Cincinnati Makes Both New York Teams See Red

Last week, the Cincinnati Reds came to New York, first to play the Mets, then an Interleague series with the Yankees. They embarrassed the Mets (who usually don't need help in embarrassing themselves), 12-0, before getting a more conventional 5-3 win, and then the Mets salvaged the finale, 9-1.

Off to The Bronx. Cam Schlittler took the mound for the Yanks on Friday night, and the only way he could have been much better is if Brian Cashman had let him. In 6 innings, he allowed no runs, 4 hits, no walks, and struck out 13 batters. But he threw 96 pitches (66 of them for strikes), and Aaron Boone is under orders.

On the other hand, the Yankees already had a 4-0 lead, thanks to 2nd-inning home runs by Jazz Chisholm and Ben Rice. So why risk their phenom any more than is necessary? Anthony Volpe added an RBI single in the 8th inning; and Jake Bird, Brent Headrick and David Bednar each pitched a hitless inning to complete the 4-hit shutout. Yankees 5, Reds 0.

Will Warren started on Saturday afternoon. He struck out the side in the top of the 1st inning. Paul Goldschmidt hit a home run in the bottom of the 1st. Things were looking good for the Yankees. 

But Warren allowed a 2-run double in the 3rd, and then came the 5th, starting with an error by the man who has been the Yankees' best player this season, Ben Rice; followed by a groundout, a double, a sacrifice fly, a walk, and a 3-run homer. Ryan Yarbrough had a rotten 8th inning, and the Reds got 4 more, looking like the Big Red Machine of the 1970s. The Yankees pulled a run back in the bottom of the 8th, but never got close. The Reds won, 10-2.

For Goldschmidt, it was his 12th home run of the year, and the 384th of his career. This meant that, on the all-time home run list, he passed Larry Walker, and tied Harold Baines. Next up, at 385, are Dwight Evans and... his own teammate, Aaron Judge, injured and stuck on 385.

Elmer Rodríguez was called back up to start the Sunday game. He got through the 1st 3 innings okay, and was given a 1-0 lead on a Rice home run. But, Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you, especially the leadoff variety. He walked the leadoff man in the top of the 4th, then got 2 strikeouts, and then allowed a single and a homer. He walked the leadoff man in the 5th, and Boone pulled him, and Tim Hill got out of the inning without more damage.

Rodríguez has made 4 major league appearances, all starts, all this season, all for the Yankees. He is 0-2, is averaging 4 1/3rd innings per start, and has a 4.76 ERA and a 1.765 ERA. He turns 23 in August. He is not ready for the major leagues. Maybe he will be, next season. But not yet.

At any rate, the Yankees left 8 men on base, the Reds tacked on another run in the 9th, and they won, 4-1. They came into New York, took 2 out of 3 from the Mets, and then did the same to the Yankees.

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Despite the bad series, the Yankees are 46-30, which is the best record in the American League, with the regular season about 47 percent complete. They lead the AL Eastern Division by 2 games, over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Toronto Blue Jays are 8 1/2 back, the Baltimore Orioles are 10 1/2 back, and the Boston Red Sox are 14 1/2 back. Cliché Alert: In the all-important loss column, the Rays trail by 1, the Jays 9, the O's 12, and the Sox 14.

Rodríguez has, rightly, been sent back down. So have Bird and backup catcher J.C. Escarra. Catcher Austin Wells has been reinstated from the Injured List. As for other notable injuries:

* Trent Grisham: Boone says he's "performing light on-field agility exercises," and, "We're really encouraged by how well he's doing." He could be back by July 1.

* Giancarlo Stanton: An MRI on June 15 showed an injury setback. He might return sometime in July, but don't expect him back before the All-Star Break.

* Max Fried: Had a bullpen session on June 19. Boone said he might resume facing hitters by the end of June, or early in July. Presumably, that means a minor-league rehab appearance. Two weeks, plus 4 minor-league starts, would put his return at around the early-to-mid-20s in July.

* Clarke Schmidt: Had a bullpen session on June 17. Boone said he is "a couple of weeks out" from facing hitters. This sounds like the same schedule as Fried.

* Aaron Judge: Will be reevaluated on July 17, which is the 1st day back after the All-Star Break. That doesn't mean he'll be reinstated that day, only that they'll check his recovery process. If he's back before August 1, I will be surprised.

* Luis Gil: Resumed throwing on June 14. Expected back in August.

The Yankees have hit the road, and begin a series against the Tigers in Detroit tonight.