Gallo walking tall after brutal start
CHICAGO — Joey Gallo said it was “weird” to look at the scoreboard after Sunday’s 5-1 win over the White Sox and see only two hits.
“It felt like we had way more hits than that,’’ Gallo said.
They won a game with just two hits for the first time since 2018, when they beat the Tigers.
More importantly, Gallo’s turnaround at the plate continued, as he homered for the second time in three games and also drew a walk that sparked a threerun rally in the second inning.
He also had his first multi-RBI game of the year, driving in a pair to give him seven on the season.
But Gallo was just as pleased by the two-out walk against Michael Kopech as he was with the ninth-inning home run off Jose Ruiz that provided some cushion for the Yankees.
“Walks are not as valued, but can start innings like that,’’ Gallo said. “It gives the next guy a chance. Sometimes you don’t need to swing and you can help the team out.”
Isiah Kiner-Falefa followed with a single and Jose Trevino a walk before Aaron Hicks and DJ LeMahieu drew walks that forced in runs.
Gallo then blasted his fifth homer of the season in the top of the ninth, also with two outs. It was a 109mph shot into the seats in right that scored Josh Donaldson.
“That was the exclamation point there at the end for some breathing room,’’
Aaron Boone said.
In his last 11 games, Gallo is 9-for-30 with three homers, four RBIs, six runs, seven walks and eight strikeouts.
His average has crept up over .200 (.202) and his OPS has gone from .525 to .699 (the highest it’s been all year) during this stretch.
“I feel good,’’ Gallo said. “I’ve felt pretty good all year. I’m getting some results now, which is good.”
As the Yankees look for more production out of the bottom of the lineup, with Kiner-Falefa struggling and Trevino and Kyle Higashioka not doing much offensively, getting more out of Gallo in the six-hole, as well as Aaron Hicks in the No. 9 spot would help.
CHICAGO — With the Yankees up by two runs in the top of the ninth on Sunday, Clay Holmes was warming up.
The right-hander would have been used in a save situation if Joey Gallo hadn’t hit a two-run shot in the ninth to give the Yankees some breathing room, as the team looks to be more flexible when it comes to finishing games — instead of relying solely on Aroldis Chapman.
While it turned out not to be a save, Aaron Boone said no matter the situation, he would have used the righthanded Holmes, considering the top of the White Sox’ lineup is filled with righties.
In general, though, Boone said he would trust a number of his pitchers in that spot, singling out Jonathan Loaisiga and Chad Green.
Both of them have struggled at times this season.
And Chapman, while still having not blown a save this year, has battled command issues occasionally — walking nine in his last 8 2/3 innings.
As Boone said before the game about why he went to Chapman in a tie game on the road on Saturday, they had already used Holmes.
“We have so much confidence in all of our bullpen,’’ the manager said after the 5-1 victory.
This year, after allowing a run on three hits in his first appearance, Holmes has given up just nine hits, a pair of walks and hit a batter — while striking out 18 — in 17 2/3 shutout innings over his last 17 appearances.
Holmes also has been durable. His 18 ¹/3 innings out of the bullpen are second only to long-man Michael King on the team. ➤ Boone said Ben Rortvedt, whom the Yankees acquired in a trade from the Twins along with Josh Donaldson and Isiah KinerFalefa, is expected to see team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad this week and could need surgery on his knee.
Rortvedt was dealing with a strained oblique when the trade occurred and after recovering from that injury, felt something in his knee while catching in Tampa, leading to another shutdown.
The Yankees are still rolling with Jose Trevino and Kyle Higashioka and it’s unclear where Rortvedt would fit into the team’s plans if all three were healthy — other than organizational depth.
Domingo German (shoulder) is scheduled to begin throwing live batting practice this week and will be built up as a starter. With a minor league option remaining, German could go to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when he’s ready.