About Last Night: The Yankees Demolished the Blue Jays 16-5
By Tim Kabel
June 29, 2024
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The Yankees snapped out of their stupor last night. Well, they stayed in the stupor until the 6th inning and then boy, they really snapped out of it. They beat up on the Blue Jays 16-5 in a convincing and powerful win. The Yankees scored the most runs they have scored in a game since July of 2022. Some may think they sent a message. They may have, but in order for it to be a significant and meaningful message, they will need to win consistently from here on out.
Quick Stats –
· The Yankees lost their last four series heading into this one against the Blue Jays.
· When the Yankees went ahead of the Blue Jays in the sixth inning last night, it was their first lead in 41 innings.
· DJ LeMahieu’s eighth inning double was his first extra-base hit in 89 at bats. He is still batting 184, so don't break out the champagne just yet.
· Every single batter in the Yankees’ lineup had at least one hit.
· The Yankees were batting .170 over the previous 11 games, except for Aaron Judge, of course.
· The Yankees snapped their four-game losing straek.
The Big Story –
Through the first five innings last night, the Yankees appeared to be headed for another loss. The offense was lackluster, and the only run they scored was due to aggressive base running. Marcus Stroman didn't make it out of the fifth inning, giving up three runs and he openly showed up Gleyber Torres for his perceived lack of effort on a fielding play. Things did not look good.
Then, the Yankees erupted for six runs in the sixth inning and added nine more to win 16-5. Every batter in the lineup contributed with at least one hit. Anthony Volpe was the only batter without an RBI but, he had two hits and scored two runs. The bullpen shut the Blue Jays down, allowing only two runs. It was a great game to see. Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu showed signs of life. However, it was just one game. Naturally, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge had great games but, the Yankees are going to need contributions up and down the lineup if they want to win a championship or even make the playoffs. This was a great game. Now they need to have several good games. They don't all need to be great games, but a win is a win.
Player of the Game –
Juan Soto started the comeback with a three-run home run in the sixth inning. He now has 20 home runs, 60 RBI, and a .302 batting average on the season.
Notable Performances –
Gleyber Torres returned from his benching to have two hits, including a two-run home run and three RBI.
Jamai Jones had three hits and an RBI.
Better to Forget –
Marcus Stroman’s less than stellar pitching end his unprofessional behavior in the 5th inning. It's great to be competitive but, you should never publicly show up your teammates.
My Take –
This was a great win. The Yankees walloped the Blue Jays last night. They are mere percentage points behind the Orioles for first place. They are in a good spot. However, the June swoon is real. So far, the Yankees are 13-12 in the month of June. There are two games left.
If the Yankees shake off the doldrums and the lackluster play of this month and move into the rest of the season back to their wining ways, then we can all forget about this month and look forward to the playoffs. However, if it's the start of a losing pattern, then we are in for a long season.
This was a great game and even Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu did well, but one game, a season does not make. Those two, and the rest of the players who are not named Judge, Soto, and Volpe have to contribute regularly.
The announcers were very excited that DJ LeMahieu finally had an extra base hit. That was wonderful. However, it is only one out of 89 at-bats. It's better than zero but face facts, it's still horrible. Gleyber Torres had a big game but, he is still batting .219 for the season. He is still shaky defensively. I'm not condoning what Marcus Stroman did but, Torres leaves a lot to be desired in the field.
If the Yankees have the opportunity to upgrade at third base, second base, or first base, they should do so. Ben Rice looks like he has potential but, he could always slot in at catcher or designated hitter as well. That is only if they get a significant player at first base. JD Davis is not of whom I speak.
The Yankees need to resume their winning ways but with one month before the trading deadline, they also need to be realistic. It is possible that DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres, JD Davis and Jamai Jones may have big games often. It is much more likely that these will only be occasional blips on the radar and that overall, these players will come up lacking. Therefore, Brian Cashman needs to do whatever he can to strengthen this team so they have a solid bullpen and a lineup that is potent from top to bottom. Otherwise, we are likely to have a few lopsided victories sprinkled amongst multiple losses.
Next Up –
This afternoon, the Yankees will play the third game of a four-game series against the Blue Jays at 3:07 PM at the Rogers Centre. Nestor Cortes (4-6, 3.40 ERA) will face the Blue Jays’ Chris Bassitt, (6-6, 3.45 ERA). Let’s hope the Yankees hound Bassitt.
