Yanks thought they had this one in 10th
THE Yankees almost had Sunday’s game won in the 10th inning when Brett Gardner laced a two-out line drive to left field with a runner on second. Orioles left fielder Craig Gentry, who was playing shallow to guard the runner on second, had to race back toward the wall and made a diving catch to rob Gardner and keep the Orioles alive.
Manager Aaron Boone let out a slight groan when asked if he thought the game was won.
“I kind of did,” Boone said. “He hit it pretty well and he just made a good play on it. … Game of inches got us on that one.”
Added Gardner: “I didn’t have a whole lot behind it really. I wasn’t sure if it was going to go over his head, I guess I was hoping it would but he made a great play.”
HERE COMES BOONE
Aaron bleepin’ Boone is headed back to Boston.
The Yankees manager broke the hearts of Red Sox Nation in 2003 with his walk-off home run in Game 7 of the ALCS and on Tuesday he will be back in Fenway Park in his Yankees uniform — a first since that moment.
“I’ve been treated well there,” said Boone. “I’ve said since they won as much as they have since ’04 I feel like a lot of the ribbing up there is good-natured ... Now that I’m in uniform, it won't be as good natured and that is part of it and what we love about this rivalry.” Boone said his home run still resonates with fans 15 years later.
“I hear about it all the time. Heard about it in my ride to the ballpark today from my Uber driver,” said Boone. “He had a story he recalled. … I’m looking forward to getting up to Boston. It’s a special thing to be a part of. Getting a taste of that as a player, you realize how special it is, what a big deal it is, honor it is to compete in those games.”
IN A PINCH
Didi Gregorius and Gary Sanchez were both out of the lineup on Sunday, but Gregorius came into pinch-hit in the seventh while Sanchez remained out for the second straight game.
Boone said he wanted to give his starting catcher an extra day after Sanchez experienced cramping in his calf on Friday, but added he was ready to have Sanchez pinch hit for Jace Peterson in the 11th but decided not to because he knew the Orioles would have walked him with first base open.
“I was prepared to take a shot with Gary but I was also trying to keep him out of the game defensively as much as I could,” Boone said.
INJURY UPDATE
Aaron Hicks (intercostal) will join Triple-A Scranton/WilkesBarre today and could rejoin the team by mid-week ... Jacoby Ellsbury (hip) will continue his evaluations with a hip specialist today ... Clint Frazier (concussion) continues to play in simulated games but is still not cleared for any real game action.