Yankees Win 9th Straight, Ready for Big Test In Toronto

Two weeks ago, we were worried that the Yankees would be a .500 team all season long.

Look at them now.

Yesterday, they closed their visit to Kansas City in fine fashion. They haven't gotten the job done spectacularly, but they have gotten it done.

The game was bookended by home runs from Aaron Judge, one in the 1st inning, and one in the 9th. Luis Severino was a little shaky, allowing 4 runs in 5 innings, and would not be the pitcher of record. But the bullpen -- Clarke Schmidt, Lucas Luetge, Michael King and Aroldis Chapman -- pitched 4 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits and just 1 walk (Chapman, naturally).

With 1 out in the top of the 5th, and the Yankees trailing the Royals 4-1, Miguel Andújar, healthy for once, singled. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, whose bat we were so worried about, doubled him home, and is now batting .303. Kyle Higashioka flew out, but DJ LeMahieu singled IKF home, and the Yankees were within 4-3.

But what really killed the Royals was a pair of walks in the top of the 7th, one of them the leadoff variety. As if I haven't warned about such before. And it was IFK who drew that leadoff walk. Anthony Rizzo was hit with a pitch. LeMahieu drew the other walk. Judge grounded back to new pitcher Scott Barlow, but his only play was to 1st, and the game was died. Josh Donaldson grounded to short, but the only play was to 2nd, and it was 5-4 Yankees.

Judge's homer in the 9th made the final score Yankees 6, Royals 4. WP: Schmidt (2-2). SV: Chapman (6). LP: Dylan Coleman (0-1).

Tell me, Ed Rooney, how many consecutive times have the Yankees now won?

More than that, the Yankees are now 16-6. That's the best record in baseball. The Mets, for all their hype, are 16-7. In the American League Eastern Division, the Yankees lead the Toronto Blue Jays by a game and a half (2 in the loss column), the Tampa Bay Rays by 4, the Boston Red Sox by 7 1/2, and the Baltimore Orioles by 8.

I know, I know: It's early. And now, the roadtrip continues to Toronto, and they have to play those pesky Blue Jays. To refresh your memory, they've already played the Jays once this season, at home: A 3-0 loss, a 4-0 win, a 6-4 loss, and a 3-0 win. So the much-hyped Jays are not afraid of the Yankees. This will be a big test for the Bronx Bombers.

Perhaps it's time to make them afraid. Tonight, Jordan Montgomery starts against Ross Stripling. Sounds like the name of a comic book villain.