Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton looks to capitalize on two-homer performance

It’s safe to say Giancarlo Stanton has yet to set New York ablaze the way most expected. However, he still has seven home runs and is tied with Aaron Judge for third-most on the Yankees.

The Yankees only needed two men to get off the team bus on Wednesday night — Luis Severino and Giancarlo Stanton.

OK, I’m oversimplifying things, but between Severino’s complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts — and Stanton’s two laser show home runs and eighth-inning double, accounting for all four RBI, the rest of the Bombers felt a mostly pressure-free evening.

With so many people focusing on Stanton’s early-season struggles, highlighted (lowlighted?) by 47 strikeouts in 121 at-bats, the fact of the matter is that Stanton’s power numbers are still relevant.

Through 30 games, Giancarlo’s seven homers and 19 RBI rank third on the club, while his .796 OPS, 58 total bases and 22 runs scored are respectable enough point to brighter days ahead.

The Yankees are 20-10, and after winning 11 of their last 12 games, have the first place Red Sox firmly in their sights — just two games back.

Since someone in the comments section of this article is bound to tell me it’s soon to concern ourselves with standings, I’d like to point out that wasn’t the case when the Yanks sat 7.5 games back not too long ago.

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The reason I reference the lay of the land as of May 3, is because Stanton has yet to actually heat up the way we, and I’ll take the liberty of including the man, himself — expect.

This is a scary proposition for the opposition. Because it’s only a matter of time until Stanton goes on one of those three-week jaunts where it seems like he hits the ball out of the park in every other at-bat.

I spoke to Coley Harvey of ESPN during Wednesday night’s game, and I asked Harvey why Stanton’s batting stance seems much more closed than in year’s past.

To me, it looked like the reigning NL MVP is purposely hitting the ball the other way — perhaps because he doesn’t expect pitchers to challenge him inside. Harvey responded that Stanton is hitting the ball where it’s pitched.

The 30th multihomer game of his career (third fasted behind Ralph Kiner and Juan Gonzalez to do so), Stanton will continue to settle into his new club as the summer heats up. And with it, he’ll do things no other Yankee has done, like hit a home run off of Astros’ starter, Dallas Keuchel.

As the 5-1 Luis Severino told Harvey following the win:

"“At the end of the season, he’s going to hit 50 homers,” said Yankees starter Luis Severino, who struck out 10 Astros on Wednesday in his first career complete game and first career shutout. “I don’t care what everybody says. He’s a great hitter. And he’s going to continue to do this stuff.”"

Next: With Monty out, where do Yanks turn?

Give the man time; he’ll make it worth the wait.