Bronx, N.Y., Memorial Day, May 25, 2015; Yankees 14, Royals 1 — A huge weight was lifted from the Yankee organization, its players, and the fans on Monday, Memorial Day, when the team broke out of a dreadful slump by pounding the visiting KC Royals, 14-1. They had lost two of three to KC a week before on a 2-7 road trip, only to drop three straight at home to the lowly (recently, anyway) Texas Rangers upon their return. This last series had featured back-to-back third innings where they surrendered seven runs and 10 runs, respectively.

So no one in the Bronx was shedding a tear for the AL-leading Royals and starter Jeremy Guthrie as the Bombers pounded out an 8-0 lead after one, which became 11-0 three batters into the second inning. Guthrie was removed at that point, having recorded three outs and thrown 61 pitches. He also walked two and hit a batter. But not only had he allowed 11 runs; he did it all on four home runs, not one of them a cheapie. And three of those had come off bats largely blamed by the fanbase for the current malaise in the Bronx: Chase Headley and Brian McCann had batting averages hovering in the .230s when they connected, and Stephen Drew was looking up from 50 points further submerged when he finished off the early onslaught by lofting a fly to deep right after fouling off four pitches in a row.

There will, of course, be lamentations that the team wasted so many runs they could have used in losses throughout the last week, and in the days that follow, as the Royals are in for two more, and then there’s an impending West Coast trip. After a stumble out of the gate, the Yanks had played inspired ball for weeks, spurred on by a dynamite bullpen and unexpected power from veterans Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez, and Diamondbacks and Mets retread Chris Young. But with contributions few and far between from other recent acquisitions, Sunday’s loss had dropped them all the way back to a .500 record.

But disappointing acquisitions, whether through trade for the last 100 years and more, and free agent signings in more recent history, come with the territory. On this day in 1992, a Yankee team no one looks back at with nostalgia came to bat in the eighth inning down three runs to the Milwaukee Brewers, only to plate the first nine players they sent up to bat. This 13-7 winning rally was crowned by a grand slam home run by free agent signee Danny Tartabull, an outfielder/DH who could easily serve as the poster man for disappointing acquisitions.

Things did not markedly improve with Tartabull and the Yankees following that game, and there is no guarantee they will with Headley, or McCann, or Drew in 2015 either. Hard-throwing righthander Nate Eovaldi handled today’s largesse well, and at 4-1, could be a recent pickup good for the long haul. But he cost two decent players in trade, he imploded with a four-run lead his last time out, and there’s no guarantee that his Yankee story will end well, even if his Monday did.

With very little pressure, Nate pitched into the eighth, pounding the zone to a 76/27 strikes/balls ratio. He allowed eight hits and one run, threw 19 of 31 first-pitch strikes, got 15 swings and misses, even if he only struck out four. The only walk he allowed preceded the rallies his team provided. The offensive numbers were gaudier. Combined with a Headley rbi double and a seventh-inning home run from rookie center fielder Slade Heathcott — his first in his third big-league game — the Yanks hit three home runs for three runs apiece, and two more that plated two. Nine different players scored.

If it was a fan’s dream, it was a scorer’s nightmare. The Royals used five pitchers, the Yanks just two, but each side not only employed 12 position players; those 24 moved around to at one time or another cover 32 positions. Yankee reserve Garrett Jones filled the most roles, starting in right field, only to shift to first base in the seventh, and back to right in the ninth. Three Yankees manned first base.

Doubtless, the team that takes the field tomorrow night will not duplicate the fireworks used to celebrate Memorial Day on as glorious a Monday as we have seen this year. But they scored nine Friday, five Saturday, 14 today, while delivering three hits and no runs in the final eight innings of Sunday night’s loss.

But this win did not just represent one day among many that a veteran team earned their daily bread, so to speak. They also saw their last two runs plated by a rookie center fielder who seems to be showing he’s ready to claim a spot on the varsity. Heathcott has not looked overwhelmed in Yankee Stadium center field, hallowed ground we were reminded as the great Bernie Williams had his number retired last night. Slade has collected five hits in three games, scored three times, and had his first two rbi’s.

And today we had the debut of lefthander Jacob Lindgren, a 2014 No. 1 draft pick who has sped through the minors, even if he had a tough time convincing Stadium staff upon his arrival that he was, indeed, a new Yankee player. Jacob’s getting acquainted with the Stadium mound wasn’t a totally smooth ride either. He walked his second batter, and another in the ninth inning. Four of his first six pitches were off the plate. But he got a double play to escape the eighth, struck out two batters swinging on eight pitches in the ninth, and survived his baptism of fire.

Teams win and lose close ones; they are pummeled in ugly debacles; administer a few of the same. They fashion winning streaks; struggle to put an end to strings of losses. Players move on and retire; new ones take their places, sometimes ones new to the bigs. Maybe they have an infielder, perhaps a pitcher waiting in the wings.

Nothing new here. It’s the ebb and flow. It’s the baseball season.

BTW,TYW
YANKEE BASEBALL!!!