Judge, Trevino Eliminate Need to Panic

Panic is never a good thing. Concern can be. And, after losing 2 out of their last 3, 1 to the Toronto Blue Jays and 1 to the Tampa Bay Rays, I grew concerned, short of panic, that the Yankees might be in a must-win situation during last night's series finale with the Rays at Tropicana Field.

When Jordan Montgomery allowed 3 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, my concern grew, perhaps not to panic, but definitely to worry. Aaron Judge led off the top of the 4th with a home run, but the Rays took that run back in the bottom of the inning.

However... Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you, especially the leadoff variety. And Giancarlo Stanton led off the top of the 6th by drawing a walk. Josh Donaldson struck out, but Matt Carpenter singled. Isiah Kiner-Falefa struck out. And when Jose Trevino hit a grounder to short, I figured that was another blown chance. But Rays shortstop Taylor Walls threw it away, and it was 4-2.

Montgomery got threw the 6th. Judge hit another homer to lead off the 7th, and it was 4-3. Clarke Schmidt pitched a scoreless 7th. And you know how I feel about walks: IKF led off the top of the 8th with one, and Trevino hit a home run to give the Yankees the lead.

Michael King pitched a scoreless 8, and Clay Holmes a scoreless 9th. Yankees 5, Rays 4. WP: Schmidt (4-2). SV: Holmes (12). LP: Ralph Garza (0-2). See? There was no need to panic.

The Yankees now lead the American League Eastern Division by 12 games over the Jays, 12 1/2 over the Boston Red Sox, and 14 over the Rays. The Magic Number to clinch the Division is 80.

Tonight, the Yankees come home, and begin a 4-game weekend series against another team they may face in the Playoffs, having done so 3 times in the last 7 seasons, losing all of them: The Houston Astros, the Cheats, the Red Sox of the South. Here are the projected starting pitchers:

* Tonight, 7:05: Jameson Taillon vs. Framber Valdez.

* Tomorrow, 7:05: Luis Severino vs. Justin Verlander.

* Saturday, 1:05: Gerrit Cole vs. Christian Javier.

* Sunday, 1:35: Nestor Cortes vs. Jose Irquidy.

Come on you Pinstripes!