Gardner Triple Leads Comeback vs. Sox

From May 27 to June 14, 1953, the Yankees won 18 straight games. Oddly, given the 8-team structure of each League at the time, it did not include any games against the Boston Red Sox. That was the last Yankee streak as hot as this one.

Then, from June 21 to July 1, they lost 9 straight. Gil McDougald, the 3rd baseman, later said of manager Casey Stengel, "When we were winning 18 in a row, Casey was just a miserable old man, as they say. But when we lost 9 in a row, he was beautiful. And everybody said, 'Hey, let's lose a few more!'"

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Last night, Masahiro Tanaka started for the Yankees against the Red Sox, but he didn't get out of the 6th inning. Chad Green didn't pitch well in relief. The Yankees blew a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning, and 5-3 in the 5th, and trailed 6-5 going into the bottom of the 8th, despite some good relief pitching by Chasen Shreve and Jonathan Holder.

But in the bottom of the 8th, the Yankees got to Matt Barnes, pitching in relief of Rick Porcello. Neil Walker led off with a double. Miguel Andújar grounded him over to 3rd. Gleyber Torres drew a walk.

Sox manager Alex Cora then brought Craig Kimbrel on to do something he'd never done before: Get a 5-out save.

Up came Brett Gardner. He made his major league debut with the Yankees on June 30, 2008. This makes him the senior Yankee. David Robertson made his MLB debut the day before, but has left and returned, so Gardner is now the longest continuous Yankee. They are the only 2 men currently on the roster who played home games at the original Yankee Stadium.

So they know what Yankee Pride, Yankee Tradition, and the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry mean.

Gardner launched a drive to left-center. It rolled all the way to the wall, easily scoring Walker with the tying run.

I've said many times, Don't get your hopes up on Gleyber Torres. But watch Gardner's triple again, and pay special attention to Torres' slide. That shows thinking on the fly. That means his head is ready for the major leagues.

I would rather win the World Series than be right.

Torres thus scored the go-ahead run. Then, here came da Judge. Aaron Judge launched one into Monument Park.

Aroldis Chapman allowed a single to J.D. Martinez in the 9th, but otherwise struck out the side. Yankees 9, Red Sox 6th. WP: Holder (1-1). SV: Chapman (9). LP: Barnes (0-1).

Nothing like a come-from-behind win over The Scum to warm the Pinstriped heart. Especially when it puts the Yankees in sole possession of 1st place.

That's 10 straight wins, and 17 of the last 18. The Yankees have gained 8 1/2 games on the Sox in just 2 weeks. It's a bit early for a typical Boston choke, but I'll take it!

The series concludes tonight. CC Sabathia starts against Eduardo Rodriguez.