The Yankees Clinch Home Field In The Wild Card Game And Tie The MLB Record For The Most Homers Ever Hit In A Season
Did we just have fun winning a baseball game again? Sure fucking did (except for the 9th inning but no one needs to talk about that). Now before any Red Sox fan says it, obviously I know this game meant nothing for the Boston Red Sox. This game featured pitchers like Brian Johnson William Cuevas and Joe Kelly so they didn’t give a fuck what happened. For the Yankees it was a chance to wrap up home field advantage next Wednesday against the A’s as well as continue their recent groove offensively that they found in Tampa. Both of those things happened. The man seemingly everyone has written off, including me for this year at least, Gary Sanchez launched a shot over the monster because all this man does is terrorize the Sox. He showed a glimpse of life in Tampa earlier this week and this was yet another sign that something might be finally clicking with the Sanchino. Gary also worked a walk and ripped a double later in the game. Goddamn does everything change if 24 gets cookin’.
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Aaron Hicks broke things open with his pop fly homer over the short porch in right. He couldn’t help but laugh as he reached first base, seeing the ball sail over the right field fence after initially being upset at himself for not getting all of it. Baseball dimensions, man.
King Louis V continued his mass destruction against Major League Baseball and launched his 13th homer in his last 31 games with the Yanks. If you do the math and project that stretch over 162 games you get a 68 homer season. SIXTY EIGHT. Just a reminder we got that guy for Chasen Shreve and Giovanny Gallegos. Never doubt Cashman, ever.
BUY BUY BUY
Last, but certainly not least to join the bomb squad party in Fenway tonight was Aaron Judge. Yes, that Aaron Judge hit a cock shot to dead center, good for his 27th homer on the year.
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My oh my was that a fun sight to see. This bomb was number 264 on the season for the Yankees, tying them with the 1997 Seattle team for the most ever in one season. The next two games are meaningless, but it’ll be fun to see them break the record and get 100 wins if they can win one more. I personally hope Voit hits the bomb, but it would be cool for the 9 hitter to do it, which would give the Yanks 20 homers from every slot in the order. It’s pretty crazy they’re about to have this record with Judge missing two months and Gary being a shell of himself.
On the mound J.A. Happ got the start in what was his final start of the regular season. Happ went six innings, allowing four runs, on four hits, striking out seven. His boxscore will not tell the story, but Happ was excellent in this one, not allowing a baserunner until the 4th. The only runs to his name came on Steve Pearce’s grand slam in the 6th when the Yankees led 8-0. At that point Happ was just trying to get the ball over the plate and throw strikes. Nevertheless, he left one right in Pearce’s happy zone and got killed for it. As far as I’m concerned, it didn’t happen.
Many will see how he pitched tonight and think, well he should start Game 1 of the ALDS next Friday against the Sox. Well, I’ve got news for you. That’s not a guarantee from happening. If a wizard from the future told me we’re winning Wednesday no matter who we throw then sure, sign me up. But I have not seen a wizard yet. You go with your hottest pitcher and that’s J.A. Happ. Worry about the ALDS if we get there. Happ’s my guy for the Wild Card Game. Thank God it’ll be played at Yankee Stadium instead of that dump in Oakland with that drum banging every second. The stadium will be fucking rocking and I cannot wait.
Dallas Braden, I’ll see you next week in New York my friend.
P.S. I forgot to mention THE AL Rookie of the Year Miguel Andujar tied Joe DiMaggio for the most doubles ever hit by a Yankee rookie with 44. That’s just insane. This kid started the year in AAA. Now he’s one of the most consistent hitters on the team.