About Yesterday: Yankees 10, Rays 3

Tamar Chalker

September 11, 2022

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It isn't just that the Yankees needed this win, but the offense needed a big game and they certainly got one on Saturday afternoon. With Jameson Taillon searching for his 50th career win, the Bronx Bombers made short work of Corey Kluber, setting the scene for a rout of their AL East rival.

Quick Stats:

• Jameson Taillon went 7.1 innings and gave up just three runs on six hits and one walk. He struck out eight.

• Aaron Judge lead the offense going 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

• The Yankees as a whole scattered 15 hits and went 7-11 with runners in scoring position. Seven starters had multi-hit games.

• Corey Kluber had the shortest start of his career, going just .2 innings and giving up six runs on eight hits.

• Yandy Diaz and Jose Siri provide most of the Rays' offense, each picking up two hits.

The Big Story:

The Yankees' offense has been bad, and it has only been made worse by the long list of players on the IL. Having entered the second half with a sizeable lead in the AL East, New York is only 4.5 games ahead of the Rays, making every game against Tampa all the more important.

Kluber has usually had the Yankees' number, but that was not the case this weekend. The Yankees went on a hit parade that started as leadoff hitter Aaron Judge singled in the bottom of the first. What followed was seven straight singles, something the Yankees haven't done since 1990.

Josh Donaldson's first hit of the game was a single off the top of the outfield wall. On his first day back from paternity leave, he made sure his next hit got out. Giancarlo also managed a homer.

Player of the Game:

Judge's hot bat gave the Yankees a jolt from the start. While he has failed to homer in a few games now, he continues to be the offensive threat New York needs. Luckily, others pitched in as well.

Notable Performances:

• Taillon had a great performance. He gave up a leadoff hit, but immediately bounced back and got the next three batters in order. He should have only had one earned run on the day and nearly did. When a ball hit to deep center was misplayed by Estevan Florial who saw it pop out after landing in his glove, Taillon left the game with two runners on. Trivino got the first batter but gave up a hit that scored the inherited runners.

• Oswaldo Cabrera went 2-4 with two RBIs. He made a heck of a play in the eighth that almost got the second runner at the plate, but after reviewing the replay the officials overturned their original call. Regardless, it was a nice play.

Better to Forget:

• Marwin Gonzalez was the only starter to not contribute offensively in any way. He went 0-4, as did Kyle Higashioka, who had a single up the middle stolen from him but at least picked up an RBI.

My Take:

It's been a tough week for me, so this game was just what I needed. Here are a few of the random thoughts I had during and after this game:

• This team was playing more like the Yankees from the first half, although still a little sloppy on defense. Solid performances by the pitchers and the offense. The bullpen came through, too.

• Personally, I've been rooting for Aaron Hicks to rebound all season. I like the guy and it's disappointing to see him struggling so much. Still, he certainly wasn't missed today. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot less of him in the final weeks of the season and I'd be okay with that.

• Why couldn't they play like this on the night Jeter got honored?

• If the Yankees do not resign Aaron Judge...I can't. I'm really trying not to think about it.

• The best part of games like this is that just about everyone is involved and I think that does more than merely give them a small boost. They were having fun out there, even when things didn't necessarily go their way.

• The Yankees never gave the Rays a chance to get back in the game, and that's key to New York's ability to return to a playoff-caliber team.

Next Up:

The Yankees will try to take the series from the Rays Sunday afternoon. Domingo German is pitching on short rest for the Yankees. In ten games this season, German is 2-3 with a 3.27 ERA. Tampa Bay sends young right-hander, Luis Patiño, to the mound. Having made his debut in 2021, he is 7-4 with a 4.45 ERA over 35 career appearances. The first pitch is at 1:35 pm.