Watching the biggest Yankees carry offensive loads this weekend at Boston-Fenway Park, one is reminded that the extra hit barrage was exactly the idea that three winters ago Giancarlo Stanton proudly showed off his new pinstriped jersey and announced that he would soon “regret” baseball. . “
Stanton was ruling the MVP at the time and the Yankees saw him batting in order with Aaron Judge and made the lives of opponents miserable. After a number of injury-related delays, the vast pair are finally realizing that dream, giving the Bombers a 6-3 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park in the eighth inning rally on Sunday.
The judge doubled the home run and Stanton smashed a two-run homer on Lansdowne Street as the Yankees took control of the American League wildcard chase and pushed the knockout against former teammate Adam Dum Otavino. It was a wild epic with a chess match of several dropped popups, relievers and pinch-hitters, and a dropped third strike that could have all changed.
“We’re not afraid to make it interesting, that’s for sure,” Stanton said. “But what can I say, we are definitely confident. This is the most important thing. We could have let them flip and let them steal there, but we kept pushing and we knew there was a chance until the last minute. ”
Having completed three-game sweeps and won the sixth game in a row, the Yankees (89-67) now have one game left for the Red Sox (88-68) with six games left to lead the AL Wild Card spot. The Blue Jays (87-69) trailed New York by two games after a 5-2 win over the Twins.
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Manager Aaron Boone, who has been described as a “husky” postgame clubhouse, said the bombers toasted their wild weekend, then said there was much more to achieve.
“I love the frame of mind,” Boone said. “I think everyone in that room understands that we haven’t done anything yet, but it’s fun to fight them and compete as they are.”
Start this Sunday’s hostile discussion in the sixth inning, when right-hander Clay Holmes hit the side on 11 pitches. The Red Sox tweaked left-hander Travis Shaw to open the next frame, prompting Boone to replace Holmes with Jolie Rodriguez.
Boston resisted by sending right-hander Jose Iglesias, who single-handedly. Christian Vazquez’s sacrificial fly leveled the game and after the third baseman, DJ Lemahiu dropped a foul popup to extend Kelly Schwarber’s bat, with left fielder Joy Gallo scoring his usual fly to bring Boston’s third run.
“Just one of those plays you like, ‘Heck, what happened?'” Lemhiu said. “I’m glad we came back and won the game.”
The Red Sox struck out five from victory when pinch runner Tyler Wade tried to steal second base for the first out in the eighth inning, but Lemhiu walked and Anthony Rizzo hit the hardest hit of his career (115.2 mph) for doubles, second and third base. Runners set up with one out.
Facing Otavino, the judge pulled out an insult near the first-base camera that Bobby Dalbeck could not catch. The judge then threw and fouled a 1-2 fastball that came out of the catcher Vazquez’s glove and extended the bat.
“I felt like a cat,” the judge said. “I thought I had nine creatures there.”
The judge didn’t miss the next thing, the left-center area gap played to move forward. The judge slapped his right fist and roared, unaware for a moment that his left pinky was hanging at a 90-degree angle. Recalling past experiences on the basketball court, the judge put the dissected number back into his joint.
The judge said, “The biggest mistake was not going on foot. I don’t care much about it. I don’t really need to hit, so I think we’re in a good position.”
When the game resumed, the beleaguered Stanton extended Yanks’ lead by punishing the Otavino slider for a 448-foot drive to clear the Green Monster.
“Wow,” Lemhiu said. “Big family. He has had a really good year, but when it comes to the most important, he puts in his best swing. ”
Stanton Babe Ruth (1927), Lou Gehrig (’31) and Mickey Mantle (’54), who collected at least three Homers and 10 RBIs in the three-game series against the Red Sox, joined as the only Yankee and the only Yankee to score 10 RBI in a three-game series at Fenway Park. Never drive in.
There’s no better time for Stanton to admit that he doesn’t really feel bad about baseball. Never.
“Not really,” Stanton said. “They don’t feel bad about me when I’m not feeling well.”
