The Red Sox started the week with their traditional Patriot’s Day game. The Yankees faced the Tigers in hopes that they could delay Miguel Cabrera from hitting his 3000th hit. Meanwhile, the Rays played in Chicago and the Jays faced the Sox.Â
NEW YORK YANKEES (7-6)
Gerrit Cole looked to redeem himself from recent starts. Boy, did that not go well. He lasted 1.2 innings, struck out three, and gave up two runs. He just didn’t have anything in the second inning. Clarke Schmidt and the bullpen kept the Tigers scoreless. The offense jumped early with three runs and added another in the 9th. Isiah Kiner-Falefa went 2-for-3 with a walk. The Yankees won 4-2. Miguel Cabrera got one hit and is four away from 3000.
Luis Severino took on game two against the Tigers. He lasted five innings, struck out three, and gave up one run. Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a home run. Kiner-Falefa went 2-for-4 as well. The Yankees ended up winning 5-3. Cabrera needed one more hit for 3000.
Jordan Montgomery took the mound in hopes to complete a sweep. He pitched six innings, struck out five, and gave up one run. The offense couldn’t score a run across and left seven runners on base. Miguel Castro gave up two runs in the inning he pitched. Miguel Cabrera struck out three times and was intentionally walked in his last at-bat of the game. Number 3000 will have to wait for the weekend. The Yankees lost 3-0.
I understand why the Yankees intentionally walked Cabrera. I also understand why the fans were upset but the team is trying to win and they felt the move was best with first base open. No team is going to give in to the opposing player reaching a milestone just because. He had three chances prior to getting the hit and failed with strikeouts.
Aaron Boone speaks to the media about his decision to walk Miguel Cabrera. pic.twitter.com/0QekeEHTCa — YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 21, 2022
The Yankees come back home to face the Guardians. Jameson Taillon, Nestor Cortes, and Gerrit Cole are scheduled to pitch. Many eyes will be on Cole’s start to see if he improves. Â
BOSTON RED SOX (6-7)
The Red Sox finished up their series against the Twins with an 11:10 AM game on Patriot’s Day. They wore their Boston jerseys as symbolism. Rich Hill took the mound. He lasted 4.2 innings, struck out two, and gave up four runs via two 2-run home runs. Xander Bogaerts went 3-for-5. Christian Vazquez went 2-for-4 with a home run, his first of the season. Alex Verdugo went 2-for-3 with a walk. The Sox lost 8-3.
The Blue Jays came to town for a three-game set. Nathan Eovaldi pitched 4.2 innings, struck out six, and gave up one run. J.D. Martinez went 0-for-2 with a walk. Kike Hernandez and Trevor Story both went 1-for-3. The Sox managed to score another run in the 7th and win 2-1.
Before the game, the Red Sox had a touching tribute to Jerry Remy. Nick Pivetta pitched four innings, struck out four, and gave up five runs. J.D. Martinez went 2-for-2 and brought in the only run scored by the offense before needing to be taken out due to a tight left abductor. Christian Arroyo took over and went 1-for-3. Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr both went 2-for-4. The Sox lost 6-1.Â
Tanner Houck pitched five innings, struck out four, and gave up two runs. Martinez had the day off today since he was still sore and is currently day-to-day. It is possible he will play on Saturday in Tampa this weekend. Bogaerts went 3-for-4 and Bobby Dalbec went 2-for-4. The Sox tried to tie the game in the 9th but fell short. They lost 3-2.Â
The start of road trip begins in Tampa to face the Rays. Michael Wacha and Rich Hill are scheduled to pitch in the series.Â
TAMPA BAY RAYS (7-6)
Shane McClanahan pitched six innings, struck out nine, and gave up two runs, one earned against the Cubs. Josh Lowe and Yandy Diaz went 2-for-4. Ji-Man Choi when 1-for-4 and Wandy Franco had the day off. The Rays lost 4-2.
Matt Wisler was the opener and went a scoreless 1.2 innings. Josh Fleming went 3.1 innings, struck out two, and gave up three runs. Franco went 3-for-5 with his first home run of the season. Brandon Lowe went 2-for-4 and Taylor Walls went 2-for-3 with a walk. The Rays won 6-5.Â
David Rasmussen pitched three innings, struck out four, and gave up two runs. Jalen Beeks pitched two scoreless innings. Josh Lowe and Francisco Mejia went 2-for-3. The game was cut short after five innings due to weather. The Rays won 8-2.Â
When it rains, it pours [Rays runs] pic.twitter.com/fSRynjUrDq — Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 21, 2022
They will be back home to face the Red Sox for the weekend. Corey Kluber and Shane McClanahan are scheduled to pitch in the series.Â
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (8-5)
The Jays were in Fenway to face the Sox. Yusei Kikuchi lasted five innings, struck out five, and gave up one run. Alejandro Kirk and Zach Collins went 2-for-4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr went 2-for-3 with a walk. The Jays lost 2-1.
Jose Berrios pitched six innings, struck out six, and gave up one run. Lourdes Gurriel Jr went 2-for-5. Alejandro Kirk went 2-for-3 with a walk. George Springer went 1-for-2 before being taken out as precautionary from getting hit by a pitch. The Jays won 6-1.Â
Kevin Gausman pitched eight innings, struck out eight, and gave up one run. Bo Bichette went 2-for-4 and Matt Chapman went 2-for-4. Raimel Tapia went 2-for-5. Jordan Romano got his 7th save of the season. The Jays won 3-2 and took the series in Fenway.Â
The Jays go on the road to face the Astros. Ross Stripling, Alek Manoah, and Yusei Kikuchi are scheduled to pitch.Â
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (4-9)
Spenser Watkins went five innings, struck out one, and gave up one run against the A’s. Ramon Urias and Austin Hays went 2-for-4. Cedric Mullins went 1-for-4. The O’s lost 5-1.
Chris Ellis went 4.1 scoreless innings and struck out two. Anthony Santander and Trey Mancini went 2-for-4. Robinson Chirinos went 1-for-4. The O’s lost a close one 2-1.
Jordan Lyles pitched five scoreless innings and struck out six. Santander went 2-for-4 and Ryan McKenna went 1-for-3 with a walk. The O’s scored the only run in the game on an error. They won 1-0.Â
6 SO through 5 scoreless innings🔥 Jordan Lyles was dealing. pic.twitter.com/zHQY2ngMDW — Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 21, 2022
Tyler Wells pitched 2.1 innings, struck out one, and gave up two runs. Austin Hays went 2-for-4. Keegan Akin and Dillon Tate each gave up two runs. The offense tried but it wasn’t enough. They lost 6-4.
The West Coast trip continues for the O’s as they face the Angels. Bruce Zimmermann, Spenser Watkins, and Chris Ellis are scheduled to pitch.Â
OFFENSE MUST BE FOUND
The Yankees offense needs to find its groove. The Red Sox offense needs to do the same especially when they will be a couple of guys down during the series in Toronto. Alex Cora will not be traveling with the team to Tampa because he tested positive for COVID prior to the series finale against the Jays. Kevin Plawecki is also out due to testing positive. It is reported that the remaining couple of players for the Yankees that were unvaccinated are now vaccinated and the team will be whole during their trips to Toronto this season.Â