Third Triple Play's the Charm as Yanks Beat A's

Today is the first day of Summer. And the Major League Baseball season is now 44 percent in the books. It looked for a while like the Yankees were sure to make the Playoffs. Then, sure not to.

Now, who knows? But they are certainly making things interesting.

An improved crowd of 27,807 came out to Yankee Stadium II for yesterday's finale of the series with the Oakland Athletics. Jordan Montgomery started, and he pitched very well, getting into the 6th inning, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 6. But he would not be the winning pitcher, as the Yankees didn't hit for him. Gary Sanchez in the 1st inning and DJ LeMahieu in the 3rd each hit a 2-out double, but weren't brought home.

Then came the bottom of the 6th, with the Yankees trailing 1-0. Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you, especially the leadoff variety. Clint Frazier led off by working Sean Manaea for a walk. LeMahieu struck out, but Judge worked Manaea for another walk. Sanchez hit another double to get Frazier and Judge home. 2-1 Yankees.

Jonathan Loáisiga finished the 6th and the 7th, allowing just 1 baserunner, a walk that didn't kill anybody. Lucas Luetge pitched a scoreless 8th. Of course, Aaron Boone brought Aroldis Chapman on for the 9th. But, once again, he made things more interesting than they had to be. Remember what I said about walks? Chapman started by walking former Red Sox pain in the neck Jed Lowrie, and then walking Tony Kemp. Now, it was tying run on 2nd, potential winning run on 1st, nobody out, and Chapman not throwing enough heat.

The batter was Sean Murphy. He hit a sharp grounder to 3rd. Gio Urshela hauled it in, and stepped on 3rd base. One out. He threw to LeMahieu at 2nd. Two out, LeMahieu threw to Chris Gittens at 1st base. Three out.

It was the Yankees' 3rd triple play of the season, which had never happened before. Cliché Alert: The third time is the charm.

Ballgame over. Yankees win. Theeeeeeee Yankees win! Yankees 2, A's 1. WP: Loáisiga (7-2). SV: Chapman (16). LP: Manaea (6-3).

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So here we are, at the dawn of Summer, watching "The Summer Game." The Yankees are 38-33, for a winning percentage of .535, which works out to a record of 87-75 for a full season. That will probably be enough to make the Playoffs, but not to win the American League Eastern Division. The Boston Red Sox lead it by half a game over the Tampa Bay Rays, while the Yankees are 4 1/2 games back -- 4 games back in, Cliché Alert, the all-important loss column.

Things are improving. Sanchez has snapped out of a 2-year slump, and is getting key hits. Judge and Stanton are getting more selective at the plate: Walking more, striking out less, and realizing that not every contact made has to result in a home run, that singles are okay, too. Urshela and Brett Gardner are also hitting better.

There are still issues. With Luis Severino out for at least another month, and Corey Kluber out for probably more than that, there are still 2 holes in the starting rotation, and Jameson Taillon and Michael King have not been the answer. Chapman still puts the game at risk nearly every time, even if he gets out of it nearly every time.

LeMahieu, while not bad, hasn't been as productive as he was the preceding 6 years, the last 2 of them with the Yankees. We're going to need him to hit better. Center field is still an issue, with Aaron Hicks out for the season. But Judge is showing that he can play center, and with Frazier showing the ability to play all 3 outfield positions, maybe Judge doesn't have to be the right fielder every game.

This week, the Sox and Rays play each other, so the Yankees will get some help, if not enough help. The Yankees have today off, before beginning a home series with the Kansas City Royals tomorrow night.