Oakland Athletics

New York Yankees: 2nd-Consecutive Walk-off Homer; What are the Odds?

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New York Yankees, Brett Gardner

The New York Yankees defied the odds for the 2nd-consecutive game vs the Oakland Athletics. Yesterday, the scorching hot hitting machine, known as DJ LeMahieu, was the hero. Today, the underrated deity, known as Mike Ford, sent Yankee Stadium into a chaotic frenzy of joy.

J.A. Happ pitched 6 solid innings on Sunday, allowing only 1 hit and striking out 5 batters on 98 pitches. Although his walk ratio still remains an issue, walking 4 batters in the afternoon, giving up 1 hit in 6 innings is spectacular, especially with how much Happ has struggled this season. Adam Ottavino, Chance Adams and Ryan Dull also toed the slab, allowing a combined 3 hits, 4 runs and striking out 4 batters on 66 pitches.

Dull ran into some serious issues in the top of the 7th, allowing 2 hits and 3 runs on 26 pitches. Sheldon Neuse started off the 3-run rally, smashing a 2-run double to right field and recording his first major league career hit and RBI. Josh Phegley followed in his footsteps, recording an RBI due to brilliant base running from Jurickson Profar. Adams was responsible for giving up the last run the Athletics would record. In the top of the 8th, Matt Olson hammered a solo shot to right field, extending the A’s lead over the Yanks, 4-0.

As social media spiraled into a blazing fire of negativity, the Bronx Bombers proved they’re a superior organization and continue to demonstrate a never give up mentality. In the top of the 7th with based loaded and no outs, Gleyber Torres smashed a high towering flyout, collecting a sacrifice fly and extending their no-shutout streak to 220 games. Sir Didi Gregorius changed the entire momentum of the game, bringing home 2 runs with a base hit up the middle of the diamond.

As the atmosphere tightened, so did the knot in everyone’s stomach. Both fan bases were on edge and impatiently waiting for a positive outcome. Well, Gardy had a scheme in mind for Yankees fans. In the bottom of the 9th, Brett Gardner, who struggled with 3 strikeouts on the afternoon, launched an admirable solo shot to deep right field that traveled 396-feet with an exit velocity of 100.9 MPH.

The game was now tied and the conditions were perfect for the 2nd-consecutive game with a walk-off homer. Mike Ford, who has been exceedingly productive since the West Coast trip, possessed the opportunity to become a true hero. Ford, a talented and young baseball player that dreamed of playing for the Yankees his entire life, clutched up in the most important spot of his career. On a 3-2 count with the bases empty, Ford shined bright and demolished a glorious walk-off homer to center field, traveling 394-feet with an exit velocity of 100.2 MPH and granting the Yanks with a 5-4 victory over the A’s.

According to Katie Sharp, “Mike Ford is the first Yankee with a no-out, pinch-hit walk-off HR since Mickey Mantle on August 26, 1966.” Not only is this a fun fact, but also incredible to say the least. The New York Yankees now lead the majors with 41 comeback victories and are the first club to acquire 90 wins on the season. The New York Yankees are credited to a 90-48 (.652) record and continue to glow in the moonlight.

 

New York Yankees: DJ LeMahieu Walks it off with Style in the 11th

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New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu

August 31, 2019. The game is tied 3-3 between the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics. It’s at the bottom of the 11th with no outs and the count is 0-0. DJ LeMahieu, who was 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts on the afternoon, faces the RHP, known as Lou Trivino. The atmosphere is tense, the crowd is on edge and the players are optimistic. LeMahieu stands in the batter’s box, remaining calm and collective. Can the potential MVP candidate save the Yanks from 5-straight, agonizing defeats to the Athletics, or is this game a lost cause? Let’s dive into that subject, shall we…

What a fantastic ending to a mediocre game. The Yankees, who have struggled severely against the Athletics this season, claimed the crown with a final score of 4-3 in extra innings.

Domingo German, who pitched 5 solid innings, gave up 4 hits, 2 runs and struck out 5 batters on 90 pitches. The Yanks also had an absurd amount of pitchers toe the slab, including Adam Ottavino, Aroldis Chapman, Chad Green, Corey Gearrin, Jonathan Loaisiga, Tommy Kahnle, and Zack Britton. If you needed adequate time to catch your breath reading all of those names, I don’t blame you.

Gary Sanchez obliterated 2 solo shots on the afternoon, recording his 31st and 32nd homers on the season and rode a marvelous stallion into battle. That stallion was his baseball bat and the power he generates within himself. In the bottom of the 2nd, El Gary hammered a missile into the second deck in left field, traveling 436-feet with an exit velocity of 109.4 MPH. The A’s were not so amused by this glorious shot. In the top of the 4th, Matt Olson answered right back, ripping a 2-run homer into right field and giving the A’s a 2-1 lead.

The Sanchino delivered yet again in the bottom of the 5th, demolishing a solo shot to right-center field, traveling 396-feet with an exit velocity of 106.3 MPH. As the A’s replied with a solution of their own in the 4th, they repeated upon this in the top of the 7th. Matt Chapman, who has struggled in August in terms of offensive production, smashed an RBI double down the left-field line, granting the A’s with a 3-2 lead.

Although the RBI double was considered fair and was not challenged by the Yankees, there is clear and factual evidence that shows the baseball was foul. Take a quick glimpse for yourself.

As the collective moans and groans could be heard all across Yankees Twitter, in which they had every right to do so, the game continued per usual. Aaron Judge broke the A’s control of the game in the bottom of the 8th, smoking a solo shot to right field and traveling 371-feet with an exit velocity of 101.9 MPH.

This is where the real magic occurred. The ballgame went into extra innings, which included a gut-wrenching save by Judge, robbing Chapman from a possible go-ahead homer in the top of the 10th. Last, but certainly not least, the cherry on top of the icing was established. In the bottom of the 11th, a struggling LeMahieu redeemed himself by blasting a walk-off homer into the right-field porch, granting the Yanks with a 4-3 victory over the stubborn Athletics.

Throughout August, the Bronx Bombers collected a mind-boggling, 74 homers, including a walk-off to add some spice. That’s an incredible achievement to accomplish in just one month. The Yankees now possess an 89-48 (.650) record, which is the best in the American League and the majors in general. I also somewhat predicted that LeMahieu would end the game in a blaze of glory. A prediction I’ll pride myself on for years to come.

 

New York Yankees: Main Focus Heading into the End of Season

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New York Yankees, Gleyber Torres

The New York Yankees are heading to Seattle after a series win against the best team in the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

They came off a rough series in Oakland and got swept out of the city. For players weekend, the Yankees headed to Los Angeles for 3-game weekend series, which many thought would be a World Series preview. Aaron Judge homered in every game and the starting pitching proved they can help this team win big games. Paxton, German, and even Sabathia had strong starts, keeping the team in the game. Hopefully, the Yankees will have a healthy rotation and bullpen for the playoffs.

What should be the Yankees main focus for the next few months?

The Yankees’ starting pitching earned run average of 4.72 (Baseball-Reference). That ranks near the lower half of the league. However, if the offense continues to mash, this will not be a problem as long as the ERA stays where it is.

The Yankees have nearly had their whole 25-man roster on the injured list at some point during the season. The main focus has to be: get healthy. With Severino and Betances on their way back from gruesome injuries and setbacks, they will certainly help with the Yankees’ pitching inconsistency problems. Also, Luke Voit is on his way back which will push Mike Ford back to the minors. The problem is: the Yankees have constantly been awaiting the return of their key players all season. This will take time. The Yankees will have a very potent offense and an improved pitching staff when everyone comes back from injury. Especially, with home-field advantage, it will be an unprecedented series against the Houston Astros.

New York Yankees: Things to Watch for the West Coast Trip

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The New York Yankees will head out to the west coast for a nine game set where they’ll face the Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Seattle Mariners.

Oakland Series

The Yankees will face the Athletic’s twice in their road trip where they’ll start off with a four-game set and then play them again at home for a three-game set following the Seattle series. The Yanks will face always dominate Mike Fiers who has an 11-3 record and is credited to a 3.46 ERA. Besides that game, the Yankees should have a pretty easy series against the A’s.

Los Angeles Series

This will be a tough series as the Yankees will take on the other best team in baseball. Scorching hot Cody Bellinger just passed the 40 home run mark for this season and seems to not be slowing down at all. This series is one of the most anticipated all year as these are two teams that could be seen facing it off in the World Series.

The Yankee rotation will have a challenge matching the strong and consistent Dodger rotation. The Dodgers’ team ERA is ranked number one among all MLB teams at 3.34 while the Yankees are ranked 15th at 4.47. However, the Yankees have the stronger bullpen. This series will come down to the battle of the lineups.

Seattle Series

The Seattle Mariners have not shown much since before the All-Star break. This should also be no problem for the Yankees and the team should expect a series win here. However, Daniel Vogelbach and Domingo Santana are a problem in the Mariners lineup who can do some damage at the plate. Ultimately, I believe this Mariners team is no match to the Yankees lineup.