If you're wondering why I've barely mentioned the Knicks yet, it's because I'm not a Knicks fan. I'll have something to say when the Finals ends, regardless of the result.
The struggling Yankees were set to face the hated Boston Red Sox in a 3-game weekend series at Yankee Stadium II. It would be without Aaron Judge, whose rib injury will keep him out until after the All-Star Break; without Giancarlo Stanton, still hurt; without Austin Wells, dealing with headaches; without Max Fried, still hurt; without Clarke Schmidt, still hurt; and without Gerrit Cole, whose turn in the rotation wouldn't come up until the next series.
This had all the makings of a bad weekend.
The Friday night game did nothing to dissuade those makings. Ryan Weathers had his worst start of the season, 5 runs in 6 innings. And, as is so often the case when the opposing pitcher is a former Yankee, Sonny Gray had a solid start for The Scum. Despite home runs from Ben Rice and Trent Grisham, and 3 hits from highly-touted prospect Spencer Jones, the Sox won, 5-3.
The Saturday night game got rained out, and rescheduled for the opener of a separate-admissions day-night doubleheader on Saturday, August 29.
Sometimes, an unexpected day off after a loss is a bad thing, because it lets the loss linger in your mind longer. Sometimes, it's a good thing, because it stops the opposition's momentum.
Cam Schlittler started yesterday afternoon, coming off his worst start of the season. He was a bit better this time, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and a walk over 5 2/3rds innings. The bullpen allowed just 2 baserunners, both singles, the rest of the way.
But the Yankees weren't getting it done, either. They had no baserunners in the 1st 3 innings. They loaded the bases in the 4th, and got nothing. They took a lead in the 5th, on a double by José Caballero and a single by Paul Goldschmidt, but the Sox tied it in the 6th, leading to Schlittler's replacement. A Trent Grisham double in the bottom of the inning was wasted.
With 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th, it was still 1-1. Great game if you like pitching duels, not so much if you want your team to win.
Then Cody Bellinger hit a home run. Then Amed Rosario singled. Then Rosario stole 2nd. Then Grisham singled Rosario home. Then Grisham stole 2nd. Then Anthony Volpe drew a walk. Then Jazz Chisholm hit a home run. Nice inning.
David Bednar closed it out. It wasn't a save situation, but he hadn't pitched since Monday night, so he needed the work. Final score: Yankees 6, Red Sox 1.
The Yankees are 38-26, a winning percentage of .594, thus a pace to go 96-66. Technically, they are tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for 1st place in the American League Eastern Division. Mathematically, they are .003 behind them, and 1 game behind in (Cliché Alert) the All-Important Loss Column.
Nobody else in the Division is a factor at the moment: The Toronto Blue Jays are 7 games back, the Baltimore Orioles 8, and the Sox 10 1/2. Of course, Boston's record didn't matter, because, Cliché Alert: In this rivalry, you can throw out the records.
The Yankees now go on a Midwestern roadtrip, facing the Cleveland Guardians and the Toronto Blue Jays, before coming home to face the Chicago White Sox.
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