Weaver Reinstated from IL for 1st Big Game with Os

Weaver, the outstanding relief pitcher who has a microscopic 1.05 earned run average, was reinstated from the injured list before the Yankees’ game with the Baltimore Orioles. The return of Weaver creates an interesting problem for the Yankees. He had taken over as the Yankees’ closer earlier this season for the troubled Devin Williams, but Williams has pitched better of late. With Max Fried starting for the Yankees, they lost this game 5-3. There is no question that the return of Weaver makes the Yankees’ bullpen deeper. Do you think bullpen strength is the key determinant of a baseball team’s success on the baseball field?

Lineups

The Baltimore Orioles had Jackson Holiday as the second baseman, batting leadoff. Jordan Westburg was the second baseman, batting second. Ramón Laureano was the right fielder, batting third. Ramon Urias was the third baseman, batting fourth. Colton Crowser was the centerfielder and batted fifth. Gary Sanchez was the catcher and batted sixth. Coby Mayo was the first baseman and batted seventh. Ryan O’Hearn pinch-hit for him in the eighth inning. Dylan Carlson was the left fielder and batted eighth. Luis Vázquez was the shortstop and batted ninth. Gunner Henderson pinch-hit for him in the eighth inning.

For the Yankees, Paul Goldschmidt batted first and was the first baseman. Trent Grisham was the center fielder and batted second. Aaron Judge was the right fielder who batted third. Jazz Chisolm Jr. batted fourth and was the third baseman. Giancarlo Stanton was the designated hitter and batted fifth. Jasson Dominguez was the left fielder and batted sixth.  Anthony Volpe was the shortstop and batted seventh. Austin Wells was the catcher and batted eighth. DJ LeMehieau was the second baseman and batted ninth. 

Game Reaction: Weaver Back as Yanks Lose

Tonight is Judge Superman’s bobblehead night.

The first inning featured four runs, including two against Yankee starter Max Fried. He struggled. Maybe we will see Luke Weaver after all. The first inning lasted 32 minutes.

Sugano, the Orioles’ starter pitcher, only threw three and two-thirds innings. He threw 89 pitches and walked 3. That was the shortest outing of his career.

This close game is a close one. It is set up as a game where Weaver can get in. The Yankees left 10 runners on through the eighth inning, and they got a runner thrown out at home. That is not a way to win.

Weaver labored on his return.

News and Notes

There is a slight chance of showers tonight, but otherwise, temperatures are very suitable for baseball, and the weather is nice. However, it is going to get very hot in New York. That has a practical effect; batted balls will travel further.

Closer Weaver was reinstated from the injured list before the game. It will be interesting to see how he is used, though with Fried pinching for the Yankees, he may not get the chance.

The Yankees’ pitching prospects have been doing well. Carlos Lagrange struck out a personal-best 12 over 5 1/3 innings for Double-A Somerset. The tall, 6-foot-7 right-hander allowed one run on three hits and struck out seven consecutive batters between the fourth and sixth innings. He has an 84-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 57 innings and is holding opposing batters to a .212 batting average.

Scoring Summary

In the first inning, former Yankee Sanchez had a two-run single. Lureano and Crowser scored, and the Orioles led 2-0.

The Yankees answered right back in the bottom of the first inning, scoring two runs. First, Chisolm Jr. singled and Goldschmidt scored. Then Dominguez hit a sacrifice fly and Grisholm scored. It was a 2-2, and we were right back where we started.

In the third inning, Judge hit a solo home run. It was 3-2 Yankees.

In the sixth inning, Mayo hit a single and Crowser scored. That tied the game at 3. This was only the second time all year Fried gave up three runs.

Weaver got in, and in the eighth inning, on his first pitch, Urias hit a solo home run, and it was 4-3 Orioles. Then Henderson singled and Sanchez scored. It was 5-3 Orioles.

Final Thoughts

The four runs the New York Yankees had scored through the second inning it was the most runs the Yankees have scored since June 11 in Kansas City. They feast off of left-handed pitching, and the Angels’ starter, Tyler Anderson, for this 4 game series was left-handed. He gave up some bombs in the game. While it was good to see the Yankees hit home runs, they need to manufacture some runs. They start a series against the Orioles tomorrow at 7:05. That presents another opportunity.