Game 146 / 80-66 / 2nd / – 4.5 GB : The most important six game stretch the Yankees have played since the 2012 season began tonight before a sellout house in Queens, and it didn’t end well. The stress-free Mets were playing with house money, and punched their big brothers in the throat — just because. The outcome was a 5-1 Mets victory and a Yankee squad both in trouble and exposed. They not only lost ground to Blue Jays (-4.5GB), on much less pressing matter, they’ve lost 8 out of their last 12 to Mets. Unless things turn around immediately, the Wild Card play-in slot is looking like their only hope of post-season play, where the fading Yankees have a 4 game lead to protect with 16 to play.
Here’s the box score, full recap, and video highlights.
Mets 5, Yanks 1
And This Was That
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- Ace Mistakes The two, ultimate back-breaking long balls given up by Masahiro Tanaka tonight brings his home runs allowed total to 24 in 23 starts. But this loss cannot be blamed on the starter, as the offense failed to deliver early on, and didn’t threaten again until loading the bags in the 9th with one out, but stalled yet again.
- Missing Tex A healthy Mark Teixeira would be making a difference in outcome of these games and the AL East standings. It hurts even more when key guys go into extended slumps (like Ellsbury) down the stretch.
- Shreve Not Right The lights out lefty out of the ‘pen that amazed and excited Yankee fans for months has lost the plot completely. Noted for rarely if ever giving up the long ball, it’s become a habit now and we’ve probably seen the last of him in tight situations for the remainder of this season, wherever that road leads.
- Bragging Rights In the all-time head-to-head record since the inception of inter-league play in 1997 (and not counting the old Mayor’s Trophy Games), tonight was the 102nd time the cross-town rivals met, with the boys from The Bronx now holding a 58-44 edge.
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“They’ve been swinging the bat we well as anyone since August 1. They’ve added young pitching that is very talented the first time we saw them. I know Matz wasn’t here. I don’t think Syndergaard was with them yet. So, I mean, they’ve gotten better. That’s what they have. And I think that’s reflected in their record. … Obviously, you’re in New York City, so these games are important. But you pile on (the fact that) we’ve got 17 games left, we’re three back in the loss column, we’re trying to win your division. These games are extremely important.” ‐ Joe Girardi on the Mets (h/t: Chad Jennings/LoHud)
MEMORY LANE : On today’s date in 1965, Mickey Mantle gets his 2,000th career hit and his 450th home run as the Yankees whip the Angels 6-2 to lock on to first place for good with a two percentage point lead over the idle White Sox and Orioles…
Today in 1964,in front of a capacity crowd at the ballpark in The Bronx, the Yankees pay tribute to Mickey Mantle in the first of three special days held in his honor. Prior to appearing in his 2000th career game, ‘The Mick’ tells the fans that he hoped to play another 15 years, but in reality will play his last major league contest in 1968…
On September 17, 2014, Brandon McCarthy throws nine pitches, has nine strikes, and records three outs, retiring Wil Myers, Nick Franklin, and Matt Joyce in the seventh inning of the Yankees’ 3-2 victory over Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field. The 31 year-old right-hander pitches the fifth ‘Immaculate Inning’ in franchise history, joining Al Downing (1967), Ron Guidry (1984), A.J. Burnett (2009), and Ivan Nova (2013) in accomplishing the feat.
(h/t: NationalPastime.com, Baseball-Reference.com, Today in Baseball History)
FOOTNOTES : Michael Pineda takes the mound tomorrow in an afternoon tilt against the fireballing Noah Syndergaard. Big Mike has to turn in a big performance, and the bats have to wake up. It’s getting’ late, and it ain’t early…
