Last night I said the New York Yankees were victorious in one of the more exciting games I’ve seen in quite some time. This afternoon they won in one if the weirder ones.
The Bombers did a lot of whiffing at the plate; striking out a franchise record-tying 17 times. However, they also drew eight walks off a uncharacteristically wild Carlos Martinez and took advantage of terrible Cardinals defense in winning their sixth straight, 3-2 at the Stadium.
A win is a win.
Brett Gardner scored on a wild pitch in the first inning, Ronald Torreyes scored on a Martinez throwing error in the sixth and Chris Carter added a RBI single as the Yanks built a 3-0 and withstood solo home runs from Jedd Gyrko in the eight and Stephen Piscotty in the ninth.
C.C. Sabathia sustained the upward tick of exceptional Yankee starting pitching this week—throwing a much-needed 7.1 innings of one run ball and allowing just three hits and a walk to go with six strikeouts.
Sabathia’s long outingwas necessary because both Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman were unavailable after both pitching the past few days. Adam Warren got a two-out hold in the eighth and Tyler Clippard gave up one in the ninth but stranded two in picking up the final three outs for his first save.
The Yanks won despite going just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranding 12 on base.
Batting cleanup because designated hitter Matt Holliday out with back stiffness, Jacoby Ellsbury collected two hits and stole his fourth base of the season.
There’s a lot to celebrate after New York running off six straight victories. However, it’s must be said that they’re downright freegin’ deplorable at first base right now.
It should be time for Greg Bird to reacquaint himself with Triple-A Scranton, as flat-out doesn’t look ready to hit MLB pitching. He struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the first inning and then struck out again with two in scoring position in the third to strand five in his first two at bats. Some of these wins are going to eventually turn to losses with his bat in the lineup. He finished 0-for-3 and is hitting .038 this season with 1 (!!!) hit in 26 at bats and 13 strikeouts. You should able to hit better by accident. I like Bird, but he looks like a lost little boy at the plate right now. Go down and get yourself right, kid.
Chris Carter isn’t much better. Sure, he collected a RBI single today but also struck out four times. He’s 4-for-21 this year and hitting .182 with eight strikeouts.
Add them together and that’s 5-for-47 with 21 strikeouts. That’s not good enough to continue living with and sooner or later it’s going to bite them if at least one doesn’t get hot or Brian Cashman makes a move.
Aside from their first base woes, everything is great in the Bronx. The Yanks go for the sweep tomorrow with Michael Pineda going against Adam Wainwright.