Austin Wells Blasts Yankees to Victory. NY 10 KC 4

September 10, 2024 paperbacklou 2024 0
Austin Wells with MAMOTH 3-run HR in 7th to put NY up 7-4.

Aaron Judge got a clutch RBI single in the 7th to tie the game 4-4, and Austin Wells followed with a MAMOTH BOMB into the bleachers in right to put NY up 7-4, en route to a late-game rout of the KC Royals at Yankee Stadium on a Beautiful Monday night.

Wells also doubled in the final run of the 9th to put NY up 10-4 — a 2-hit, 4-RBI night for one of the leading contenders for AL Rookie of the Year — a catcher who is reminiscent of Thurman Munson in his upright stance, double-to-opposite-field-waiting-to-happen offense, great game-calling, and improving defense.

Carlos Rodon started for the Yanks and pitched well — 6 innings, 3 earned runs, 9 K’s — despite battling through what his wife Ashley tweeted as “a sickness from hell.”

“He’s always been able to hit,” said manager Aaron Boone about Wells afterwards. “This is a guy who was drafted because he’s a really good hitter. Ironically it was the defense that came first at this level, in my view. Hitting into some tough luck early. Had to split time. He’s been the middle of the order hitter for 2 to 3 months now. Whether or not you get results or not, it’s just the level of at bat that he gives you from the left side is impressive. And that was a no doubter tonite.”

NY improves to 83-61, and moves to 1.5 games over Baltimore, which lost to Boston. Kansas City drops to 79-66.

1. Rodon Battles Royals, Perez & Sickness

“That man has a sickness from hell, and battled his ass off,” said Carlos Rodon‘s wife Ashley on Twitter after Rodon got the final out of the 6th. ” Proud of that one.”

Rodon pitched great — but was not supported well by his infield.

Jazz Chisholm Jr.made an error at 3rd base on a Tommy Pham grounder to start the game. Pham stoles 2nd and went to 3rd on a throwing error by Austin Wells, then scored on a single by Salvador Perez.

Salvador Perez — one of the greatest catchers of all time with 5 Gold Gloves, 9 All Star appearances, and Massive offensive numbers for a catcher — got to Rodon again in the 3nd with a 422-foot homer to left center.

And Perez got to Rodon again in the 5th — this one aided by Gleyber Torres at 2nd — a massive 2-out popup into right field that Gleyber failed to catch — with Bobby Witt Jr.racing around from 1st to score. It was ruled a hit since Gleyber never touched the ball. You can imagine the commentary on Yankee Twitter.

Gleyber would make some amends for the error by getting 3 hits on the night.

Rodon allowed a homer to Hunter Renfroe to start the 6th, and put KC up 4-3. He then got 2 groundouts and a strikeout to finish the 6th and his appearance. His line: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER (should have been 2), 9 K’s, 1 walk. He doesn’t get a decision; his ERA drops to 4.21.

“Rodo was good,” said Boone afterwards about Rodon. “We didn’t catch the ball for him. All in all he gave us a good 6 innings.”

2. The Martian Ties It; Verdugo HR Puts NY Up

The Martian aka Jasson Dominguez was called up and inserted into centerfield and 6th in the order. With NY down 2-0 in the 4th, The Martian singled with 1 out against KC starter Brady Singer, moved to 2nd on a groundout, and then stole 3rd with 2 outs and scored when Salvador Perez threw the ball wide of 3rd and into left field.

Oswaldo Cabrera followed with a walk and Alex Verdugo hit a homer to right center for a 3-2 Yankee lead at the time.

3. Cousins Keeps KC at Bay

With the Yanks down 4-3 after the Renfroe homer, NFL star Kirk Cousins’ cousin Jake Cousin came in and pitched a shutout 7th — walking Kyle Isbel but then picking him off 1st, then striking out Pham and Bobby Witt Jr.

4. Judge Ties It; Wells BOMB Puts Yanks Up

James McArthur came in to pitch for KC with 2 out in the 7th, and the Yankees pounced. Gleyber Torres reached on an infield single, Juan Soto walked, and Aaron Judge got a Huge single to left to tie the game.

And then Austin Wells, next batter, hit a MAMOTH 3-RUN BOMB into the bleachers. NY 7 KC 4.

5. Weaver Holds It

Luke Weaver pitched a shutout 8th in the 7-4 game — allowing a leadoff single to guess who Salvador Perez, then getting a strikeout and pop out, walking a batter, but striking out Maikel Garcia to end the threat and the inning.

6. Yanks Pour It On in 9th

Chris Stratton came in to pitch the 9th and the Yanks pounced again and put the game away. Oswaldo Cabrera led off with a double, Alex Verdugo singled him to 3rd, and Gleyber Torres singled him home.

Juan Soto walked for the 3rd time in the game, and Aaron Judge hit into a double play to score a run and make it 9-4.

And then Austin Wells doubled in another run; NY 10 KC 4.

7. Hamilton Finishes

More good news for the Yanks: Ian Hamilton is back — and looked great. He pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401570627

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