GAME 57: Didn’t we just see this movie? Like last night? After an hour and fifteen minute rain delay, and 9 innings of tightly played baseball that resulted in a 2-2 tie, the A’s batted around in the top of the 10th for a 5-2 lead. They were nice about the mugging, though, even leaving the bases loaded. The freefallin’ former Bronx Bombers submitted meekly in a 1-2-3 bottom of the 10th.
The confident Oakland Athletics came roaring into town leading the planet in every positive statistical category in baseball. The New York Yankees are teetering on the edge of being a .500 club, and heading in the wrong direction. And those story lines held. The only area of the Yankee’s game that has been consistent, is that they’ve rarely missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
The so-far serviceable, yet duct tape starting rotation and standout individual efforts (Dellin Betances) of the bullpen cannot be counted on every game. Adam Warren followed a perfect David Robertson 9th inning with a nightmare 10th. A home run, walk, ribby double and ribby single sealed the Yankees fate.
Sooner or later the Yankees offense will need to start clicking or we’re looking at a bleak summer. Forget about September. They’ve now lost 11 of the last 15 at home, and at 29-28 stand a full 5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays, in third place, no less.
The Good News
Hiroki Kuroda pitched his best game of the 2014 season. A great 6 2/3 inning effort against the current best team in the American League. 2 hits, 1 walk and one mistake pitch to Brandon Moss for a 5th inning HR — and leaving with a 2-1 lead … Welcome Back, Teixeira! If only he could pitch and bat every other spot in the order. A bloop single RBI and booming home run to deep left-center reminded everyone how sorely he’s been missed. Carlos Beltran, where are you?
Here’s the box score and and yet another read it ‘n weep recap.
MEMORY LANE: On today’s date in 1932, Lou Gehrig hits four consecutive home runs and narrowly misses a fifth in a Yankees-Athletics slugfest won by New York 20-13. Tony Lazzeri hits for the cycle, and the teams set a still-standing record for extra bases on long hits in a single game (41) … On June 3, 1937, Negro Leagues star Josh Gibson is credited with a drive that hits just two feet below the rim of Yankee Stadium, about 580 feet from home plate. It is estimated that the ball would have traveled nearly 700 feet if unimpeded … Also on June 3, 1997, the Yankees drafted Randy Choate in the 5th round of the amateur draft, who signed June 30th. (Source: Today In Baseball History)
