Extra Innings Again

It seems like we can't win a game unless the other team gets the tying run to the plate.

Starting this blog with the 11th inning:

Stanek came on to pitch the 11th for Tampa and Judge met his first pitch which was a 98 MPH fastball directly for a bullet line drive HR to CF/RC.  I knew it was hit hard and I went online this morning to find the exit velocity and it was 116.3 MPH which is the 4th hardest/fastest hit HR this year.  Just so you don't lose a bet, that is on a HR, because the hardest balls hit this year were singles (Stanton had a 120.6 single).  In fact, Stanton holds a lot of the hardest hit balls over the years.  Last year, out of the top 12 balls hit the hardest, Stanton hit 10 of the 12 and the other two were Sanchez 121.1 and Judge at 119.9.  Stanton holds the record at 122.2 and the 2nd fastest at 121.7 and then Stanton is tied with Sanchez and Judge for the 3rd at 121.1.

Back to our one-run lead in teh 11th.  After, 2 outs, Torres singled and then Urshela hit a line drive double off the wall.  Gardner stepped to the plate and it was obvious the Yankees were looking for the fastball by Stanek as all 3 hits were fastballs.  After a mound visit, Stanek threw two splitters for balls and then came in with a fastball (which surprised me with an open base) and Gardner was ready and hit one of his farther HR's as he hit it out to RC (closer to CF).  That 3 run HR was huge as the Yankees made it interesting once again in the bottom of the 11th.

Hale started his 3rd inning of relief and had been pretty good getting us through the 9th and 10th without too much issue.  After getting a strikeout he allowed 2 singles and Boone went with Chapman.  Chapman struck out the first batter but then walked the next to bring the tying run to the plate again.  Chapman was really struggling throwing only about 97 with a high of 98 and his breaking ball wasn't as sharp.  After going 3-0 on Pham it was getting uncomfortable.  Chapman threw a 96 MPH fastball down the middle for the first strike and on a 3-1 count we were lucky that Pham hit a line drive right at DJ at 1B to end the game.

Once again, the game was much closer than the score.

Judge hit another HR in the 1st inning and what was interesting was the pitch was almost on teh back inside and Judge pulled his hands in and inside-outed the HR to RF and it wasn't a cheap Yankee Stadium HR.  His left elbow was behind him when he hit it and his right elbow was right on his body.  Conversely, on his HR bullet in the 11th, he extended his arms (left elbow just in front of his body and his right arm almost fully extended.  He is a special player who is very locked in right now!

Hicks had a huge HR in the 8th inning as he pinch hit for Tauchman and tied the game!

Tanaka did pretty well for 6 allowing 2 solo HR's in 6 innings.  It was questionable if he starts the 7th but I didn't have any issue with it.  He got the first out before allowing a double and then a 3-2 walk.  Boone went to Cortes Jr (I thought correctly as Tanaka had 101 pitches) and a lefty was up.  Unfortunately, after being up 1-2 and then 2-2 in the count, Cortes hit meadows to load up the bases. After a big strikeout, the weak-hitting Kiermaier stepped up and with the count 1-2 with sliders and curves, I was pretty sure, we would see another one, but for some reaosn, they gave him a fastball and he hit a sharp groundball through the infield for a huge 2 run single.  Not sure why they wouldn't stick with the slider there and it almost cost us the game (This was a key play in the game) 

Encarnacion (EE), is now hitting .140 for us and a .620 OPS.  We need him now with Stanton and Voit out.  There is absolutely no reason why he won't get it going, but this is one of the worst slumps of his career.  I believe he will be fine, but would like it to be better soon!

Let's get at least one of these next 2, but sweeping would be great!