Rizzo Leads Yanks to Sweep Marlins

Yes, I know, it's only the Miami Marlins, who are not a very good team. And they were without their manager, Saint Donald Arthur of Evansville, who has come down with COVID. Fortunately, only minor symptoms. 

But the Yankees took 5 out of 6 in Florida this week, and damn, does that feel good, as both a Yankee fan and a Democrat.

On Friday night, the Yankees arrived at Lancelot Park in Miami, which is really giving Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg a run for the title of dumbest-looking stadium in Florida, not to mention all of Major League Baseball.

It was the 1st game as a Yankee for Anthony Rizzo. He drew a walk in the 1st inning, grounded to 2nd base in the 3rd, hit a home run in the 6th and singled in the 8th.

It was also the 1st game as a Yankee for Joey Gallo. On an individual level, he was not successful, going 0-for-4, although he did draw a walk.

Jameson Taillon started, and pitched shutout ball into the 6th. Yankees 3, Marlins 1. WP: Taillon (7-4). SV: Aroldis Chapman (21). LP: Zach Thompson (2-4).

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On Saturday, Domingo Germán started, but only went 4 innings, allowing 2 runs. He was subsequently placed on the 10-Day Injured List with shoulder inflammation. So now, 3 of the Yankees' intended 5 starters are injured: Germán, Corey Kluber and Luis Severino. All 3 are expected to return later this month.

But the Yankee bullpen was more than up to the task. Between them, Lucas Luetge, the newly-acquired Clay Holmes, Chad Green and Jonathan Loáisiga pitched 5 scoreless innings giving up 2 hits and no walks.

Rizzo led off the top of the 2nd by being hit with a pitch. Giancarlo Stanton doubled. Roughned Odor singled Rizzo home. Gary Sánchez hit a ground rule double to score Stanton. 

The Marlins tied the game in the bottom of the 4th. Rizzo led off the top of the 5th with a single, Stanton walked, Odor moved the runners over with a flyout, and Tyler Wade was walked intentionally,  to bring up the pitcher's spot in the order. (Interleague game, National League Park, so, no designated hitter.)

Gio Urshela was sent up, to face new Marlins pitcher Anthony Bender, who was just brought in to relieve David Hess. Big mistake: Bender threw a wild pitch that scored Rizzo, making it 3-2 Yankees.

Rizzo added an insurance run by leading off the top of the 7th with a home run. Yankees 4, Marlins 2. WP: Luetge (4-1). SV: Loáisiga (3). LP: Hess (3-1).

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So the Yankees went for the sweep yesterday. But, yet again, Jordan Montgomery gave a fine performance with insufficient support. He left after 5 innings, trailing 1-0.

Holmes pitched the 6th and got the 1st 2 outs in the 7th. But he allowed a hit, and Aaron Boone brought in another new acquisition, Joely Rodríguez. He threw 1 pitch, and got an inning-ending groundout.

But it was still 1-0 Marlins, and the Yankees' season-long tendency to fail to finish a series sweep was again rearing its ugly head.

Brett Gardner led off the top of the 8th with a hit. DJ LeMahieu struck out. Stanton reached on an error. Rizzo singled home Gardner, and Aaron Judge singled home Stanton. 2-1 Yankees.

The Yankees got an insurance run on another Marlin error in the 9th, and Chapman pitched a drama-free inning. Yankees 3, Marlins 1. WP: Rodríguez (2-3, 1-0 as a Yankee). SV: Chapman (22). LP: Anthony Bass (1-6).

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So, with 58 games, over a course of 9 weeks, left in the regular season, the Yankees are 56-48. In the American League Eastern Division, they trail the Tampa Bay Rays by 7 games, 6 in the loss column. 

My usual guideline is, You should be able to gain at least 1 game per week, so if you have more weeks remaining than you are games behind, you still have a chance. On that basis, the Yankees still have a chance.

For the AL's 2nd Wild Card, the Yankees trail the Oakland Athletics by only 2 1/2 games, and only 1 in the loss column. 

With these new acquisitions, the Yankees are not only alive, they are in business.

Tonight, the Yankees return home to face the Baltimore Orioles. Come on you Pinstripes!