Clarke Schmidt as the starting pitcher? Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton still hurt? Oswald Peraza and the newly-reactivated Harrison Bader both injured during the game? The offense still weak? The Cleveland Guardians being a Playoff team from last season? It all seemed to add up to another Yankee defeat.
It didn't. Schmidt got into the 5th inning, allowing only 2 runs, neither of them earned, both in the 1st inning, and he calmed down from there. With a day off today, Aaron Boone knew he could use whoever he wanted out of the bullpen, and they'd get rest today. Ian Hamilton finished the 5th, and pitched the 6th. Jimmy Cordero pitched the 7th. Ron Marinaccio pitched the 8th. No further runs scored.
The Yankees tied the game in the 5th. Willie Calhoun hit a home run for the 2nd game in a row. He's now batting .250, after batting only half that a week ago. And the newly-called-up Jake Bauers homered as well.
Marinaccio got the 1st 2 outs in the 9th inning. But Boone took him out after that, and brought in Clay Holmes. This was an incredibly stupid thing to do: Holmes allowed a double and a single, giving the Guardians a 3-2 lead. To make matters worse, the single was a looper, and 3 Yankees came together to try to catch it, and none did. It was a Mets-type play.
To make matters worse still, 2 of those Yankees, center fielder Bader and left fielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa collided. Bader was hurt, and had to leave the game. IKF was able to stay in, and moved to center field. Oswaldo Cabrera moved in to left field.
Guardians manager Terry Francona, our old nemesis from the Boston Red Sox, brought in his closer, Emmanuel Clase. But the Yankees didn't give up. Anthony Rizzo led off with a single, and Boone pinch-ran Peraza for him. Peraza stole 2nd, but he hurt his ankle in the attempt. Aaron Hicks was sent in to pinch-run for him. After DJ LeMahieu grounded out, Calhoun singled Hicks home to tie the game. But Cabrera grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Albert Abreu, who has been less than reliable, was brought in to pitch the 10th inning. He struck out the leadoff batter, then intentionally walked the next one, to set up an inning-ending double play. It worked, and that stranded the "ghost runner."
So, with the walk being intentional, perhaps we can avoid the Cliché Alert. No, we can't: Bauers was the leadoff hitter for the Yanks in the bottom of the 10th, and Guardians reliever Trevor Stephan walked him. IKF bunted him and ghost runner Cabrera over. And Jose Trevino singled Cabrera home with the winning run. Commissioner Rob Manfred's stupid rule worked in the Yankees' favor this time.
Yankees 4, Guardians 3. WP: Abreu (1-0). No save. LP: Stephan (1-1).
After the game, Boone said that Bader would undergo some tests on his head and neck area but appeared to be in "good spirits, laughing in the training room." He also said that Peraza would undergo X-rays, and did not know if the rookie would need a stint on the Injured List.
As I said, the Yankees have today off. Tomorrow night, they start their first big series of the year, away to the Tampa Bay Rays. Here's the schedule, and the projected starting pitchers:
* Friday, first pitch at 6:40 PM: Jhony Brito vs. Yonny Chirinos.
* Saturday, 4:10: Domingo Germán vs. Drew Rasmussen.
* Sunday, 1:40: Gerrit Cole vs. Josh Fleming.
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