Yankees Survive Ugly Series vs. Mets

The Yankees came awfully close to getting swept by the Mets at Citi Field this weekend. It was ugly.

How ugly was it? Almost as ugly as Trump's Big Ugly Bill.

Friday was the 4th of July, a day game in New York after a night game in Toronto. Marcus Stroman, a Yankee-turned-Met-turned-Yankee-again, came off the Injured List, and allowed 3 runs over 5 innings. Jasson Domínguez hit 2 home runs, and Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger each added 1. The Yankees led 5-3 going to the bottom of the 6th inning.

But Ian Hamilton allowed a run in that inning. And Luke Weaver allowed a 2-run homer to Jeff McNeil in the 7th. For a while, Weaver looked like he might be the next Yankee closer. But, lately, he has looked terrible. This time, he cost the Yankees the game. The Mets won, 6-5.

Carlos Rodón had nothing on Saturday afternoon, allowing 7 runs in 5 innings. Scott Effross, another back-from-injury guy, allowed 2 runs in the 7th. Jayvien Sandridge, making his Yankee debut, allowed 2 more in the 7th. JT Brubaker allowed a run in the 8th.

You know who was just barely good enough? Frankie Montas. A lousy pitcher for the Yankees in 2022, he held the Yankees off just enough to be the winning pitcher in this game. Despite home runs by Jazz Chisholm, Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe, the Yankees lost, 12-6.

The Yankees had scored 11 runs in 2 games, and lost them both. They had lost 6 in a row, and 16 out of 22, falling out of 1st place in the American League Eastern Division.

The Yankees needed Max Fried to put up the kind of performance he had been putting up. It wasn't quite that good: 3 runs in 5 innings. This time, though, the bullpen was solid, allowing 1 run over the last 4. Judge and Wells hit home runs. A key play came in the bottom of the 7th inning. Mark Leiter Jr. began the inning by hitting Francisco Lindor with a pitch. Juan Soto, who left the Yankees and their various benefits for the Mets and Steve Cohen's money, hit a line shot to left field. Bellinger made a shoestring catch, then threw back to the infield, doubling off Lindor, who has been the Mets' best hitter since arriving in 2021, and has received "MVP!" chants from Met fans the last 4 seasons. No Met has ever been named the National League's Most Valuable Player.

Bellinger's double play was crucial, and the Yankees won, 6-4, to salvage the finale.

The Yankees are 49-41. They trail the Toronto Blue Jays by 3 1/2 games. Tonight, they begin a home series against the Seattle Mariners. This will be followed by an Interleague home series with the Chicago Cubs, and then the All-Star Break.