Gosh, did last night’s loss stink, or what? That’s a game the Yankees really have to close out. They emerged from the Masahiro Tanaka vs. Justin Verlander duel with a two-run lead after six innings and the bullpen couldn’t hold it. Everyone did their part except the team’s supposed strength. Annoying.
“(Tanaka) worked pretty hard in the sixth. We were pretty convicted that was it, and set up there to roll out (Zack) Britton there, and obviously (Adam Ottavino) with their righties at the top of the order and then (Aroldis Chapman). So it set up pretty well for us,” Aaron Boone said to George King and Kevin Kernan following the game. “… Yeah it stings a little bit.”
Oh well, can’t do anything about last night’s game now. The Yankees have a chance to even the series at a game apiece tonight and win for the fourth time in their last five games overall. All they have to do is win a game in which their seventh starter is matched up against one of the five best pitchers in the American League. What’s that they say about baseball, Suzyn? Here are tonight’s lineups:
New York Yankees
1. CF Brett Gardner
2. RF Aaron Judge
3. 1B Luke Voit
4. DH Gary Sanchez
5. SS Gleyber Torres
6. 2B DJ LeMahieu
7. LF Clint Frazier
8. 3B Gio Urshela
9. C Austin Romine
RHP Jonathan Loaisiga
Houston Astros
1. CF George Springer
2. 2B Jose Altuve
3. 3B Alex Bregman
4. DH Michael Brantley
5. SS Carlos Correa
6. 1B Yuli Gurriel
7. RF Josh Reddick
8. C Robinson Chirinos
9. LF Tony Kemp
RHP Gerrit Cole
Nice warm night in Houston. Warm enough that the Minute Maid Park roof is closed and the air conditioning is on. Tonight’s game will begin at 8:10pm ET and you can watch on the YES Network locally and ESPN nationally. Enjoy the ballgame.
Injury Updates: Luis Severino (shoulder) had his MRI late this afternoon and the Yankees don’t have an update yet. They’ll probably have one after the game … Miguel Andujar (shoulder) will play catch tomorrow for the first time since behind shut down. That’s a significant test given the nature of the injury … Dellin Betances (shoulder) faced hitters yesterday and he’s tentatively scheduled to throw a simulated game Thursday.