A bloody good show of offense for Yanks, Red Sox
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LONDON – It felt more like a spectacle than genuine baseball games between America’s greatest rivals, and when the Yankees and Red Sox departed early this week for North America, you almost forgot the games counted.
Then again, maybe no one wanted to remember, at least not the Red Sox.
If MLB wanted to show the folks in the United Kingdom what they’ve been missing for 150 years, they certainly did that in a bloody ol’ fashion, with the two teams assaulting all pitching senses, with the latest being the Yankees’ 12-8 victory on June 30 at London Stadium, sweeping the two-game series.
“It was eye opening, from top to bottom,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “They’re a lot better than us right now.”
Well, on this continent, the Yankees certainly proved to be the more fit survivors during nine hours and six minutes of baseball, with the teams combining for 50 runs, 65 hits, 16 doubles and 10 homers.
“It was Coors Field on steroids,” Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “Games like that just don’t happen.”
If the Yankees and Red Sox players were leery about breaking up their routine, flying seven hours to London, being stuck in traffic and playing in a converted baseball stadium, they left this city four days later wanting a return trip.
“I’d love to see the All-Star Game here,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told USA TODAY. “It would never happen, but I’d love to see it. Hey, if they ever put a team back in Montreal, maybe they can put one back in London, too.”
The distance alone would make it impossible to have a team play its entire schedule in London, with players saying they had difficulty adjusting to the flight and the sixhour time difference from the East Coast (“You’re talking about losing a half-day,” Red Sox starter David Price said), but they’ll tell their buddies on the Cubs and Cardinals that they’ll love the trip next year.
“The only piece of advice I’d give to the pitchers,” Yankees starter J.A. Happ said, “is if it’s your turn to start, you may want to skip it.”
There were four starting pitchers in this mini series, and only Eduardo Rodriguez of the Red Sox lasted longer than an inning, going 51⁄3. The other three gave up 12 earned runs in a combined total of two innings. The Red Sox, who scored six runs in the first inning June 29, hit three homers in the first inning for the first time in 40 years.
“I never saw the ball take off like it did (June 29),” Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright said. “The ball just sounded differently.”
Certainly, MLB treated its hosts to the type of game being played these days in North America, with a wild offensive extravaganza in the Yankees’ 17-13 win.
“All of the feedback was that it was fantastic,” MLB senior vice president Jim Small said. “So, from a U.S. standpoint, the pitching wasn’t very good, the game was too long, but it was such a great fresh start for baseball here.”
Officials from three European cities met with MLB officials during their stay who expressed interest in being the next cities to host games after the Cardinals and Cubs London in 2020.
“I’d love to come back,” Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. said. “I love it here. It’s my second time coming to London, and both times, nothing but positive experiences.”
Hey, where else do you get a chance to meet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with Red Sox All-Star Mookie Betts hugging Meghan Markle as a distant cousin, and New York shortstop Didi Gregorius helping present a Yankees jersey for their newborn son, Archie.
“They promised they’d have him wear it if we won,” said Gregorius, one of nine players who homered during the weekend.
Oh sure, the outfielders had a tough time seeing the ball with the sun, lights and white seats, and the turf was awfully quick, but everyone coped just fine.
“The fans were great, they were loud, you could hear all 60,000,” the Yankees’ Aaron Judge said.
Perhaps the star of the extravaganza was Murray Cook, MLB’s senior field coordinator and consultant who was responsible for converting the soccer stadium into a ballpark.
“I thought it was beautiful, I thought I was at a baseball stadium,” Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner said. “I really couldn’t tell there was never a baseball game played here.” visit