieu as a Yankee has torn it up offensively when healthy, he has been invisible lately outside of his grand slam on Saturday. As they like to say “baseball isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon”. Almost a quarter of the way through the 2022 campaign, things have gone great for the Yankees. That cannot stop in this next stretch, in which Judge and the Yankees will face the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, and Detroit Tigers.
The Yankees will take on the Orioles at home starting Monday. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is set to take the mound to face Jordan Lyles. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM Eastern Time.
