Bronx, N.Y., September 1, 2018; Yankees 2, Detroit 1 — Masahiro Tanaka tossed a beauty in a 2-1 win over Detroit in the Bronx Saturday, one that could have been a shutout but for some early bad luck, or a loss if he didn’t make a dazzling escape from a dangerous seventh inning late. This was done in front of a big crowd in pleasant temps, though not under sunny skies. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., August 19, 2018; Yankees 10, Toronto 2 — The Yankees literally drove the Blue Jays from the Bronx Sunday afternoon with a 10-2 thrashing, built largely on a six-run first, with struggling first sacker Greg Bird punctuating the frame with a no-doubt-about-it grand slam 10 feet or so inside the right field foul pole. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., August 18, 2018; Yankees 11, Toronto 6 — Following two straight games where the Yanks fell behind by multiple runs in the first inning (one loss, one win), Luis Severino and his mates took no prisoners Saturday afternoon in sweltering Yankee Stadium, pounding their way to an 8-0 lead by scoring in each of the first five innings. Didi Gregorius got the place rocking with a two-run first-inning jolt, and the rout was on. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., August 12, 2018; Yankees 7, Texas 2 — It’s a habit I could learn to like. For the second straight day Yankee power hitter Giancarlo Stanton drilled a first-inning home run to give the Yanks an early 1-0 lead. It felt like it eased the burden on CC Sabathia, who, despite throwing six shutout innings with seven strike outs and just one hit, labored in this one early. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., August 11, 2018; Yankees 5, Texas 3 — This is a timeline of an ugly, tense, terrifying, but ultimately terrific, day. I entered Yankee Stadium at noon despite rain prediction percentages hovering near the exit velocity of an Aaron Judge-struck ball. The infield was covered, but the grounds crew removed it, smoothing the dirt and laying the foul lines in time for a 1:10 Lance Lynn first pitch. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 29, 2018; Yankees 6, Kansas City 3 — Yankee land was abuzz Sunday afternoon when newly acquired lefty J.A. Happ took the mound in the Stadium to face the Kansas City Royals in the last of a four-game set. Things started well, as he coaxed the first two of his eight ground ball outs to start the first. But things took a momentary turn when DH Salvador Perez — a thorn in the Yankees’ side all weekend — lined a 1-0 pitch into left field for a one-base hit. Had shortstop Didi Gregorius timed his jump better, he may have snagged it, but this was a clean single, the first hit Happ surrendered in pinstripes. But fear not; the next Kansas City hit led off the sixth inning. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 21, 2018; Yankees 7, NY Mets 6 — After leading the visiting Mets for much of the game in the Stadium Saturday afternoon, the Yankees held on for a white-knuckles win thanks to two ground balls served up by Chasen Shreve. The lefty saved (his first of the year) the home team once closer Aroldis Chapman could not throw strikes, missing the zone 16 of 19 times. But the team was able to hold on “du” to huge offensive games from right field and third base. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 4, 2018; Yankees 6, Atlanta 2 — Word has been out that the Braves broadcasters have been droning on about cheap home runs to Yankee Stadium’s short right field porch (though Acuna, Jr. hit one there to beat the Yanks Monday). Chirp no more, broadcasters. Giancarlo Stanton, thankfully, put that complaint to rest in the Bombers’ 6-2 victory Wednesday afternoon. Continue reading →