Literally around 24 hours ago I wrote that Greg Bird should spend some time in the minors to work on a swing that looked overmatched for MLB pitching.
To quote the great Chris Jericho, I am a “stupid idiot”.
After tonight I think Bird may win a battle title. Entering the game with one hit in 26 at bats and 13 strikeouts, All the 24-year old did was go 3-for-3 with a 444-foot home run and finish a triple shy of the cycle to key the Bombers to a 9-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals and a second consecutive series sweep at home.
New York has now won seven in a row in improving to 8-4 on the season. Hell, they may never lose again.
The Yanks spotted St. Louis a 1-0 lead in the second before Aaron Judge tied the game with a triple that would’ve been a home run had a fellow stupid idiot (fan) not stuck his glove out even with the wall to touch the ball. It wouldn’t end up mattering as just one batter later as Bird put the best swing of his young career on an Adam Wainwright offering for a two run shot and 3-1 lead.
Aaron Hicks homered in the fifth to put New York up three runs. Apparently all Aaron Hicks does is swat home runs. Three of his last four hits have left the yard.
Up 4-2, New York busted a close game open in the bottom of the eighth with five runs.
Michael Pineda was outstanding on the mound for a second time in five days; throwing seven strong innings of two run ball while allowing six hits and a walk to go with six strikeouts. Don’t look now and Yankee fans know better than to get overly excited—but Pineda looks like he could be emerging into a star.
The Yanks have turned things around quickly and averted what was looking like a disastrous 2017 campaign when they dropped four of their first five. New York is now 6-0 at home for the first time since 1998—- when they won the World Series.
The Bombers open up a series with the Chicago White Sox in the Bronx tonight. Jordan Montgomery makes his second career start, taking on Derek Holland.