Two years ago, the Chicago White Sox lost 121 games, the most in American League history, and the most in Major League Baseball since 1899. Last season, they lost 102.
This past Tuesday night, they came into Yankee Stadium II with a record of 38-32, enough to lead the American League Central Division. The White Sox are no longer a joke. The Yankees had to take them seriously.
They did. Spencer Jones, Ben Rice, Paul Goldschmidt and José Caballero all hit home runs, in support of Gerrit Cole, who went 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 6. The Yankees won, 12-2.
Also of note: As they had done on the weekend at Fenway Park in Boston, where their national team are playing their World Cup Group Stage games, Scotland fans, "the Tartan Army," came in, wearing their full regalia, sat in the upper deck in left field, and cheered the Yankees on as if Yankee Stadium were Hampden Park in Glasgow.
On Wednesday night, World Champion Knicks Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart threw out ceremonial first balls. Carlos Rodón went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and 1 walk, striking out 7. Goldschmidt homered again, giving him 383 for his career. In this series, he has passed Albert Belle and the still-active Manny Machado, who each have 381; and Frank Howard, Jim Rice and Ryan Howard, who each have 382; and tied Larry Walker. Next up: Harold Baines with 384. At 385 are Dwight Evans and the still-active... but injured Aaron Judge. Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm also homered for the Yankees, who won, 10-5.
Yesterday afternoon saw the Yankees' best start of the series, by Ryan Weathers: 6 1/3rd innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts. But he left with the score just 1-1, as Ryan McMahon had hit a home run. In the top of the 8th inning, the bullpen blew it. Fernando Cruz started by allowing a double. Aaron Boone brought Tim Hill in, and he hit the 1st 2 batters he faced. He got a strikeout, but, having faced the minimum 3 batters, Boone didn't want to take any further chances, and brought in Camilo Doval. He completed the collective SNAFU, allowing a home run to former Yankee Andrew Benintendi. He got the last 2 outs, but it was too late.
Over the last 2 innings, the Yankees got only a single by Goldschmidt, with 1 out in the 9th. White Sox 5, Yankees 1.
Still, taking 2 out of 3 from a good team is good. The Yankees lead the AL Eastern Division by 3 games, 2 in the loss column, over the Tampa Bay Rays. At 45-28, they have the best record in the AL. The only teams in the NL with a better record are the Los Angeles Dodgers at 48-27, the Atlanta Braves at 46-27, and the Milwaukee Brewers at 45-27.
Tonight, they start a home Interleague series with the Cincinnati Reds.
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