From Theo DeRosa:
After two lifeless offensive innings against the Athletics on Sunday at Sutter Health Park, Aaron Judge didn’t like what he was seeing.
The Yankees had followed Saturday’s loss to the A’s with two hitless frames against lefty starter Jacob Lopez, and a first-inning error led to three A’s runs in the bottom of the first. The first-base visitors’ dugout felt flat, and Judge knew it.
“I just felt like we were a little asleep there during the first two innings,” he said. “I expect more out of the guys. I know they expect more out of themselves.”
Between innings, Judge delivered what he called “a couple choice words” to himself and his teammates. The gist, according to starting pitcher Will Warren? “Let’s wake up.”
Boy, did they ever.
The first 12 Yankees batters reached base to start an historic third inning, a 13-run frame featuring 18 batters, 11 hits and four walks that took more than 42 minutes from first pitch to final out. The highest-scoring inning by an MLB team in more than a calendar year, it powered the Yanks to a 13-8 win and a road series victory over the A’s.
What an unusual fucking game.
The offensive explosion was interesting in its own way (although the historic nature of the inning is kind of hamstrung when it’s all, “The first time someone has gotten 12 men on without an out since 2009!” or “The highest scoring inning by an MLB team in more than a calendar year” – wow, MORE THAN A CALENDAR YEAR? THAT historic?!, and, finally, as the headline notes, “Tied for the most in 100 years”), but the fact that the Yankees were held hitless in the other eight innings, and only had a single baserunner PERIOD in the other eight innings (who was promptly erased on a double play) is just fucking BONKERS.
Meanwhile, Tim Hill had his worst inning as a Yankee EVER, somehow allowing TWO HOME RUNS (for a guy who historically keeps the ball on the ground), and the Yankee bullpen almost blew a 13-3 lead after six innings.
But they held on, so it’s all good. If Boone had pulled Weathers after 6 2/3 innings on Saturday night, the Yankees would now be in a stretch of EIGHT STRAIGHT quality starts by their starters, and instead, it’s seven out of eight.
Good win, and now a big series against one of the only other outright GOOD teams in the American League this week in Cleveland (and then a Red Sox rematch, with the Red Sox playing a lot better baseball, too. The whole AL East has improved lately).
Featured image is Ben Rice’s double, which broke the game open in the third. I had to pick SOME image from that inning, and Rice hit a double and a triple, so it probably had to be him.
About the Author
great pic, Brian
love Ben Rice
Sadly I’m expecting Rice to join the Sanchez/gleyber/etc club next year and become mediocre. Because aside from judge that’s what happens here to good young hitters.
this is Greg Bird erasure
I don’t think so. It seems to me he understands the game and himself. Greg Bird was a delicate flower but he was pretty good when healthy. Sanchez I don’t understand. phenom has been just as mediocre all 3 full years of his career. Rice has gotten better every year.
This sentiment is just all kinds of wrong
Third inning 13 runs, 11 hits. Rest of the game 0 and 0.
Just a crazy, crazy stat.
That third inning was more of an outlier event than a three foot meteor off Cape Cod.
https://www.mlb.com/news/one-player-each-mlb-team-hopes-will-heat-up-in-june-2026
At least Tim Hill knows when it’s okay to suck.
How about YES picking VOLPE as “player of the game”? They got the memo, huh…
Judge taking a much needed day off. Cabby in right.
Yankees officially putting Lagrange into the bullpen in AAA. We should see him in the Majors pretty soon!
I would’ve preferred to see a couple of low walk games first.
Hoch Aaron Judge has been “dealing with some shoulder soreness” for weeks, Aaron Boone said. It became “more than that” during the Sacramento series. Imaging shows a bone bruise. He will meet with a team doctor. Could be a day to day situation, Boone said
Jasson Domínguez could begin a Minor League rehab assignment on Friday, Aaron Boone said.
B Rice (L) DH
P Goldschmidt (R) 1B
C Bellinger (L) LF
A Rosario (R) 3B
T Grisham (L) CF
A Volpe (R) SS
J Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B
J Caballero (R) RF
A Wells (L) C
Honestly, while any injury is bad, that’s relatively good news based on just HOW bad he looked in Sacramento. A bone bruise in the shoulder for a position player doesn’t seem awful. If he needs to see the IL, Spencer Jones should come up and play regularly in right field.
Better there should be a reason for it – so long as it’s not a long-lasting reason
Apparently the bone bruise is actually in his ribs. He DID make a diving catch a while back that looked kind of painful, but then he got right back up, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that did it. So the bone bruise in his ribs has been affecting his shoulder through him trying to deal with the rib pain. This is how injuries spiral. You adjust X because of pain in Y, and then you fuck X up!
Just get treatment when you’re hurt, dudes!