Finally, a 4-run eighth ices the game, in 2015 fashion. Timely hitting, going with the pitch, good baserunning: this is the first time that they’ve put it all together in one inning. And without a dinger.
The palpable sigh of relief out of the way, let’s get down to particulars.
First, starting pitching. I take Sanchez and Happ over Tanaka and Pineda every time. Better command, more confidence, more businesslike, not easily flustered. The numbers for all four starts so far in this series are about equivalent, but there was an awful lot of huffing and puffing and nibbling on the part of the Yankee starters. Eovaldi’s up tonight against Stroman. We know we’ll get the same kind of proficiency from Stroman, but will Eovaldi up the ante on his staffmates?
I for one was sorry to see Happ go after 2014, and glad to see him come back this year. Not for me the indignant rejection of “oh yeah, lose Price and get Happ and Estrada, way to go, guys.” Happ’s a worker and a pro, and was never supposed to supplant Price, for one, but he’s a solid and valuable middle of the rotation guy, and a lefty who throws hard to boot.
Staying with the pitching, Gibbie’s got more nerve than I do for running Cecil out there again in the seventh with a two-run lead, but kudos to him for it. It was an outing Cecil needed, and probably best to come back to back with the Tuesday night flop. Despite Texeira’s homer, Storen looks really strong, and what can I say about Venditte? He’s fascinating, of course, but also damned effective. I love that he has to warm up both sides in the bullpen—of course he does, but who even considered that part of it? Quite a treat for the bullpen catchers, I imagine.
Crisp defence this time, one good double play turned, a gift unassisted double play adroitly handled by Smoak, and some notable good throws from the outfield to take away the extra base.
And now the big story of the night, an offence led—wait for it—by none other than Ryan Goins! Ask me if I’m surprised. Two doubles, a single, two ribbies, and a nervy dash to third on a grounder to short by Pillar, that let him score on a Donaldson double-play ball. Interestingly, Bautista, who is lights out at the plate so far (may it rub off on the rest of the team) matched Goins’ dash in the eighth after his double, moving up on Edwin’s grounder to third. With only one out, this let Tulo relax at the plate and not worry about a base hit, so of course he hit an rbi single to right with the pressure off. With all the thunder in the lineup, it’s funny how little things like taking the extra base can make all the difference.
Final notes: on the basis of these two games, I think ARod is done—slow bat, easily fooled, not pulling the ball. In fact, he looks like he did last September here in the big 3-game series, out of gas. He’s going to be a liability, I think, to the lineup for the Yankees, by being nailed to the DH spot, keeping other good bench guys from getting some swings.
Let’s end with Ryan Goins: If he keeps playing like he has so far, what do the Jays do when Travis is ready? Travis is an every day player, but I don’t see him replacing Goins. Too good to sit on the bench, do they showcase him a bit to add a needed piece for the stretch run? (Don’t get me wrong: I loved the verve Travis showed in his very good start last year, but I think Ryan Goins has developed into a winning ballplayer for this team, a real key to their prospects for the postseason.)
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