August rush over for Gary
Gary Sanchez’s favorite month of the baseball season has ended, and the Yankees’ hope he once again can carry over his massive August production into September.
Sanchez ripped his 12th home run of August in Thursday’s 6-2 win over Boston, one more than he’d belted in his breakout August start as a rookie one year ago.
“I don’t really remember how I felt last year, because that was last year, but it’s definitely a good feeling to contribute and help the team,” Sanchez said through a translator. “The thing is, I really don’t pay attention to the numbers. … I’m just looking to make contact and the home runs are going to come on their own.”
Sanchez, whose appeal of his four-game suspension for his part in last week’s bench-clearing incidents in Detroit will be heard on Friday, has endured a tumultuous month. It also has included ongoing questions about his defensive play, with a league-leading 13 passed balls behind the plate.
“Every year you have your ups and down, that’s how baseball is,” Sanchez said. “If it was easy, you’d hit 1.000. That’s just how the game is.”
DELLIN NOT DEALIN’
Joe Girardi believes Dellin Betances’ recent inactivity contributed to his latest bout with wildness — two walks and two hit batters on breaking pitches in allowing Boston’s final run in Thursday’s ninth inning. “It’s that fine line of how many days are too many and not keeping them sharp?” Girardi said.
Betances, who hadn’t pitched since Saturday against Seattle, walked home a run but stranded the bases loaded by retiring Mookie Betts and Mitch Moreland as the potential tying runs. “I wasn’t as sharp as I wanted it to be, but I felt under control. … and if I made pitches, I could get out of it,” Betances said.
BABE WHO?
Japan’s Babe Ruth didn’t exactly have it on the mound.
With Brian Cashman watching from behind home plate as Shohei Otani pitched, the 23-year-old twoway star gave up four runs in 3.1 innings on Thursday in his start for the Nippon-Ham Fighters.
“No comment. Sapporo is a beautiful city,” Cashman said afterward, according to a report.
It was Otani’s second start of the year as his season has been marred by ankle and thigh injuries.
At the plate, the outfielder is hitting .342 with five homers in 45 games. Cashman and assistant GM Jean Afterman also are slated to see Otani play the field in a separate game, a source said.
The Bombers have acquired additional international bonus pool money in three trades. The hard cap on international players would