Yanks Blow Another Save; Hang on with Fingernails in 10th; NY 7 Chisox 5 in 10

August 15, 2021 paperbacklou 2021 0

Albert Abreu came in to save the bullpen and the hearts of Yankee universe, getting a lineout and groundout with bases loaded and 1 out in the 10th, to give the Yankees a 7-5 win over the White Sox in 10 innings. Abreu also saved Zack Britton, who was in process of blowing up another save — coming into the inning with a 7-4 lead.

Chad Green had already blown a save in the 9th, coming in with a 5-4 lead off an Aaron Judge homer in the 8th, but allowing a 1-out homer to Chicago’s Jose Abreu to tie it at 5-5 and crush yet again the hearts of Yankee fans.

As Yankee fan David Alan put it: “Anyone else feel like they are in a toxic relationship with the Yankees. I just can’t…”

18th Blown Save on Season; 11 (Eleven) Since All Star Break

As Yankee fan David Alan also pointed out it was “the Yankees 18th blown lead in the ninth-inning this season.”

According to New York Yankees Stats, “the Yankees have 11 blown saves since the All-Star break. That’s the most in MLB.”

Gallo and Judge Hitting Stars

Almost lost in the bullpen calamity was that Joey Gallo hit two HUGE homers in the game — the later one coming in the top of the 10th to seemingly put the game away and give NY a 7-4 lead.

And Aaron Judge was HUGE in this game — continuing his recent red-hot streak — with:

  • a Huge single in the 10th to put the Yanks up 5-4 (the game winner),
  • a Huge homer in the 8th to put the Yanks up 4-3,
  • an RBI double in the 3rd to put the Yanks up 3-2 at the time, and
  • a sac fly in the 1st to put the Yanks up 1-0 at the time.

1. Britton Blowing It Up

As stated above, Britton didn’t just almost blow the save, he almost blew it up. Before the game, Bryan Hoch reported that ‘Zack Britton said that he spoke with Aaron Boone after the game in Iowa and told him that “I don’t deserve to be out there” in save opportunities right now. Britton said that it was tough to swallow his pride but he believes other pitchers deserve those spots.’

That made manager Aaron Boone‘s decision to bring Britton in for the 10th all the more curious — although he’d already used much of the Yankee bullpen by then — with Lucas Luetge, Jonathan Loaisiga, Wandy Peralta, and Chad Green having already pitched.

Britton came in with an inherited runner on 2nd and a 7-4 lead, and got a fly out to start, with the runner moving to 3rd. He then walked Brian Goodwin, allowed a single to Luis Robert to score the runner from 3rd and make it 7-5, and walked Andrew Vaughn to load the bases with 1 out.

As Yankee fan Gabe said at the time, “When Zack Britton requested not to save games anymore, I didn’t anticipate watching him blow a save later that day.”

2. Abreu to the Rescue

Boone pulled Britton and reached for Albert Abreu, the 25-yr-old stud fireballer who has had some trouble with command. With all of Yankee universe hearts pounding and much fingernail biting going on — Abreu got the line out then the groundout for the save and the old ballgame.

Said Aaron Judge afterwards: “A save situation, sold out crowd on the road, bases loaded, that’s not ideal for the reliever. Nine out of ten times he’s giving up some runs. He showed a lot of heart, a lot of guts and did his thing against one of the best lineups in the game.”

3. Yankees Had Early Lead

The Yanks jumped on top 2-0 in the top of the 1st off ChiSox starter Dylan Cease. DJ LeMahieu led off with a double, Brett Gardner hit a fly out to move LeMahieu to 3rd, and Aaron Judge hit a sac fly to make it 1-0. Then Joey Gallo hit a 354-foot homer to right for a 2-0 lead.

In the 3rd, up 2-1, Brett Gardner hit a 2-out triple, and Aaron Judge doubled him home to make it 3-1.

4. Taillon Started and Did Well Enough

Jameson Taillon started and did well enough — he allowed 3 runs in 5 innings against the torrid White Sox lineup. It wasn’t as a good a start as his last 7.

Staked to a 2-0 lead, Taillon allowed a single to shortstop Tim Anderson and a double to 1st baseman Jose Abreu in the bottom of the 1st to produce a run on an ensuing groundout by left fielder Eloy Jimenez.

He allowed a homer to center fielder Luis Robert in the 2nd to tie the game 2-2.

Staked to a 3-2 lead, he allowed a single to 2nd baseman Cesar Hernandez, and a double to Jose Abreu again in the 3rd; a sac fly by Jimenez tying the score.

Jose Abreu ended up 4-5 on the night — a thorn in the Yankee side. The White Sox out hit the Yankees 13 to 10.

5. Loaisiga Escapes 6th

Taillon allowed a leadoff single to Jimenez in the 6th and was gone. Lucas Luetge came in and allowed a single and a groundout, and with 2nd and 3rd, 1 out — intentionally walked Robert to load the bases.

In came Jonathan Loaisiga with the game seemingly on the line. He got Vaughn to hit a grounder to 3rd — Rougned Odor fielded and threw home to get the out. With 2 out, bases still loaded, catcher Zack Collins hit a drive to left center that had big trouble written all over it — but Brett Gardner made a nice catch at the wall for a big PHEW.

Loaisiga tweeted his thanks to Gardner after the game.

6. Judge Puts Yanks On Top in 8th

Aaron Judge looked like the game’s final hero when he hit a clutch homer to lead off the 8th and give the Yanks a 4-3 lead off Craig Kimbrel.

7. Judge RBI Single & Gallo’s Big HR for the Win

Aaron Judge got another clutch hit to lead off the 10th — a single to center to plate the inherited runner and give NY a 5-4 lead. The game winning hit (as Yanks never gave up lead after it).

Joey Gallo then hit a 424-ft homer to right for what would be the game decider.

Etcetera

  • Judge went 3 for 4 with the homer and 4 RBI’s. He is slashing 26-63-.286 (.370 OBP)
  • Gallo went 2-4 with the 2 homers and 3 RBI’s. He is slashing 28-61-.214 (.371 OBP)
  • LeMahieu went 2-4 and is batting .272
  • Brett Gardner continues to flourish as the #2 hitter in the lineup (with Judge moving back to #3). Gardner went 1-5 with 2 runs scored. He’s at .211 (.324 OBP).
  • Tyler Wade also had a terrific day; making bit plays in the field and going 1-4 with a big single in the 7th, and stealing 2nd. He is now batting  .272 (.343 OBP)

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401228813

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