The “Next Man Up” Game — Aug 5, 2019: NY 9 Baltimore 6

In a season of “Next Man Up” this was the “Next Man Up” game.

Breyvic Valera — playing 2nd base, unknown a week ago, who has been with 4 Major League teams and batted over .300 with .360 OBP’s throughout his minor league career in St Louis — tripled in 2 runs to give the Yanks a 3-1 lead in the 5th.

Mike Tauchman — an unknown at the beginning of the season who also batted over .300 with .360 OBP’s throughout his minor league career in Colorado — homered in the 6th to give the Yankees a giddy 6-1 lead.

Tanaka Struggled Through, Helped by DEFENSE

Masahiro Tanaka, getting a little better each start recently to come out of the horrific funk that hit its nadir with the 12 runs against Boston 9 days ago — navigated the Baltimore lineup through 5 innings — allowing multiple extra base hits but managed to escape much damage, helped out by his defense as well — a terrific play by Didi Gregorius and Austin Romine to get Jace Peterson trying to steal home on a double steal to end the 4th, and a spectacular diving catch by Aaron Judge off the bat of right fielder Anthony Santander to end the 5th.

Boone Kept Tanaka In an Inning Too Long

Aaron Boone tried to get Tanaka through the 6th but he kept him in an inning too long — Tanaka got belted — a double, homerun by Jace Peterson, single, and double to start the inning. Tommy Kahnle came in and allowed a homerun to Baltimore leadoff batter and 2nd baseman Jonathan Villar to tie the game at 6-6. Villar ended up hitting for the cycle in this game — 4 for 5 with a single, double, triple, and home run. He is batting .267 on the season now.

Next Man Up

Top of the 8th, tie score — Mike Ford — another unknown earlier this season — hit a home run to put the Yanks ahead. And then Mike Tauchman — a stud in Yankee Universe now — followed with a 2-run home run to give the Yanks a 9-6 lead.

Former Oriole Zack Britton pitched a shutout 8th, and Aroldis Chapman walked his usual high-wire act in the 9th — although not all his fault as Didi Gregorius made an error on the game-ending grounder to put 2 runners on — forcing Chapman to strike out 1st baseman Renato Nunez to end it.

Etcetera

Brett Gardner and Austin Romine also hit home runs in this game. The Yankees set a record for most home runs hit in a season in a visiting ballpark — although some would say Camden Yards is Yankee Stadium II, as so many Yankee fans travel down to the game.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=401076425

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