Hicks' Stick Jacks Yanks

Those of you familiar with Hollywood history will recognize my headline as a takeoff of the July 17, 1935 headline the trade paper Variety used to describe the refusal of rural people to watch rural movies: "STIX NIX HICK PIX." (Usually, but incorrectly, listed as, "STIX NIX HIX PIX.")

The injury to Jacoby Ellsbury has been a blessing in disguise, as Aaron Hicks has come into his own. Last night, in the opener of a home series with the Baltimore Orioles, he hit a home run in the bottom of the 6th inning, becoming the 1st player to hit one into the section of the right field bleachers set up for that other Aaron, "Judge's Chambers." It gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

He hit another homer in the 7th. He now has 10 dingers on the year. My autocorrect tried to make that "has 10 fingers on the year." Well, I should hope so!

Rookie Jordan Montgomery may be a real find for the mound, as he got the job done once again: 7 innings, 2 runs on 5 hits, with 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. Tyler Clippard and Jonathan Holder each pitched a scoreless inning.

Starlin Castro also hit a home run last night. Like Hicks, he now has 10 on the season. Yankees 8, Orioles 2. WP: Montgomery (4-4). No save. LP: Dylan Bundy (6-5).

The series continues tonight. Luis Severino starts against Chris Tillman.