Yankees Blow it in Texas
The Yankees are currently in last place in the American League East 8.5 games out of first place after their sixth straight loss.
This has not happened to the Yankees since its loss to Cleveland on August 15, of 2019 when they lost 19 to 5. The reality is the Yankees are struggling though the Yankees line-up does not have Arron Judge as he is rehabbing a mild hip strain as the team continues to have its issues with injuries and not enough hitting contributing to the Yankees loss yesterday 15-2 and in winning only 3 of their last three games. In the first inning Nestor Cortes allowed Jung to hit an opposite-field line drive homer over the right field wall for his first career Grand slam as Grossman scored, Lowe scored, and Garcia scored. The runs scored were due because Cortes having surrendered two walks to Robbie Grossman and Lowe as Garcia hit a single down the right field line. Cortes on the other hand had not allowed a grand slam since September 28, 2019, at the old Rangers Ball Park. In the third Peraza grounded out to third, Hicks scored, Volpe went on to third. In the fifth inning Lowe homered to center Grossman scored, and Garcia homered to left center. Heim homered to right center. Cortes then retired Jung as Jonah Heim hit a home run. In the 6th Grossman singled to left as Semien scored. Jung then walked and Grossman scored Garcia went to second and Low to third. Heim doubled to center, Lowe scored, and Garcia scored as Jung moved to third. Duran singled to center; Jung scored. In the eighth Leon doubled to left, Jung scored. In the ninth Higashioka walked, Torres scored, Kiner-Felafa to second, Cabrera to third as the game progressed overall Heim had three hits and three RBI. Grossman hitting streak was extended to 11 games. The Yankees need help with their depth and their reliance on their injured players is costing them a early demise.
The Yankees were delt there 6th straight loss. The Rangers continued to add another 4 runs in the fourth inning 6 in the 6th inning and 1 in the 8th inning. Cortes outing was the worst of his Yankees career. The Rangers scored a combined 10 runs in the fifth inning and sixth inning to pull away as they won their third straight game over the Yankees Cortes the loser is now 3-2 pitched 4.2 IP, 7ER, 7K, 4 BB and allowed seven runs and 5 hits in 12/3 innings. Cortes also allowed eight walks and increased his ERA from 3.49 to 4.91 doubling his 2.88 last season. Cortes was playing against a hungry Texas Rangers team. Perez the winning pitcher is now 4-1 6.0 IP, 1ER, 2k, 4BB. The Rangers with their new Manager Bruce Bochy are now a proven team to watch for in this young season as the American League west begins to tighten up. The Rangers have done a complete turnaround from last year. The Rangers are expected to be in contention the rest of the season providing that if there pitching holds up and there hitting continues to improve. The Yankees return of Aaron Judge will be needed to motivate the rest of the team and get the Yankees back on track. However, the Rays are currently on course to win at least 100 games if they continue at the current pace the Yankees will have a hard time making a run for the division if they can only stay away from injuries. Good Pitching Hitting and solid defense make for a great rest of the season. As of today the Yankees now have 13 players on there injured list complicating the situation. Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Staton, Carlos Rondon, Luis Severino, Harrison Bader, Jonathan Loaisiga, Josh Donaldson, Tommy Kahnle, Lou Trivino, Frankie Montas, Scott Effross, Luis Gil and Ben Rortvedt. This coming weekend the Yankees will be facing the red hot Tampa Rays followed by the Oakland Athletics who the Yankees will be playing who are facing a 133 game loss season according to how the team is currently playing. These games with the Athletics will more than likely be the games the Yankees need to get back on track. The following week another run at the Tampa Bay Rays. As the Yankees move forward to playing soon two teams that have made significant progress the Baltimore Orioles along with Toronto Blue Jays who are showing early potential for a possible division run in the second half of the season. Boston on the other hand has had its early struggles but is showing late promise to be a strong contender as the season moves on.
Hopefully with the return of a healthy Aaron Judge may spark the team to get back on the wining track again regardless of who they play.
Gabriel “Tito ” Avila, Jr.
Editor
HHBMHOF Network International
