Yankees week in review (7/15-7/21): The "savage" Yankees win series against Rays and Rockies in New York

This week, the New York Yankees faced off against the Rays and Rockies at Yankee Stadium in the blistering summer heat. After losing the first game to Tampa, the Bombers rebounded and won five out of their next six games. Following Sunday’s game, the Yankees boast an impressive 64-34 record in 2019. 

Photo Credit: @yankees via Twitter 

The Yankees suffered a tough loss in game one of this series at the will of Travis d’Arnaud, who accounted for all of the runs Tampa scored. He blasted three home runs, including a three-run, game-winning homer in the ninth inning with two outs against Aroldis Chapman. This was the first time all season where the Yankees lost a game with a lead after eight innings. 

The Bombers were out for revenge in game two with tensions flaring on both sides of the dugout. The benches cleared in the sixth after CC Sabathia and Rays’ OF Avisail Garcia exchanged some choice words between each other. A back and forth scoring match ended when Aaron Judge hit a go-ahead two run home run followed by a grand slam from Didi Gregorius, cementing the Yankees’ win. 

Coda. pic.twitter.com/F1g6AUKq1D

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 17, 2019

Wednesday’s game was postponed due to inclement weather, so games three and four of the series were played in a double header the following day. The Yankees won both games of the day with a fiery offense and solid pitching. However, all eyes were on manager Aaron Boone after he launched a tirade on the rookie home plate umpire for making several unsatisfactory calls early in the game. Boone was ejected from the game and given a one-game suspension. The ‘savage’ Yankees carried on the momentum as the Colorado Rockies came to town the following day for a three-game set. 

In game one, Edwin Encarnacion put four runs on the board for New York with a go-ahead grand slam. The Yankees scored four additional runs to secure a win, partly thanks to three ex-Rockies, DJ LeMahieu, Mike Tauchman, and Adam Ottavino. The Yankees’ offense didn’t stop there. In game two, the bats were as hot as the temperature outside as the Yankees slugged 11 runs to secure a series win in the three-game set.

The offense went quiet for the series finale against Colorado. James Paxton set the tone for the day when he gave the Rockies the lead with a solo shot on his second pitch. Despite home runs from LeMahieu, Tauchman, and Hicks, the Yankees’ five-game win streak ended with a loss to the Rockies. 

Scores from the week

• Rays 5, Yankees 4
• Yankees 8, Rays 3
• Yankees 6, Rays 2
• Yankees 5, Rays 1
• Yankees 8, Rockies 2
• Yankees 11, Rockies 5 
• Rockies 8, Yankees 4 

Total Record: 5-2 

Best Hitting Performance: Gio Urshela, 3-for-4, 3 RBI, 1 R 

Best Pitching Performance: Domingo German, 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K 

Who’s hot? 

• Edwin Encarnacion: 7-for-27, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 6 R
• DJ LeMahieu: 10-for-26, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6 R
• Mike Tauchman: 4-for-8, 3 RBI, 5 R 
• David Hale: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K 

Who’s not? 

• Gary Sanchez: 3-for-20, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 K 
• Brett Gardner: 1-for-16, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K
• James Paxton: 9.1 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 13 K

Injury Notes

• Luke Voit exited the game on Saturday afternoon after being hit in the face on a 91.4mph pitch, however he remained in Sunday’s starting lineup.
• Giancarlo Stanton is unlikely to rejoin the team until August after being sidelined with a strained PCL in his right knee. He has not yet resumed baseball activities. 
• Cameron Maybin is slated to begin his rehab assignment with SWB on Tuesday following a left calf strain injury. 

Article by: Isabella Anton

Follow @isabella_anton Follow @BronxBomberBall