Yankees: Luke Voit, Gary Sanchez and Rougned Odor may have saved the season

Still wondering why the New York Yankees traded for Rougned Odor? Yup, we are too, actually. In fact, it was a big topic of discussion just a few hours ago.

Once again, he’s bought himself more time, however, with another insanely clutch hit that lifted the team from the depths of embarrassment.

On Wednesday night, it was all happening again. There were two outs in the eighth inning. The Yankees left nine runners on base, were 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, and didn’t score a single run after loading the bases twice. They loaded the bases four times in the last 18 innings and don’t have a run to show for it.

After leaving them loaded in the bottom of the seventh, the Yankees lost the lead when Carlos Santana hit a solo shot off Zack Britton in the top of the eighth. Sound familiar? Just like Tuesday night!

But the Kansas City Royals kept issuing walks. Eleven on the night, to be exact. And that 11th one to Clint Frazier was a costly one. Because Odor stepped up to the plate next and contributed the only way he’s been able to in 2021 …

… he hit a go-ahead homer in the fifth inning or later for the FOURTH time this year, which is the most on the team. Just like that, the Yankees took a 4-3 lead.

Rougned Odor’s clutch two-run homer saved the Yankees on Wednesday night.

Right before that at-bat, Odor was hitting .189 with .263 on-base percentage in 44 games. But everyone will forget about that for the time being because the Yankees need every win imaginable.

But, of course, they didn’t make this one easy. Aroldis Chapman came on to close the game after that and he … loaded the bases and walked in a run … on four pitches … to a player who’s never recorded a major league hit. Then he surrendered the go-ahead run on a check-swing dribbler. Rock. Bottom.

Then came the bottom of the ninth. Aaron Judge struck out for the fourth time of the night to lead off the inning. Great. That set the stage for Gary Sanchez, though.

He is still Gary, folks. And if this game-tying missile doesn’t prove it, we’re not sure what will!

Staring down the barrel of a second straight loss to the Kansas City Royals after a 5-1 run against the A’s and Blue Jays, Sanchez lifted the Yankees from the jaws of defeat. What a relief.

Next up? Giancarlo Stanton. He singled. Tyler Wade came on to pinch run. He took second base after a pitch got away from Royals catcher Sebastian Rivero. Here it is, the dreaded runner in scoring position.

Don’t tell that to Luke Voit, though!

A walk-off rip into the left field wall! Voit thought that was gone (and so did the rest of the stadium), but it didn’t matter because Wade galloped from second and made it home standing up to give the Yankees a 6-5 win.

We’re all tired. Go to bed. The Yankees have the series finale during the day on Thursday. Get some rest. For now, the season is still on. Odor, Sanchez and Voit have kept it alive. It sounds dramatic, but this is life with the 2021 New York Yankees. Every game feels like do-or-die, especially one that you give right back to a below-.500 team.

Yankees: It might be time to designate Rougned Odor for assignment

Rougned Odor simply has not been good for the New York Yankees. He needs to be designated for assignment before the trade deadline.