Can Luis Gil Lead New York Yankees To 4-Game Sweep?

Luis Gil needed to right the ship and fully come back from injury. At this rate, he will not be in the Yankees’ playoff rotation, if they make it. Gil walks too many batters to be effective in the playoffs. The Yankees were not able to prevail in this game, losing 3-2. New York is knocking on the door of the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the American League East Division. They entered this game only two games back in the division, leading the American League Wild Card race. Do you think Gil will make the Yankees’ starting rotation in the playoffs?

Lineups For the Yanks As Luis Gil Makes a Start

The White Sox had Mike Tauchman leading off and playing right field. Kyle Teel was the designated hitter and batted second. Lenyn Sosa batted third and was the first baseman. Colson Montgomery batted fourth and was the shortstop. Edgar Quero was the catcher and batted fifth. Curtis Mead was the third baseman and batted seventh. Will Robertson was the left fielder and batted seventh. Chase Meidroth was the second baseman and batted eighth. Michael Taylor was the centerfielder and batted ninth. 

For the Yankees, Paul Goldschmidt played first baseman and led off. Aaron Judge was the designated hitter and batted second. Cody Bellinger was the left fielder and batted third. He moved to centerfield in the eighth inning. Giacarlo Stanton was the right fielder and batted fourth. Amed Rosario was the third baseman and batted fifth. Ryan McMahon came in for him in the eighth inning.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. was the second baseman and batted sixth. Anthony Volpe was the shortstop and batted seventh. Ben Rice was the catcher and batted eighth. Jose Cabellero was the left fielder and batted ninth. Trent Grisham pinch-hit for him and stayed in the game to play center field.

News and Notes

The Aaron Judge home run made history. He was three for his first three, getting a single, double, and home run on his first three swings. It will be good for the Yankees if they can get him going. The Yankees were looking to win their eighth consecutive game today. This would be a season high. The Yankees are putting pressure on their rivals and are in playoff position. The win would also be their ninth consecutive win on the road, something that has not happened since 1988.

Game Reaction

Judge tied Yogi Berra in this game, with his first inning home run, on the all-time Yankees home run list. That achievement was noteworthy because the Yankees have had the same top five in home runs since 1957. Martin Perez, the starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, seems to be wrapped in bubble wrap. His elbow condition prevents him from throwing much more than 80 pitches. The Yankees did a good job of driving up his pitch count.

Gil wore a purple glove and purple cleats. There was some speculation on the television broadcast about whether he was wearing those cleats and gloves because of Northwestern, they were in Chicago, or maybe because he thought he was king of the hill. In the sixth inning, after giving up a home run and walking a batter, Gil was removed from the game. There was one out in the sixth inning.

Scoring Summary

In the first inning, Judge hit a solo home run. The Yankees led 1-0. In the second inning, Robertson doubled and Mead scored. The game was tied at 1. In the third inning, Bellinger doubled and Judge scored. The Yankees led 2-1. Immediately afterward, Tauchman robbed Stanton of a two-run home run. This type of offensive firepower is good for Gil.

In the sixth inning, Montgomery hit a solo home run for the White Sox. The game was tied at 2. In the eighth inning, Sosa hit a solo home run. That gave the White Sox a 3-2 lead. The home run came off Tim Hill. That is how the game ended.

Conclusion

Gil needed a big start today to impress Yankee management; he did not get it. However, the Yankee bullpen was so-so today, surrendering the go-ahead run. And the Yankees were not able to outslug the Yankees in this game against the Chicago White Sox. Getting a sweep today was important for the Yankees, who would have had an eight-game winning streak. Now they head to Houston, after an off-day tomorrow, and everyone will see whether the Yankees can beat a playoff team.