Yankees Homer Early and Often vs. Chicago

Unlike the night before, there was no drama between the Yankees and the Chicago Cubs. The Yankees hit home runs the way people are said to vote in Chicago: Early and often.

In games like this, the tendency is to say that it's too easy to hit home runs in the new Yankee Stadium. But then, the opponent was the Cubs, who play in "The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field," so their fans shouldn't be the ones to do the talking.

Jordan Montgomery started for the Yankees, and pitched 7 shutout innings, allowing 5 hits, no walks, and striking out 5. And he got more than enough run support, which he is not used to. Aaron Judge has been put in the leadoff spot a few times, and, incredibly, it's worked. He was the 1st Yankee batter of this game, and he crushed a home run.

In the 4th inning, the Yankees got back-to-back jacks. Giancarlo Stanton sent a laser beam down the left-field line, and StatCast decided that it was the hardest-hit ball of the year. Then, Gleyber Torres hit one to the opposite field. It wasn't more impressive, but, given Torres' tendencies, it was more encouraging.

In the 5th, came home runs from Rizzo, another from Judge, giving him 24 on the season, and one from Anthony Rizzo against his former team. Six runs -- all on solo home runs. Some fans might have thought that wasn't a good sign, and we might lose 7-6.

Fortunately, the Yankees can score in other ways. Torres led off the 6th with a single. Aaron Hicks drew a walk. Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled Torres home. Trevino singled. Joey Gallo flew out, but it moved the runners over. And Judge just got under one, making it look like he had his 3rd homer of the game. Instead, it was a sacrifice fly, for his 48th RBI of the season.

Ron Marinaccio pitched a scoreless 8th, and Lucas Luetge a perfect 9th. Yankees 8, Cubs 0. WP: Montgomery (2-1). No save. LP: Matt Swarmer (1-1). That's 3 wins in a row, 9 of the last 10, and 36 out of 46. Despite the 7-6 start, the Yankees have played insanely good baseball.

The Toronto Blue Jays lost last night, so the Yankees now lead them by 8 1/2 games. The Tampa Bay Rays also lost last night, so the Yankees lead them by 9.

The series concludes this afternoon, although rain may be a factor. Jameson Taillon starts against Keegan Thompson.