Game 157 / 86-71 / 2nd / -5.5 GB : Both the postseason clinch celebration and the organization’s 10,000th win are on ice for at least one more night, courtesy of the Boston Red Sox. Michael Pineda was touched up for 6 first inning runs and after responding with 4 of their own in the bottom of the frame, New York bat went to sleep for the remainder.
Here’s the box score, full recap, and video highlights.
Red Sox 10, Yankees 4
“They jumped all over him…”
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- Pitching Problems Over the course of the season, the Yankees offense endured some protracted slumps. It was the pitching that kept them in contention down the stretch, but as the campaign winds down to its final games, serious cracks in the rotation are being exposed. Whether its health (Tanaka, Eovaldi), or inconsistent outings (Pineda, Nova), the club enters the post-season with a huge problem on their hands — and that’s assuming a) they get there, and b) they win the play-in game.
- Power Outage Not the time for another drought from the offense. It looked like they would bust out tonight, but allowed Rick Portcello to make adjustments after slapping him around for 4 runs in the bottom of the first. Pineda dialed it in after his terrible first inning, tossing 4 four scoreless frames, but the bats could not take advantage. With shaky pitching and no hitting, this club is set up for an early exit in October baseball.
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“There’s not alarm. Let’s make it clear: That team is playing really good baseball. That’s a different team than we saw all spring and summer, so give those guys credit. They’re playing hard…” ‐ Alex Rodriguez (h/t: Chad Jennings/LoHud)
MEMORY LANE : On today’s date in 2004, thanks to Bernie Williams‘ ninth inning two-run homer, the Yankees beat the Twins, 6-4, to clinch their seventh straight American League East Division title. It is also their 100th victory of the season, making the club only the fourth team in history (Braves 1997-99; Orioles 1969-71; A’s 1929-31) to have three consecutive 100-win seasons …
Today in 1927, Babe Ruth hit his 60th home run of the season in the eighth inning off Tom Zachary to lead the Yankees to a 4-2 victory over the Washington Senators …
On September 30th, 1947, in the first televised World Series, the Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-3 in the opening game …
Today in 1966, at Comiskey Park in the top of the ninth inning, Roger Maris, in his last at-bat as a Yankee, slams a two-run home run as a pinch-hitter, putting the club ahead of the White Sox, 5-4. As the slugger contemplates retirement, the former two-time American League MVP is stunned and embarrassed when New York trades him in the off-season to the Cardinals for utility player Charley Smith …
(h/t: NationalPastime.com, Baseball-Reference.com, Today in Baseball History)
