NEW YORK – For the second time in 24 hours, the Yankees saw a series of crooked numbers lining up the video screen over Yankee Stadium’s center field, offering an invitation to start their All-Star break a few tickets earlier. They have earned that respite, no doubt, while reminding anyone who is within walking distance that there is still more to do.
With a 13-2 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon, the Yankees came into the break with 64 wins, setting a new club record for victories ahead of the Midsummer Classic. It’s already one of the most impressive starts to the season in Major League history, but for a historic franchise that is measured by championships, this should only be seen as the start.
“It’s pretty big; it’s pretty cool, ”said ace Gerrit Cole, who put up 12 in seven strong innings, finishing the first half with a 9-2 record and a 3.02 ERA. “But we have bigger goals. We have a lot more baseball to play, so we are trying to keep it in perspective, in that sense. ”
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Yanks are the sixth Major League team since 1947 to have won at least 64 of their first 92 games, joining the 1954 Indians (64-28), the 1969 Orioles (64). -28), the Reds of 1970 (64). -28), Yankees 1998 (68-24) and Mariners 2001 (66-26). Only one of those clubs, the ’98 Yanks, lifted the World Series trophy at the end of the year.
That’s why coach Aaron Boone said his team is “very aware of the time we have left to travel,” noting, “All we’ve done is put ourselves in a fantastic position to do something. special “. Boone plans to spend the holidays with his family, already daydreaming about holding a spatula and putting on shorts. He expects his players to recharge in the same way from the first half.
“You want to get into the break feeling good,” Boone said. “It’s good to see how the guys really end up a strong part.”
The Yankees have won games in several ways, including some in which they beat their opponents. After a deflated extra-inning defeat in Friday’s opening, the Fire Department busted the bats to beat Boston 27-3 during the final 18 innings of the series, a three-game set that has witnessed crowds. biggest of the year so far. the Bronx.
In this one, it didn’t take long to put on a show. New York scored three first-run runs in front of Chris Sale, who received a blow to his left little finger with a line push, and suffered a fracture. Cole said the Yankees “felt very bad about” Sale’s injury, noting the left’s efforts to return to the big leagues after losing most of the last two seasons due to Tommy John’s surgery.
With the Red Sox throwing an unexpected bullpen game, the Yanks exploded for eight runs in the fourth inning, sending 12 men to the plate. DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge scored hits, Matt Carpenter punched a two-run double, Aaron Hicks made a single at home another run and Isiah Kiner-Falefa lifted a sacrifice fly before Tim Locastro hit a two-run homer races at the Boston bullpen.
Locastro’s impressive game also included two hits and a pair of stolen bases, which earned him, for the first time, the chance to hold the fighting-style title belt that the Fire Department passes to his club. after the victories. The fast gardener has been back and forth from the Triple-A this year, but those cameos have provided insight under the hood of the Yankees.
“It’s special, what’s going on here,” Locastro said. “In every game, they never leave. You can say it every night. That’s what happens with a winning ball club.”
The Yankees have a maximum of six All-Stars in the Major League West for this week’s festivities at Dodger Stadium: Judge, Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Clay Holmes, Nestor Cortes and Jose Trevino. In Boone’s opinion, this is a recognition of the “single mindset” his club showed from spring training, buying a refocus on the whole organization to do the little things right.
For example, the two Locastro robberies on Sunday gave the Yankees 63 stolen bases for the season, equaling their account of their season-to-season performance in 2021. Boone also points out the defense, positioning, and attention to the Yankees. details, detailed by coaches and frequently discussed among players, all ingredients of the club’s success so far.
“It looks like we can compete with anyone, in any kind of game,” Cole said. “It’s a good feeling to have.”