Tora! Tora! Tora! was the Japanese call for Attack! Attack! Attack! — famously used in their attack on Pearl Harbor (there was a movie by that name in the 70’s). The Yankee code signal for attacking Baltimore has been Torres! Torres! Torres! Two more homeruns last night for Gleyber Torres in Baltimore — he has now hit 10 of his 12 homeruns of the season against the Orioles.
This has caused this kind of reaction from the Balitmore announcer Gary Thorne:
BTW, the Orioles feed when Gleyber homers has become mandatory listening. pic.twitter.com/x6a0ENbf0Z
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 23, 2019
And this:
Way back, up and *Gary Thorne dies inside* I dont even know. goodbye. home run. i mean… last two at bats he's hit home runs numbers 11 and 12 on the season and now has TEN HOME RUNS against the Orioles this year" pic.twitter.com/w5jIURHlu7
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) May 23, 2019
Gleyber — who was batting in the .270’s only two weeks ago and being accused on Yankee twitter of “looking ordinary” — has been extraordinary in this current hot streak that started about a week and a half ago and has now seen his batting average rise to .302 — 11th in the American League.
Dont’ Forget About Sanchez (and Estrada and LeMahieu)
And Gary Sanchez — don’t forget about him. He has owned Baltimore pitching also — and hit a 440-foot shot in the 4th last night to make it 6-1 — his homer was sandwiched by the two Torres homers — a Torres homer in the 3rd made it 5-0; a Torres homer in the 5th made it 7-1. Gary Sanchez now has 15 homers and is tied for 3rd in the American League. He’s batting .270.
The Yankees had jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 2nd off starter Dan Straily on a blast to left by Thairo Estrada, and then taken a 4-0 lead on a homerun by DJ LeMahieu two batters later (Cameron Maybin walked in between).
Sabathia Survives the 5th
CC Sabathia meanwhile was scintillating through 4 innings; but then in the 5th completely lost it all of a sudden. A homer (by Martin), a lineout, a double, a lineout, a homer (by Nunez), a double, and a single but Severino was cut down at the plate by Brett Gardner for the 3rd out. The play was reviewed to see if Gary Sanchez had blocked the plate before receiving the ball but it was ruled he didn’t and the out stood. And the score stood at 7-5 instead of 7-6 with a runner at second and still 2 out — the play of the game. And it meant CC Sabathia had pitched 5 innings and could qualify for the win — which he did to go 3-1 on the season. After the game, Aaron Boone announced CC’s knee has been bothering him so he is headed to the Injured List (IL).
And that was it — no more scoring. The Yankee ballpen came in and threw 4 innings of shutout baseball — Tommy Kahnle, Adam Ottavino, Chad Green, and Aroldis Chapman. There was much ardor on Yankee Twitter when Chad Green got the call; everyone was wondering where Zack Britton was. Aaron Boone said afterwards that Britton was beat up and he wasn’t planning on using him. Green pitched exceptionally so it was all good. Meanwhile, the Baltimore pen matched the Yankee pen with scoreless ball. Final score 7-5.
Gardner! Gardner! Gardner!
Brett Gardner had a quiet three (3) doubles and a walk in this game, to raise his average to .226 — it had been on the interstate just last week. He also made that huge cut down of Severino at the plate in the 5th. His career is not dead yet. In fact he’s feeling much better. Luke Voit and Kendrys Morales also got hits. Morales is a very patient batter — works the count — with massive power, and Suzyn Waldman says he is a very gregarious guy — always seems happy. Clint Frazier went hitless in 5 at bats. Not to worry, it was announced before the game Giancarlo Stanton — still on rehab — was put back on the IL with an injured calf.
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