A Beautiful Win. Cole Dominates. Stanton, Donaldson Hit Bombs. Yankees 6 Cubs 3

July 8, 2023 paperbacklou 2023 0

Gerrit Cole pitched masterful ball into the 8th inning, and Yankee Bombers bombed away for an easy 6-3 win over the Cubs on a hot Saturday afternoon at The Stadium.

The win broke the Yankees 3-game losing streak — something Ace Gerrit Cole has done consistently this year, taking the mound 8 times after a Yankee loss and winning each time.

Giancarlo Stanton hit 2 homers — one a MISSILE that hit the upper deck facade in left 447 feet away at 118 MPH to give NY a 1-0 lead in the 1st; the other one that hit the foul pole just over the right-field short porch in the 5th — in fact was originally called a triple off the top of the wall then on replay was turned into a 2-run homer, giving NY a 6-1 lead.

Josh Donaldson also hit a Rain Maker to left in the 2nd, making it 2-0 at the time.

“Everyone I thought did a good job and made it hard on (Cubs starter Drew) Smyly,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards. “Pitch count high; good tough at bats; even had an opportunity to score more there. Any time you can hang a 6 spot up there, and you got Gerrit going, throwing the ball the way he was — good effort all around by everyone.”

NY improves to 49-41, pulling to within 7 of Tampa (who lost), still 5 behind Baltimore, but also pulling back into a tie with Toronto (who also lost).

1. Cole Tremendous

Gerrit Cole was tremendous from the start on the Hot, Saturday afternoon — game time temps at 90 degrees but on the field hotter.

He had command of his fastball and was working his other pitches. Cole motored through the first 2 innings, then allowed a run in the 3rd on a leadoff double by Miles Mastrobuoni and then two groundouts.

Cole got stingier after that — through 7 innings it was 6-1 NY and Cole had allowed only 3 hits.

Cole was at 93 pitches after 7 innings, and came out for the 8th — allowing a 1-out single and then a homerun to old friend Mike Tauchman for a 6-3 game. Because of that, Cole’s stat line wasn’t as impressive as his performance: 7.1 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs. 5 K’s, 1 walk.

He wins to go 9-2 2.85 heading into the All Star break.

The top pitchers in the American League right now are:

2. Giancarlo MISSILE Starts Off Scoring

The Yankees had just been 1-hit the night before by Jameson Taillon and so all eyes were on the Yankee offense after Cole pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 1st.

Giancarlo Stanton said “look at this” as he hit a MISSILE to left off Cubs starter Drew Smyly that banged off the top of the upper deck facade at 118 MPH.

“447 — I mean — he hit it off the facade of the upper deck,” gushed Boone afterwards. “I’ve never seen a ball go up there and to hit it 118 that high to the direct pull side. You can’t make that up. That’s as weird as it gets.”

“Giancarlo has always been one of the most uncomfortable at bats for me, when I faced him a lot in the National League,” said Gerrit Cole afterwards. “I was throwing a lot of 2-seams then, and the probability of the ball coming back up the box… you think about it. There’s not a lot you can do if he puts one 118 right back at you. As a pitcher you’re very hyper aware of that for sure.”

3. Donaldson Rain Maker Makes It 2-0 NY

The much-maligned Josh Donaldson hit a Rain Maker to left with 1 out in the bottom of the 2nd for a 2-0 NY lead.

4. Bader Knocks in 2 in 3rd

NY continued its assault on Drew Smyly in the 3rd: a 1-out single to center by Gleyber Torres, a walk to Giancarlo Stanton, and a single to center by Anthony Rizzo loaded the bases.

Harrison Bader ripped a double to left for a 4-0 NY lead.

Josh Donaldson then walked, but DJ LeMahieu grounded into a double play to end the inning without further damage.

5. Giancarlo 2-Run Dinger Off Bottom of Foul Pole in Right

The Cubs yanked Smyly after 4 and brought in Michael Rucker.

The Yanks pounced. Gleyber Torres reached on an infield single, and Giancarlo Stanton ripped a shot to opposite field right that hit off the top of the wall in the corner — ruled in play as Stanton raced to 3rd and the run scored. But the umps reviewed the play and signaled home run — the ball hit the foul pole. Yankees 6 Cubs 1.

6. King Shuts Cubs Down

Michael King entered with 1 out in the 8th of a 6-3 game after Cole allowed the 2-run homer to Tauchman.

King took care of business in the 8th with a strikeout and ground out.

In the 9th, King got a ground out and then fly out but hit Christopher Morel with a pitch. With 2 outs, Yan Gomes hit a shallow fly to center that Harrison Bader sprinted in and made a diving catch on for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401472353

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