A Missed Opportunity. Baltimore 5 NY 3

September 25, 2024 paperbacklou 2024 0
Aaron Judge with his 56th homer makes it a 2-1 game in the 4th.

The Yanks missed an opportunity to win the Division Title with a 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on a beautiful late September Tuesday night in the Bronx, an October chill in the air.

Down 4-1, NY rallied in the bottom of the 7th and almost tied the game when Juan Soto ripped a 1-out single to right with runners on 2nd and 3rd in a 4-2 game. Alex Verdugo scored from 3rd but Gleyber Torres committed another baserunning blunder — stopping after rounding 3rd as the throw home was off line — the throw went to 2nd and Gleyber broke for home again and was a dead duck, tagged out in a rundown.

On the other hand, Gleyber was a hitting hero — going 3 for 4 and was on base because he had just hit a Clutch, 2-out RBI double.

“I think he thought Soto was going to be out,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards. “His initial thought was that Juan might be out at 2nd, so he’s trying to protect him — but it’s got to be a bluff or a sell out and go — he’s the tying run there.”

NY drops to 92-65; Baltimore improves to 87-70. The Yanks lead the AL East by 5 games back with 5 games to go. The win clinched a playoff spot for Baltimore; they celebrated after the game.

1. Schmidt Electric; Nipped Here and There

Clarke Schmidt had electric stuff and pitched a good game into the 6th, but was touched by a couple of balls that didn’t go his way.

  • After striking out 3 of the first 4 batters of the game, Jordan Westburg got a 1-out single in the 2nd, and Ryan O’Hearn followed with a ball that fell just fair down the right-field line for a grounds-rule double. A groundout made it 1-0 Orioles.
  • O’Hearn also got Schmidt in the 4th with a 2-out RBI single, plating Anthony Santander who led off the inning with a walk.
  • In the 6th, Anthony Santander hit one off the foul pole in right for a 3-1 Oriole lead.

Schmidt’s line: 5.1 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs, 7 K’s, 1 walk. He loses to go 5-5 2.55.

“I thought Clarke was really good,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards about Schmidt. “I thought his stuff was electric. He had swing and miss. I thought he managed contact really well. Really didn’t give up much hard contact at all. Santander got him right down the line. The O’Hearn ball — kind of off the end down there — dumps it in the corner. Otherwise I thought he was really sharp.”

2. John Sterling on the Radio

John Sterling was back on the radio announcing the game with Suzyn Waldman. It had been announced a week ago that Sterling would be back for the playoffs — but it was a surprise that he was back early for this stretch-run game.

3. Judge HR #56 Makes It 2-1

Dean Kremer started for the Orioles and pitched 5 strong innings. Aaron Judge got to him leading off the 4th with his 56th homer of the year — a shot to left.

John Sterling on the radio:

“There it goes!

It is high,

It is Far,

It is GONE!!!”

4. Orioles Take 4-1 Lead off Mayza

After Santander’s HR off the foul pole in the 5th made it 3-1, Tim Mayza came in and got the final 2 outs of the inning — working around a walk and a single.

Ramon Urias led off the 6th against Mayza with a solo homer to right center and it was 4-1 Orioles. Mayza then got a groundout, but gave up a double to Gunnar Henderson and was relieved by Mark Leiter Jr. Not a great outing for Mayza.

Leiter walked a batter but then got a double play to end the inning.

5. Gleyber Giveth & Gleyber Taketh in 7th

Down 4-1, the Yanks mounted a rally in the bottom of the 7th against Perez. Jazz Chisholm Jr.grounded out but Anthony Rizzo double to right. Anthony Volpe popped out — but Alex Verdugo beat out a slow grounder to 2nd.

Yennier Cano came in to pitch.

With 1st and 3rd, 2 outs, Gleyber Torres worked the count to 2-1, then ripped a 94-MPH sinker to right center for a CLUTCH RBI double, making it 4-2 and bringing up Juan Soto with runners on 2nd and 3rd.

Soto ripped a 92-MPH changeup to right for a single that looked like it would tie the game — Verdugo scored but Gleyber stopped after rounding 3rd — the throw was off line to home and catcher Adley Rutschman threw to 2nd to catch Soto — Gleyber broke home and was a dead duck.

6. Hamilton Coughs Up HR

Gleyber’s baserunning gaffe may not have mattered — Ian Hamilton allowed a homer to Colton Cowser leading off the 8th and Baltimore had an insurance run, up 5-3.

The Yanks are going to need a filthy Ian Hamilton for a long playoff run so that was not a good thing to see. Hamilton did get the next 3 batters — fly out, ground out, fly out — to retire the side.

Hamilton struck out Urias to start the 9th, then was relieved by Tommy Kahnle who got the final 2 outs.

7. Judge Just Misses in 8th

Aaron Judge “just missed” a homer in the 8th — a ball to the wall in right.

In the 9th, Anthony Rizzo worked a 1-out walk to bring the tying run to the plate. The Orioles brought in Seranthony Dominguez, and he retired Jasson Dominguez on a groundout, and Alex Verdugo on a medium fly to left for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401570816

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