Yankees show their cards with homers
The New York Yankees can thump.
Here’s a quick disclaimer that last night’s series opener at Fenway Park between the Red Sox and their rivals from the Bronx meant nothing to the hosts and only a little to the Yanks, who entered needing just one win out of three, or one loss by the Oakland A’s, to secure home field for the American League wild card game.
After New York’s 11-6 win over the Red Sox, that much has been settled.
But the Yankees offered a very loud and boisterous reminder that no matter how sloppy they might look on defense, or how shaky their big-name relievers appear out of the bullpen, they can can hurt an opponent with their offense. And fast.
New York hit four homers in a demolition of Brian Johnson and the Red Sox Bsquad relief crew, giving it 264 home runs on the season. No team in MLB history has ever hit more, and the Yanks can break their tie with the 1997 Mariners with one more long ball before the final out of the season tomorrow.
Gary Sanchez couldn’t have made it look much easier when he launched a high-80s Johnson fastball over everything in left field for a solo shot to get the scoring started in the third inning.
Johnson, vying for one of the final spots on the Red Sox playoff roster, was just OK making his first start since Sept. 4. He lasted three innings, gave up two runs on three hits and two walks and threw 66 pitches. It wasn’t much of an audition, particularly if he’s going to be used as a lefty specialist, but he hung in there against a potent offense.
William Cuevas was far worse, allowing six runs, including a home run to Aaron Hicks, while recording just one out.
The Yanks had an 8-0 lead at the midpoint of the fourth inning.
The Red Sox can feel good about scoring four off left-hander J.A. Happ, who had thrown gems twice in three tries against them this year. Lefties have been the Red Sox weakness all season, though the midseason addition of Steve Pearce has substantially changed that.
Happ had a shutout brewing until the sixth, when the Sox loaded the bases and Pearce cranked one over the Green Monster for a grand slam. It was Pearce’s sixth career homer in 32 atbats off Happ, and the Red Sox’ 10th grand slam of the season after hitting none all of last year.
The Sox showed life throughout the final four innings, but it wasn’t enough to compete with the Yankees team of mashers, who were taking batting practice off the second-tier relievers.
Luke Voit hit a rocket off Drew Pomeranz for a home run in the seventh, and Aaron Judge added a long ball off Bobby Poyner in the eighth.
It was Judge’s first home run since he returned from a wrist injury. He had been hitting .206 with a .590 OPS since coming back. Last night, however, he went 2-for-4 with a walk.
It doesn’t seem to matter who is cold when these two teams play. There are plenty of runs to be had.
The Red Sox have outscored the Yankees 101-92 while going 9-8 in 17 games this year, an average of more than 11 runs per game. The Yanks have out-homered the Sox 31-21 in those games.
Now, the Yanks can play the A’s in Yankee Stadium on Wednesday with a chance to come back to Fenway two days later.