NEW YORK- The Yankees lost Game 1 and it was a game that they could have handled the Pirates pretty well. They couldn’t get to a struggling Keller, and Cole kept them in the game enough. Leaving on more baserunners and nobody coming through with that big hit. Also, more struggles from Cruz, making more bullpen pieces at the deadline an absolute must. Really could have been a lot of positive to take away if you win that game. The Yankees will look to bounce back in just a few hours.
Cole’s Outing
A very good performance from Gerrit Cole, yet he did surrender two home runs. All game though he just never had a lack of confidence in his pitches all game. Attacked with offspeed early sometimes and it worked. Never fell behind much, did not walk a batter. Stayed higher velo almost the whole game, and really the first time since he has been back where for most of the outing the velocity never varied. Another good start and he has to bring Yankees fans a lot of smiles because it’s looking like THE vintage Gerrit Cole that we know. Also, marking the 29th time Gerrit Cole has had a double-digit strikeout game in Pinstripes.
Final Line: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 11 K (3.92 ERA) That is 64 strikes on 93 pitches, while being perfect through 4 2/3 innings.
Keller Has Struggled Yankees Couldn’t Do Anything Off Of Him
Like I had mentioned in the pre-game notes that Mitch Keller has been struggling all season and has simply been awful as of late, but the Yankees made him look good. Only stringing a few hits together all outing and were too aggressive. With Keller being that type of pitcher who struggles when at-bats are being grinded then you are just doing him a favor swinging like the Yankees did today against him. Really bad from the offense.
Yankees Couldn’t Play Situational Baseball AGAIN
Many baserunners, many times where they got the first to batters on base and nothing but a pop-up from the following hitter. At a point, you need to address what needs to be addressed. Play the game the right way, every team does it. Common sense baseball. Fundamentally flawed is really the best way to put it no matter what way you look at it. Left 9 runners on base, and there was no competition in any of the at-bats where you had a chance to really break the game open and YES they could have. Looking at the 4th and 5th inning. Beginning with the 4th where Spencer Jones and Cody Bellinger walk to begin the frame, Dominguez steps up. Then, proceeds to take one right in his sweet zone and then swings at an awful high missed heater popping it right up. Fifth inning then comes up and McMahon grounds out, being 1 out in the inning, Wells and Grisham with back-to-back singles. Due up is Rice and Jones, and Rice misses hangers and Jones strikes out on four pitches. It’s just getting old and time after time it happens the same exact way, you can literally predict the EXACT outcome. You gotta know the situation and hit the situation. That’s simple as that.
Bednar Gets A Inning Against His Former Team
David Bednar finally gets to pitch against the Pirates for the first time since they traded him, and did in a tie game in the ninth inning. Splitter played so well again, topping at 93. Bednar did run into some trouble with a walk and a single, but got a huge K on O’ Hearn and a great defensive save by Rice at first. Another shutout inning, and the renegade is really pitching masterfully and dealing. Feels good to have a legitimate guy that has guts. All in all, with a 22 pitch inning and it being a doubleheader you might see Boone preferably stay away from Bednar, but I would be all for it because of an off day tomorrow.
Ben Rice Can’t Stop Tearing It Up
The league should have respected him last season and even the season before, and I am not going to fully get into that aspect of how he just grinds day-after-day and hammers very good pitchers, tremendous power all over the field, and the put-in-play skill is very much real for him. Respect the ARROZ. Let’s get into his first game of today’s doubleheader where Rice hit a game tying three-run shot (BOMB) into the second deck and it was then a 3-3 game. Continuing his 13-game hitting streak, and remarkable one of a kind season. He never seems to stop, and I promise you if the league doesn’t know about him or fans from other fanbases they need to get a life and stop acting like they have high knowledge of baseball. If you watch this kid day after day and see the grinding, determination, leadership, clubhouse guy, attitude, and most importantly his amazing bat speed and POWER.
He finished game going 1-5
Extra Notes:
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Cruz and Bednar highly not available tonight
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Cruz has been roughed up all season in EXTRAS
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Caballero with more issues with the umpires (Not breaking a single rule by-the-way)
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Good at-bats from Grisham
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Positive Vibe on the return of Fried
Tonight the Yankees will look to win the rubber game of this three game set at 7:05 PM EST on YES.
Pitching Matchup: Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.77 ERA) VS. Max Fried (4-3, 3.21)
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