BRONX, NY — It’s inevitable that the Yankees will clinch the American League East division, perhaps Thursday night in the Bronx. The Orioles, though, are delaying the clinch after they secured a postseason berth as a top AL Wild Card Tuesday evening when they took the first of a three-game series.
But Wednesday night, the stubborn O’s delayed the clinch. The Yankees lost starter Nestor Cortes, elbow flexor strain. He goes to the 15-day injured list and possibly not available for the postseason, an obvious blow to the Yankees pitching plans in October.
Nestor Cortes, 2022 AL LatinoMVP Pitcher of the Year, was placed on the IL on Wednesday – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
In steps Marcus Stroman who had been working out of the bullpen as manager Aaron Boone looks to set up the postseason rotation for the upcoming AL Division Series that is presumed the Yankees will host for Game 1 next Saturday evening.
Stroman, though, struggled early in the first inning. He allowed singles to the first three in the Orioles lineup, also rookie Jasson Domínguez made a miscue in left field that led to three runs. The Orioles tacked on more runs in the fourth off Stroman.
The clinch is inevitable, but for another night it waits. The 9-7 Orioles win was more of a reflection of their roster coming back to strength after a string of injuries, then again it shows they could be a viable threat to the Yankees if they meet at some point in October.
Anthony Santander was one of six Orioles to record multiple hit nights in Wednesday’s win over the Yanks – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
It seems the Yankees want to celebrate a division title and they will. Prior to the game there was the usual routine on the field. The Yankees feel no pressure, though they want home field advantage in October and this loss got the Cleveland Guardians to within one-game of the best record in the AL.
Better to win Thursday night and take their final series at home this weekend in a three-game series with the Pirates, a team that will attempt to be spoilers and prevent the Yankees from getting home advantage.
The good points again, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto with home runs. Judge with his Major League leading 57th, a three-run shot in the ninth and fourth straight game with the long ball. Soto hit a career-high 41st, a two-run homer in the fifth. The rest of the lineup, despite 10-hits could not help get the clinch.
Juan Soto hit his 41st HR of the season in Wednesday’s loss while Aaron Judge went yard for a 57th time – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Rest assured, though, the Domínguez misplay in left field is not ignored. He has misplayed a few balls in the outfield the past few weeks since being recalled from Triple-A Scranton, something manager Aaron Boone has noticed and could determine if the rookie has a spot on the postseason roster.
“He missed some plays he should make,” Boone said. Domínguez, facing the media said “I have no excuse. That ball has to be caught like 100% of the time.”
Whether it be the Orioles or someone else, plays have to be made. Costly errors in the postseason will hurt. Misplays in the outfield cost the Yankees early and they had to fight back to try and get the division clincher.
Jassson Domínguez and Aaron Judge during the middle of an inning – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
“No quit in the team there all the way till the end,” Judge said. “I never feel like we’re out of a game no matter the score.”
And the Orioles and rest of the league know the Yankees are never out of a ballgame when Judge gets to the plate with runners on. The Yankees are never finished when Soto gets to the plate before Judge in the lineup. But to win in October the pitching needs to be clean, runs need to be scored, and of course errors can’t be made in the infield or outfield.
“We didn’t play well early in this game,” Boone said. “I feel like we kind of righted the ship, steadied a little bit and competed well and had a lot of good at-bats as the game went on. We just didn’t play real well early and couldn’t quite get back in it.”
Marcus Stroman is 2-3 in his last seven outings – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Stroman, too, said he has to do better. His six runs and 10 hits in 3-⅓ innings probably will not help his cause to be in the postseason rotation, a bullpen role is likely.
“It’s frustrating, but at the end of the day, I didn’t execute and do my job out there to keep my team in position to win,” he said.
Yes, the Yankees second clubhouse celebration in two weeks was again put on hold. The stubborn Orioles beat them in the Bronx again showing no late night hangover from the night before. More importantly, the Yankees want to clinch and move to the next step.
The Yankees are 92-66 on the year, currently the top seed in the AL and hold third-best record in baseball behind Philadelphia and Los Angeles (NL) – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Regardless, these last four games for Boone and the Yankees are important to gain that all important momentum going into October
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and contributor of Latinosports.com – X (Twitter) @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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