It’s the Hope That Kills Ya

Even in the darkest times, hope cuts through. Hope is the light that lifts us out of the darkness.

-- Superman (Brandon Routh), Crisis On Infinite Earths, The CW, 2019

So, last night, the Yankees gave their fans the kind of hope that maybe, just maybe, they can compete with the best teams in baseball, and win that elusive Title 28.

Like fans of English soccer teams say: "It's the hope that kills ya."

Gerrit Cole started for the Yankees against the runaway Tampa Bay Rays, in front of 46,138 at the new Yankee Stadium. Or, as Rays fans would call it, "a homestand's worth of fans."

After 5 innings, he'd allowed 2 runs, both solo home runs, by Randy Arozarena and Jose Siri, plus 3 other hits and 2 walks. Fairly typical for him, except he only struck out 4. He'd thrown 95 pitches, 63 for strikes, and was taken out. Fairly typical for Aaron Boone. Ian Hamilton pitched a scoreless 6th, and Michael King a scoreless 7th. Also typical for Boone: Wasting 2 relievers, when leaving the starter in was the right thing to do.

But, once again, the Yankee bats were not producing. The Yankees also got 2 solo homers, from Anthony Rizzo in the 1st inning, and Anthony Volpe in the 5th. Otherwise, just 2 singles and a walk over the 1st 6 innings.

But in the bottom of the 7th, singles from DJ LeMahieu, Volpe, Jake Bauers and Oswaldo Cabrera made it 4-2 Yankees.

The problem was, between Bauers and Cabrera, Jose Trevino was robbed by a great catch near the left-field line by Arozarena; and Cabrera was thrown out trying to stretch his single into a double, ending the inning. There should have been more runs.

And, wouldn't you know it, in the top of the 8th, the Rays -- accused of cheating by WFAN's Evan Roberts the day before -- the Rays led off with singles, single, home run by Josh Lowe. They led, 5-4, and King was removed for Clay Holmes, who got out of it without further damage.

But... Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you. With 1 out in the bottom of the 8th, Aaron Judge drew a walk. And Rizzo hit a drive that teased us, making us unsure of whether it would be caught or get into the seats. "It's the hope that kills ya." This time, our hopes were realized: Home run, his 2nd of the game.

Wandy Peralta gave perhaps his best performance as a Yankee: Strikeout, strikeout, single, groundout, to end it. Yankees 6, Rays 5. WP: Holmes (1-2). SV: Peralta (1). LP: Jason Adam (0-1).

Beyond any question, this game was the highlight of the Yankees' season thus far. The Yankees closed to within 8 games of the Rays. And there's 122 games left to play. Maybe they're not invincible after all. Maybe these Yankees aren't a bunch of gutless wonders.

Once again, it's the hope that kills ya. 

The series continues this afternoon. Nestor Cortés starts against Shane McClanahan.