The Kiner-Falefa Show, Part 2. Hits GRAND SLAM. NY 7 Minnesota 1

September 8, 2022 paperbacklou 2022 0

After Isiah Kiner-Falefa small-ball drove the Yankees to a win in the 1st game of a double header, Falefa hit a Grand Slam in the 2nd game, to erase a 1-0 deficit and give NY a 4-1 lead en route to a 7-1 victory.

The slam in the 4th inning gave Gerrit Cole all he needed to win — but Cole was quite spectacular himself, striking out 14 batters in 6.2 innings of 1-run ball.

Lucas Luetge finished up and Aaron Hicks put “a spike” in Minnesota’s hopes with a bases-clearing double in the 8th.

“I was actually just trying to get the job done, hit a pop fly somewhere,” said Kiner-Falefa afterwards. “and I just got a good pitch to hit, and off the bat I knew it right away.”

The doubleheader sweep at Yankee Stadium on a Wednesday afternoon/evening put NY back up by 5 games over Tampa, 6.5 over Toronto, and 11 over Baltimore. The Yanks are now 83-54. Minnesota falls to 68-67, in 2nd place, 2 games back of Cleveland and tied with the White Sox.

1. Cole Dominant

Cole was dominant all evening — except the 3rd, when, after striking out the 1st two batters, he allowed a solo homer to Carlos Correa and then a walk and a single, before striking out Gio Ushela to end the frame.

After that he mowed down the Twins — striking out 14 in 6.2 innings.

“I thought his stuff was really good,” said manager Aaron Boone of Cole afterwards. “What impressed me though is that he got in the 60’s in the 3rd inning — they really made him work in that 3rd inning — and to be able to almost complete 7 for us, obviously in a game that we’re thin back there (due to the bullpen being worked in the 12-inning 1st game) — it was just what we needed.”

2. Falefa Grand Slam

The Twins started Joe Ryan, who came in at 10-7 3.88. Ryan pitched well the 1st time through the Yankee lineup, but in the bottom of the 4th, Gleyber Torres led off with a walk, Oswaldo Cabrera singled, and after a Jose Trevino strike out, Marwin Gonzalez walked to load the bases.

That brought up the hero of the 1st game — Isiah Kiner-Falefa; and he became the hero of the 2nd game by JACKING one to right for a Grand Slam and 4-1 Yankee lead.

3. Hicks Puts the Dagger In

Austin Davis pitched the 8th for Minnesota — and got the first 2 outs before walking Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Estevan Florial, and Oswald Peraza to load the bases. Aaron Hicks then ripped a line drive down the line in left to clear them and give NY a 7-1 lead.

4. Luetge Finishes Up

Lucas Luetge got the final out of the 7th, and pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401356256

 

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