Yankees dig in for seconds on some fresh Tiger meat

The Yankees didn’t have to go very far to find the best restaurant in Detroit. They found it right where they work at Comerica Park, digging in for their second straight decisive win, which is precisely what the team needs this week.

The Yankees finally look like they might be putting something together here that looks like a run into the playoffs instead of a limp. Albeit, they are beginning the run against the Detroit Tigers, who hold the distinction of the worst pitching staff in the AL (the Yankees are third best). But so what, they’re doing it, and they’re dominating a team for the first time in a long time.

Adding on to the thirteen runs they scored Monday night; the Yankees added ten more to soundly dispose of the Tigers 10-1 at Comerica Park on Tuesday night.

That one lone run allowed is significant too as Luis Severino (10-5, 3.10) hurled 6.2 innings of nearly perfect pitching, spoiled only by a solo home run by Ian Kinsler in his final inning of work. Severino’s next start is scheduled for next Monday when he’ll face the Cleveland Indians, who appear to have Corey Kluber in line to face him.

But once again, it was the offense last night that draws the most attention, if only because there hasn’t been much of any before the Tiger’s series. The Yankees, in fact, scored more runs in two games against the Tigers (23) than they did in their previous five games.

Oh my, look at Gary now

And who’s leading the charge for the Yankees? No, not that guy, the other guy. Gary Sanchez smashed his 26th home run of the season, his ninth since being benched for one game, driving in three early runs that set the tone of the game.

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Noticeably, those three RBI give Sanchez 72 on the season, leaving him only ten behind the team leader, Aaron Judge, who went two for four last night with one driven in himself. And if there are still any Judge bashers out there, yes, he did strike out once.

The Yankees also have a second baseman who is now hitting almost .300 (.299). That would be Ronald Torreyes who went 4-4 last night and seems, much like Derek Jeter, to be in the middle of anything good that happens to the Yankees.

But getting back to Sanchez, it was a comment I believe was made by Ken Singleton during the telecast of the game last night that is worthy of mention.

He said, and I can only paraphrase, he was talking with Todd Frazier who mentioned Sanchez with words of praise, indicating that he sees the work no one else sees that the 24-year old is putting in every day to get better behind the plate.

And unlike Joe Girardi, who is almost always bound to defend his players, coming unsolicited from a teammate, Frazier told me all I need to know about Gary Sanchez. And for those of you who have followed all I’ve written about him, that’s a complete turnaround.

Garcia under the microscope

This afternoon, the task falls on Jaime Garcia to complete the much-needed sweep that will bring the Yankees home to face the Seattle Mariners for three-weekend games, before the Indians and Red Sox arrive for two showdown series next week.

A day game following a night game means Austin Romine will get the catching duties and Sanchez will serve as the DH. Other than that, there’s no rest for the weary and the Bombers will be expected to play like it’s a game following a day off. There can’t be a let-up now.

Garcia hasn’t done much to show he’s worthy of the Yankees loss of Zack Littell and Dietrich Enns, two promising minor leaguers, in the trade that brought him here from the Minnesota Twins. And it is incumbent on Garcia to give the team more than the four or five innings he’s produced thus far, along with his 0-1, 6.32 record.

And he’ll need to keep his team close as the offense will be hitting against Michael Fulmer, who in his two seasons with the Tigers has a combined 21-18, 3.32 record.

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But if our lying eyes don’t deceive us, the Yankees are turning a corner, and they will be more than up for the task.

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