Yankees prove their worth in three-game series vs. Red Sox

After losing two series in a row, the Yankees are back to winning baseball. The Yanks just concluded a three-game series against baseball’s best team, the Boston Red Sox, winning two-of-three.

Last week started a bit of panic for the Yankees and their fans. After dropping a three-game series to the Minnesota Twins, the team came back to New York, only to lose another set.

That second series saw the Yanks win just one out of three to their Canadian neighbors, the Toronto Blue Jays. Losing one series to a team under .500 happens from time to time. It can be expected from this very streaky but outstanding Yankees team.

But losing TWO series’, back-to-back, against teams under .500 is frightening — especially come this time of the season. The team and fans alike were hoping this was not a sign of similar play come the Postseason.

However, the switch was flipped versus the Red Sox, as the Yanks took two-of-three from the only 100+ win team in the Majors, as of now.

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The series started on Tuesday with a 3-2 come from behind victory. Although the Yankees managed just three hits, Neil Walker launched an upper deck shot to right field in the seventh inning to put the Bombers ahead for good. Despite two unearned runs, the Yanks managed to steal Game 1 against baseball’s most feared team.

Kudos goes to another solid pitching performance from J.A. Happ. His six shutout innings with six strikeouts and just four hits did the trick.

Game 2 of the series was one of the Yanks’ overall best team performances of the season.

The pitching from Luis Severino was very good. While perhaps not the best version of Severino we’ve seen, he certainly pitched better than in recent efforts. Sevy struck out six in seven innings including an electric strikeout of MVP candidate, Mookie Betts, in the seventh.

As for the Yankee offense, clicking on all cylinders — only three Yankee starters went home without a hit. A 4-for-4, two home run night from the newcomer, Luke Voit capped the 10-1 win.

Miguel Andújar contributed with a home run of his own and a double (his 41st). Gary Sanchez went 2-for-2 with two walks; and how can we forget Aaron Hicks’ triple off Joe Kelly, scoring two runs.

The final game of the series came on Thursday night. Masahiro Tanaka got the nod but didn’t live up to the expectations. Tanaka went just four innings, giving up six runs, five earned, while only striking out three.

But taking a closer look and Tanaka, you realize he wasn’t horrible. He allowed zero walks, just one home run, and 16 first-pitch strikes out of the 20 batters he faced.

Mediocre, still — however, Tanaka seemed to pitch toward contact, putting faith in his defense into converting outs. There was Just one fly ball from the Red Sox against Tanaka, compared to eight ground balls.

The bullpen wasn’t too hot either. Chad Green’s poor seventh inning, where he recorded no outs but managed to give up a home run and a single, which would later cost a run, was the start of the mishaps.

But his sixth inning was masterful. Striking out the side in order, left a pretty impression, especially when one of those bats is Rafael Devers. Dellin Betances was forced to come in and wound up figuring his way out of a one-out, bases loaded jam.

Then came Aroldis Chapman, who’s pitched very well this season but couldn’t win the battle against Mookie Betts. Manager Aaron Boone didn’t give Chapman a chance to amend his mistake. Consequently to the three-run home run, Chapman was pulled.

Behind a two-run homer off the bat of Luke Voit and a grand slam from Giancarlo Stanton, his 34th on the year, the Bomber offense was only able to keep up with the Red Sox up until the eighth inning.

Other offensive highlights included two-hit games from both Didi Gregorius and Andrew McCutchen. One of McCutchen’s being a ninth inning, leadoff triple off of closer Craig Kimbrel.

Sadly, McCutchen stayed at third until the end of the game as the flamethrower Kimbrel forced three quick outs.

Overall, the Yankees offense put some nice at-bats together this series. They managed to score 19 runs to the Red Sox’s 14. Each team showed the potent offensive powers they hold, but couldn’t find consistent, successful pitching.

Although, I’ll tell you; a healthy Yankees team sure play some great looking baseball. A profoundly explosive ALDS seems to be on the horizon.

After losing two series in a row, the Yankees are back to winning baseball. The Yanks just concluded a three-game series against baseball’s best team, the Boston Red Sox, winning two-of-three.

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