Judge’s 2 HR’s Power Yanks, But King Blows Out Elbow. NY 7 Baltimore 6

Aaron Judge hit 2 homers and drove in 4 runs to lead the Yankees to the 7-6 victory, but Michael King blew out his elbow and had to leave the game in the 8th. He is gone for the year. So it was a win, and devastating loss for the Yankees.

It was a somber Yankee dressing room after the victory, and a somber Yankee Twitter as NY has lost King — its ace setup man, who has been instrumental in the team’s 65-30 record so far in the season.

On a hot Friday night in Baltimore — temperatures in the upper 80’s after a 98-degree day in the middle of a heat wave.

1. Judge Homer Gives Yanks 3-0 Lead

Jameson Taillon was pitching for the Yanks and NY gave him 3 runs in the top of the 3rd when with 2 outs, Joey Gallo walked, DJ LeMahieu singled, and Aaron Judge hit a shot into the left-field seats (over the left field wall that has been pushed back this year). NY 3 Baltimore 0.

2. Taillon Yanked in 3rd

But Jameson Taillon gave most of it right back in the bottom of the 3rd — a leadoff single by Ramon Urias, double by Jorge Mateo for a run, double by Cedric Mullins and it was 3-2 NY just like that.

Taillon got the next two outs — a strikeout and a groundout — but then a single by Anthony Santander and walk to Ryan Mountcastle and Taillon was Yanked.

Manager Aaron Boone explained why the quick hook: “I think the start before the break, which obviously was very good —  was a lot closer to the previous 4 or 5, when mistakes killed him — it was a handful in the game, which was enough — and when they hit in the seats that kind of wrecked some of his line,” Boone continued: “Tonite was a struggle, tonite was a grind. He didn’t have his command. He was uncharacteristically walking guys. So I view this as a lot different to the month prior to that last outing.”

Taillon explained his start: “It was kind of weird. Control is a definitely been something I’ve been going through; good games and bad games.” He blamed the poor start on “2-strike hits, 2-strike walks, getting into good counts and then not making the right pitch to put them away, and then when I get back in the zone it was getting hit, or staying out of the zone and walking guys. Just taking advantage of those 2-strike counts.”

3. Luetge Gets the Yanks Through

Lucas Luetge came in for Taillon and pitched 2.1 innings of shutout ball, striking out 3 — getting the Yankees through to the backend of the bullpen.

4. Judge MONSTER Bash Gives NY 5-2 Lead

And the Yankees continued to add to the lead. Back-to-back doubles by Josh Donaldson and Jose Trevino plated a run in the top of the 4th, and Aaron Judge hit a MONSTER shot (465 feet) to center for a 5-2 lead in the 5th.

4. Gallo Homer Gives Yanks 7-3 Lead

Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled in a run in the 6th and Joey Gallo hit a 413-foot bomb to center in the 7th and NY was cruising with a 7-3 lead.

5. Chapman “Is Back”; Gives Almost All Of It Back

But Aroldis Chapman gave it almost all back in the bottom of the 7th — a leadoff single by Cedric Mullins and walk to Trey Mancini in between a strikeout of Adley Rutschman started the inning, and then Anthony Santander hit a 424-foot bomb to left for a 7-6 game.

Chapman was YANKED, in favor of Michael King who got the final two outs on groundouts.

Despite the poor performance, manager Aaron Boone raved about Chapman afterwards. “I think he’s back,” said Boone. “First 8 pitches were strikes. The velo is there. Mullins hits not a terrible pitch — 101 sinker, strike where he wants. First guy gets on. But I’m encouraged by it because he has his fastball back to some degree. Now we just have to build some successes and get his confidence back so that he’s that guy out there.”

6. King Blows Out Elbow

But the night came to a shuttering horror when Michael King came back for the 8th, got the first batter to foul out, but then blew out his elbow in pitching to Ramon Urias — immediately signaling to the dugout something was really wrong. He is gone for the year.

7. Holmes for the Save

Clay Holmes came in to get the last 2 outs of the 8th, and retire the side in the 9th (strikeout, single, strikeout, groundout) for the old ballgame.

Etcetera

While the Yankee game was going on, word came over the Twitter wire that the Red Sox were losing 25-3 to Toronto in the 5th inning, highlighted by this play of yet another Red Sox outfielder — this time Jarren Duran — losing the ball in the lights at Fenway and the ball dropping 30 feet behind him — just like in last week’s game against the Yankees, the “Arroyo can’t see it!!!” play. Duran’s mistake caused an inside-the-park homerun.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401355621

2 Comments

  1. The loss of King is Devastating. Hopefully Loaisiga and Chapman get back in form. They are going to need them now. Also Clarke Schmidt. If those guys pitch well you may not need a trade.

  2. Devastating loss of Michael King. Hopefully Yanks get Loaisiga and Chapman pitching well again to off set it. They need them bad now. Also Clarke Schmidt.

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