Yankees Sweep London Series With Sox

Song sung by Arsenal fans about their North London arch-rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic":

The wanky Tottenham Hotspur went to Rome to see the Pope!
The wanky Tottenham Hotspur went to Rome to see the Pope!
The wanky Tottenham Hotspur went to Rome to see the Pope!
And this is what he said: "Fuck off!"

Depending on what your "football club" is, there are variations: "The famous Man United went to Rome... "

This past week, the famous Boston Red Sox went to London, and scored 21 runs in 2 games, and won exactly none. And they didn't even get to see the Queen. Only her grandson (Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex) and his wife (Megan Markle, Duchess of Sussex).

Having won the 1st-ever regular-season Major League Baseball game in Europe, beating the Red Sox 17-13 at the London Stadium the night before, the Yankees prepared to sweep the brief, but much-ballyhooed, 2-game MLB London Series. His initial choice to start this game, Chad Green, having pitched the night before, manager Aaron Boone decided not to risk him again, and started Stephen Tarpley, with the same idea: Pitch an inning or 2, and let the bullpen carry the team the rest of the way.

Tarpley had nothing. He gave up home runs to Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez and Christian Vazquez, and was pulled after 1 inning, with the Red Sox up 4-0. Boone brought in the much-maligned Luis Cessa, and he may have pitched his best game as a Yankee thus far, going 4 innings, allowing no runs on 4 hits and no walks. He kept the team in the game.

The Yankees had a big opportunity in the top of the 2nd, but did not make the most of it. Edwin Encarnación drew a leadoff walk. If I invoke my frequent "Cliché Alert," this leadoff walk didn't kill the Red Sox, but it did lead the way to their eventual execution.

Didi Gregorius reached on an infield single to shortstop, and Gleyber Torres drew a walk to load the bases. This should have led to a big inning. The Yankees would have a very big inning in this game, but this would not be it. Gio Urshela grounded to short, and the fielder's choice eliminated Torres but scored Encarnación. Brett Gardner hit an infield single that got Didi home. But no further runs scored.

Gary Sánchez drew a leadoff walk in the 3rd, but ended up stranded. Aaron Judge led off the 5th with a single to left, but was also stranded. It remained 4-2 Boston after 6, thanks to the pitching of Cessa and, in the 6th inning, Adam Ottavino.

Then came the top of the 7th. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, for the Yankees in London, this was their finest hour.

Sir Winston knows the Yankees

are headed for V for Victory.

DJ LeMahieu led off with a double. Judge walked. Aaron Hicks doubled home LeMahieu. Sánchez singled home Judge and Hicks. 5-4 New York.

Pitching change. No use. Encarnación walked. Gregorius struck out. Torres singled. Urshela singled home Sánchez and Encarnación. Another pitching change. No use. Gardner walked to load the bases. LeMahieu hit a ground rule double down the right-field line, scoring Torres and Urshela. Judge was intentionally walked. Hicks flew to right, the sacrifice fly scoring Gardner.

Sánchez hit a grounder to 1st, and Michael Chavis, the closest thing the Sox had to a hero the day before with 2 home runs, let it go through his legs. The late Bill Buckner came to everyone's mind. LeMahieu came to the plate and scored. Encarnación grounded into a fielder's choice to end it. But how many times did the Yankees score in the inning, Ed Rooney?

The Yankees' streak of 30 straight games with at least 1 home run was in jeopardy. Hopefully, nobody cared too much. But Gregorius hit one out in the top of the 8th, to make it 12-4 Bronx Bombers.

Then the Sox remembered that showing up was necessary. They chased highly-touted Yankee prospect Chance Adams with 4 runs, before Zack Britton had to come in and stop the bleeding. Aroldis Chapman managed to get through the 9th without making it too interesting, allowing a hit, but striking out the side.

Final score: Yankees 12, Red Sox 8. WP: Ottavino (3-2). No save, because, as with the night before, Chapman came in with a lead of 4 runs, not 3. LP: Marcus Walden (6-1).

That's 6 out of 7 against The Scum this season. As another English soccer song, to the tune of "Bread of Heaven," goes:

Can we play you
Can we play you
Can we play you every week?

Can we play you every week?

*

So, more than halfway through the season (numerically, anyway), the Yankees are 54-28, in 1st place in the American League Eastern Division, on a pace for 107 wins. They are 7 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays (8 in the loss column), and 11 ahead of the Red Sox (12). If the current standings hold to the end of the season, they would have the top seed in the American League Playoffs, and are only 2 games (1 in the loss column) behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the major leagues.

LeMahieu and Sánchez were voted by the fans onto the American League All-Star Team. Chapman was selected as a reserve. The All-Star Game will be in Cleveland, a week from this coming Tuesday night.

Here's the injury situation, in increasing order of when the players in question are expected to return:

* Domingo Germán: This week. The Yankees are planning on starting him on Wednesday night.

* Luke Voit: Probably after the All-Star Break, so, around 2 weeks. The fear that he might be out for several weeks seems to be unfounded. He could return for the Mets series, but it would probably be best to not risk him until the Break ends.

* Dellin Betances: Possibly after the All-Star Break. This would be a big boost: While the bullpen has (mostly) gotten the job done, having a fresh arm to (literally, not just mound-wise) relieve our relievers could make a huge difference.

* Ben Heller: Possibly after the All-Star Break. He is pitching to hitters at the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa.

* Jonathan Loaisiga: Possibly after the All-Star Break. He has resumed throwing, but not to hitters.

* Luis Severino: August. He had another setback, and Boone told reporters during the London Series that Severino is "90 percent healed," but he won't throw again until he is at 100 percent, which the Yankees hope would be in another week or so.

* Giancarlo Stanton: August. The Yankees' biggest trade acquisition since Alex Rodriguez, and yet they haven't needed him at all.

* Cameron Maybin: August. With his calf strain, "he is expected to miss several weeks."

* Greg Bird: August. He has reported to the Tampa complex, and "could begin on-field running soon."

* Jordan Montgomery: August. He is at the Tampa complex, but "he is not expected to resume throwing until at least July 4."

* Jake Barrett: Unknown, but I wouldn't count on him returning this season.

* Miguel Andújar: Next year's Spring Training. Boone has said that he could "resume baseball activities late this season."

* Jacoby Ellsbury: Not this season, and might never play for the Yankees, or anyone else, again.

* Troy Tulowitzki: Unknown. He has left the Tampa complex, and has gone home to Nevada to consider his future. He might never play for the Yankees, or anyone else, again.

*

The Yankees get only today off, then start a 2-game series with the Mets at Citi Field on Tuesday night, with James Paxton scheduled to start against Jason Vargas. On Wednesday night, Germán
starts against Zack Wheeler. Then it's down to Tampa Bay for 4, before the All-Star Break.