Boondoggle. Mets 10 Yanks 5 in the 1st Game on 7-4-21

July 5, 2021 paperbacklou 2021 0

Manager Aaron Boone brought Aroldis Chapman in to pitch the 7th and final inning with the Yankees holding a precarious 5-4 lead in the 1st game of a 7-inning double header — the first game for Chapman after he blew the 8-4 lead on Wednesday — and Chapman blew another.

And then Lucas Luetge came in to really set the place on fire, as he did Wednesday night too. Final score Mets 10 Yankees 5. The loss put the Yanks at .500 for the season, at 41-41.

Worse yet, this was a game where the Yanks held a 4-1 lead for Gerrit Cole — but Cole was knocked out in the 4th — leading to more speculation he will not be the same pitcher anymore after the Sticky-Stuff ban.

The Yanks sunk below the Nadir they had set the game before (losing to the Mets 8-3 and being no-hit into the 6th), which sank them below the Nadir they had set earlier in the week (in the 11-8 loss to the Angels).

1. Boone Blows Another

The move by Boone was confounding and really, really risky. Chapman has sucked to high heaven for a month now — he’s been saved by triple plays when he hasn’t coughed up leads time and again. His control of his fastball is off. He hadn’t pitched since coughing up a 4-run lead on Wednesday when he wasn’t even close to throwing strikes.

And meanwhile, Chad Green had just come in to get the last out of the 6th and was ready to go for the 7th and final inning — looking sharp. Most Yankee fans anticipated just leaving Green in.

Afterwards Boone said he was saving Green for the second game. Most managers throughout time talk about ‘winning the game at hand’ and worrying about the next game later — especially for a Yankee team that so desperately needed a win.

After the game, Boone said “Once I shot Lo’s (Loaisiga’s) length, and then if I shoot Green’s length, I got no leverage length in game 2, and we’re kind of piecing today together a little bit.”

Yankee fan John Snyder pointed out that if Boone wanted to get Chapman back on his wheels, he should have brought him in the day before when the Yanks lost 8-3. “Obviously Chapman has lost confidence. Yesterday would have been perfect to get his feet wet. Bring him in early. Let him get a pressure free inning under his belt.”

2. Yanks Had a 4-1 Lead

The Yanks had a comfortable 4-1 lead in the 4th with Cole on the mound in a 7-inning game. This one looked like it was going to be a win.

Kyle Higashioka doubled in Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres in the 2nd inning off Marcus Stroman to make it 2-0 Yanks.

And then new Yankee Tim Locastro hit a sac fly to make it 3-0.

Suzyn Waldman noted on the radio that Locastro grew up a huge Yankee fan — and he must be psyched to get that sac fly.

Giancarlo grounded into a double play in the 4th to make it 4-1 Yanks.

3. Cole Knocked Out in 4th Despite Judge’s Arm

Up 4-1 in the top of the 4th, Cole blew up. The inning marked how great Aaron Judge‘s arm is in right as much as how Cole lost it on the sunny, 80-degree July 4th afternoon. Cole:

  • Walked Michael Conforto.
  • Allowed a single to Jeff McNeil; Conforto only went to 2nd as Aaron Judge threw a strike in from right field.
  • Walked Billy McKinney.
  • Allowed a single to catcher Tomas Nido scoring 1 run — the Mets didn’t chance more as Aaron Judge threw a strike in from right.
  • Struck out Luis Guillorme
  • Allowed a single to Brandon Nimmo for a 4-3 game — the Mets didn’t chance more as Aaron Judge threw a strike in from right field.

Judge Finally Gets Someone

Jonathan Loaisiga came in and allowed a single for a tie game, but Aaron Judge threw Nimmo out at 2nd when he stretched past the bag.

Loaisiga then walked a batter before getting the final out — but was brilliant in the 5th (1-2-3 inning) and allowed 2 runners with 2 outs in the 6th before being relieved by Chad Green.

Pittsburgh Pirates Version of Cole

With the sticky substance ban, Yankee Twitter feels NY just got the Pittsburgh Pirates version of Gerrit Cole — good pitcher but not great. And he’s signed at $36 M a year through 2028.

This is Cole’s 3rd bad start in the last 6. He got bombed by Boston in his last start last Sunday. His ERA for June was 4.65.

Boone said afterwards that Cole’s stuff was electric, and the Mets just worked him well.

4. Yanks Had a 5-4 Lead

After the Mets knocked out Cole in the 4th, the Yanks took a 5-4 lead in the 5th when with 1 out, DJ LeMahieu singled off Stroman, and Aaron Judge singled to move LeMahieu to 3rd, where he scored on a wild pitch by Stroman.

It was looking precarious but good despite the Cole blow up.

5. Chapman a Mess

Chapman came in against Pete Alonzo and got 2 strikes to go 1-2 before allowing a home run to left.

John Sterling on the radio made mention of the fact that Chapman on the mound put his hands over his head in a ‘not again’ motion.

Chapman then hit Michael Conforto with a pitch, and walked Jeff McNeil and he was gone.

6. Luetge Horrid

In came Luetge — single, strikeout (for the 1st out), single, single, double and it was 10-5 Mets. Horror show.

Etcetera

As soon as the game ended, at 5:30 pm — the Major League All Star Reserves were announced.

Both Aroldis Chapman and Gerrit Cole were named All Stars. It seemed a bad joke. Chapman’s ERA is now 4.94. Cole at least still sports a good record despite recent trouble: 8-4 2.91.

PS: Gary Sanchez did not make the team. Aaron Judge is of course the starting right fielder for the AL All Stars.

“We are all All Stars”, theorized Yankee fan John Morra.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401343977

 

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