Closing Time - Yankees vs. Royals: Game 4 Recap
Some would say this series left a lot to be desired from a New York Yankee standpoint. While I understand the bats never got hot, and we failed to give these nerds the emphatic wedgie they deserve - I’m extremely pleased (as well as relieved) that we got through this series with relative ease, whilst seemingly coasting in neutral for its entirety.
Like I said in the preview - there were simply no excuses for Aaron Boone and company to not beat these AL Central Teams. We have the guys on the Forbes list, they have Tommy Pham. While we patiently await the Yanks to play their first complete game of these playoffs, there is solace to be taken that Thursday' Night’s closing effort was the best we’ve seen from the team thus far.
Before the crowd could finish their first “Let’s Go Royals!” chant of the evening, Gleyber Torres had lined a double into into the gap and was promptly driven in by the great Juan Soto. Credit to the KC faithful, the crowd was not taken out of the game by any means. However, the fast start granted me the luxury of loosening one strap off my adult diaper, as I calmly settled into Game 4.
Speaking of calm - the demeanor of Gerrit Cole tonight was absolutely hysterical. Its no secret, our ace is an absolute head case/weirdo. He was clearly jumpy and out of rhythm in the opener and decided to take the opposite approach in Game 4. Cole almost looked bored at times as he was calm, deliberate, and methodical in his approach.
It was wasn’t the 12 strikeout game you tell your kids about, but when the entire rotation fails to get through the 5th the first time around, 7 innings of 1 run ball might as well have been ecstasy.
Gleyber’s RBI single in the 5th put the Yanks up 2-0, while sending Michael Wacha down to Cancun in the process. The Royals then panic played their Erceg Card and were punished in the 6th, when Judge and Stanton provided us with the first “Bash Brother” combo of these playoffs.
I can’t say enough positive things about Stanton, who literally willed this offense to produce the few runs required to outscore this Royals team. Meanwhile Judge’s approach the past 2 games has looked impressive. He’s working walks, making good contact, and no longer chasing the off-speed garbage. The look of relief he had as he stood on 2nd base told me all I needed to know.
There’s no need to feel pressed Cap, we know the heater is coming.
I’ve scoured the internet looking for the name of the Royals player who initiated the lamest “benches clearing” incident in recent memory - but it seems he’s too irrelevant for the great Google to acknowledge. Oh well.
I’ll give the AAA’er credit - his temper tantrum over being tagged out did give the Royals a much needed offensive spark. Unfortunately for Kansas City, an offensive spark means 2-hit rally that nets their only run of the ballgame. Enjoy the offseason Michael Gomez - or whatever the fuck your name is.
From there - it was time for Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver to close the series out. For all the fans bellyaching about mediocre performances thus far - what do you have to say about this duo combining for 9.1 shutout innings, allowing just 5 hits and most importantly - just 1 walk?
These guys have been absolutely awesome and have made innings 7 through 9 as stress free as you could ever ask for in the heat of playoff baseball. They’ll need to continue their dominance as the opponents get stronger, but seemingly patching a massive hole in this roster is a tremendous sign moving forward.
I don’t know what I’ll miss less - Bob Costas’ dramatic retelling of the time when “Humpty Dumpty…sat on a wall” - or this crowd of farmers booing balls 2 feet out of the strike zone. Regardless it feels damn good to get these pre-postseason games out of the way.
Like anything worth achieving, it will only get more difficult from here. I appreciate each and every one of you for following along throughout this series - and hope you continue to do so as the Yankees’ journey continues.
Enjoy the off days and Lets Go Yankees.
