The stage was set for a low-scoring, gritty, and much needed win. The Yankees were on the verge of taking the series from the Red Sox. The heroes for the victory would have been numerous. Jordan Montgomery was outstanding, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing only one run, keeping the Yanks in striking distance of the dominant Chris Sale who went 7 innings, allowed 1 run while striking out 12. Aaron Hicks made two spectacular catches in center field. Austin Romine and Todd Frazier each battled for well earned RBIs. David Robertson and Dellin Betances combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings, handing the ball to Aroldis Chapman in the 9th inning with a 2-1 lead. After striking out Hanley Ramirez, Chapman surrendered a morale-crushing opposite field home run to 20 year old rookie Rafael Devers that tied the game at 2. Chapman came back out in the 10th inning recorded one out but allowed 2 base runners before being lifted by Joe Girardi. Tommy Kahnle allowed an inherited runner to score when he gave up a bases loaded single to Andrew Benintendi, and the Yankees suffered another brutal loss when then could not score on Craig Kimbrel in the bottom of the 10th.
The blown save was the team’s 20th of the season! Aroldis (the Cuban Missile) Chapman has blown 4 in 19 chances, and now allowed runs in 10 of his 36 appearances this season. The home run to Devers was only the 2nd homer allowed to a lefty batter in Chapman’s mlb career. The velocity on that pitch was 102.8 mph. It seems the issue is less about velocity and more about .. late life to his fastball, mixing in his off-speed pitches (slider & change-up) more often, and also command of his pitches. He is walking batters, and pitching from behind in the count way too often. When he does get ahead, he seems to have a problem putting away hitters these day. His swing-and-miss ratio is down. K’s / 9 inn. are down. Even the most optimistic fan has to be concerned that we are only 1 year into a 5 year contract with Aroldis Chapman. For now, Chapman needs to start mixing in more off-speed pitches, improve his command and start closing out games with consistency down the stretch this season. The Yankees (and their fan-base) can not handle many more of these devastating one-run loses. The bullpen is deep and there are other options to close games, Robertson & Betances would be the obvious alternatives. The hope has to be that Chapman .. a) is fully healthy and b) gets back to being Chapman for the stretch-run. That would be a huge …relief.
As always,
GO NYY !!
