Here’s their shot to pull down Sox
TORONTO — This feels like it’s going to be one of those make or break weekends for the Yankees. There’s still plenty of season left, but the Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball right now, and they’re threatening to run away with the AL East title.
So if the Bombers are going to make a stand, it needs to be right here, right now.
Because Boston is arriving in the Bronx with an eight-game winning streak and a 4.5-game lead in the division, ready to put an end to the race for first place.
“You have to stay within striking distance, so when you have a chance to play them, you have to make up ground,” Joe Girardi said after his team’s 4-0 lifeless loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday night at Rogers Centre. “You can’t rely on other teams, and I think we have nine games left with them, so these are important games.”
The Yankees wrapped up a 3-4 road trip in which their offense was abysmal more often than not. They came into Thursday night’s game ranked 23rd in runs since the AllStar break. This was just the third time they’ve been shut out all year.
In his first two starts as a Yankee, Sonny Gray has received exactly one run of support. No margin for error there — even with a revamped pitching staff and power bullpen.
“Some guys have to step up, there’s no doubt about it,” Girardi said. “But this is who we have, and we have to get the job done.”
Aaron Judge remains the team’s biggest concern. The 25-year-old rookie is hitting .172 (15-for-87) in the second half with five homers, 40 strikeouts and 22 walks.
“I’m missing my pitch,” said Judge, who doubled and walked in his first two at-bats on Thursday before ending his night with a pair of Ks. “That’s been the key from the first half to the second half, so I just have to keep grinding and make sure I don’t miss my pitch.”
Judge wasn’t missing his pitch in the first half, posting historic, MVPcaliber numbers. But the league has since adjusted, and Judge is enduring a nearly identical rough patch to that of his brief cameo in pinstripes last season.
Might it be time to flip-flop Gary Sanchez and Judge in the order just to shake things up?
In the second half, Judge has chased the high fastball and hasn’t hit the slider. He has now struck out in 27 consecutive games — the second-longest streak by a position player within a season in MLB history (Adam Dunn, 32 in 2012).
“The book has been the same since the season started, and now it’s just I’m not executing when I get a pitch to hit,” Judge said. “I’m missing it, and when you miss your pitch in the major leagues, bad things happen.”
On July 28, the Yankees took over the AL East lead for the first time since June 21, and with the Red Sox seemingly in disarray, it looked like the Bombers might have a chance to stay there. But their lead didn’t last long. Boston moved back into first place on Aug. 1, and things haven’t changed since.
Chris Sale (14-4, 2.57 ERA, 229 Ks) is pitching like the runaway favorite to capture the Cy Young Award, while newcomer Eduardo Nunez (.420 in 11 games) and callup Rafael Devers (.319 in 12 games) have galvanized an offense that had admittedly missed David Ortiz.
So much for that whole David Price-Dennis Eckersley plane controversy affecting them.
Boston has been able to thrive in the face of adversity. “I’m not surprised,” Girardi said before the game. “I think it’s a very talented group over there, and when you look at them they have a complete team.”
As inconsistent as they may be right now, the Yankees still remain atop the AL Wild Card standings. But you certainly understand why Brian Cashman felt the need to try to add Jay Bruce — especially with Matt T Holliday out and Judge scuffling. he Bombers simply have to get it going from within, and hope that Greg Bird and Starlin Castro can help when they return. Aaron Hicks was back from an oblique injury on Thursday night, so that certainly helps too.
“It’s big,” said Todd Frazier, who will be playing in his first YankeesRed Sox series. “We’re facing a team we can gain some ground on. We’re doing pretty well in the Wild Card, but our first main goal is to win the division. We’ve got plenty of time.”