J.A. Happ is coming on line. Getting better. In this game — allowed only 2 hits — albiet one of them was a 3-run homer to 2nd baseman Dylan Moore in the 2nd inning, giving up most of the 4-run lead the Yanks had just given him in the top of the 2nd. But he struck out the next batter and motored on.
Motored by Ford
The Yankees’ offense was motored by Mike Ford. His 2-run homer in the 2nd followed a Gleyber Torres homer to start off the inning and an RBI single by Austin Romine. Ford’s solo homer in the 4th gave the Yanks an insurance run that they cashed in on with the 5-4 victory.
Ford kicks it into another gear. pic.twitter.com/EYyyOVinSu
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 27, 2019
A Happy Happ
Happ walked three — two in the 4th to leave runners on 2nd and 3rd before getting the final out — and developed a high pitch count, so left after 5 innings with a 5-3 lead.
Gearrin’s Odd Delivery
Aaron Boone said afterwards he almost brought Happ in for the 6th, but instead went to the bullpen — starting with newly-acquired-from-Seattle-via-waivers Cory Gearrin — he of the unusual delivery which caused a stir in the top of the 6th when he came in, as the umps said it was illegal — a balk — every time he pitched. Gearrin had apparently had this trouble earlier in the season, and been told by MLB that his delivery was ok. But this umpire in this game said it wasn’t.
Oddly enough — the ump was apparently acting on complaints from the Seattle dugout about Gearrin’s delivery. After the game, Gearrin said this seemed “convenient.”
Gearrin allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in his inauspicious debut, followed by Nestor Cortes Jr. who everyone loves because he gets outs. Cortes pitched 1.2 innings, allowing a homerun to pinch hitter Mallex Smith in the 7th to make it 5-4 Yanks, but then struck out the last 2 batters in the 7th.
Nestor Cortes Jr. breaks down his delivery (deliveries*?) in our latest Player Spotlight. Catch the full interview on our YouTube channel: https://t.co/hY4QX70HtU pic.twitter.com/jGOesGbGHA
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 27, 2019
Tommy Kahnle pitched a shutout 8th and Aroldis Chapman got a 1-2-3 9th — striking out the last 2 for ballgame.
Etcetera
J.A. Happ is now 11-8 5.57.
All the usual suspects got hits — Aaron Judge went 1 for 4. DJ LeMahieu got 2 hits to raise his average to .332; Gio Urshela got a hit and is also at .332, and should qualify in a few more games.
With the win the Yanks go up .5 games over Houston for best record in AL; and are .5 behind the Dodgers for best record overall.
Seattle pitched an opener, Matt Wisler, but 32-year-old Tommy Milone was the real ‘spot starter’, pitching 5 innings.
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