If the Yankees are trying to make a run to October baseball, a three-game sweep of the Reds to start the second half is a good way to go. Especially when it’s at home and considering the Yankees have been horrible at home.
But remember, wins in the second half are just as important as wins in the first half – an imperfect start could still end up in a perfect finish.
And considering how things have been in the Bronx for the Yankees this season, imperfection should be the theme.
The Yankees opened their second half run scoring a combined 14 runs on 28 hits over Cincinnati Reds last weekend in a series that included wins over All-Star pitchers Alfredo Simon and Johnny Cueto, an epic, nine-pitch battle at the plate between Jacoby Ellsbury and Reds All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman and a walk-off bloop single by Brian McCann that was reminiscent of when Luis Castillo of the Mets dropped a pop-up against the Yankees five years ago, giving the Yankees the win.
The interesting part about this sweep wasn’t the offense that came through when needed, rather, it was the pitching that quietly stole the show – the replacement pitching that is.
The “weakness” that is supposed to be the Yankees starting pitching staff (with four of the five Opening Day starters out to injury, three of which out for the year) shut down the Cincinnati bats as if they were on a mission. David Phelps, Brandon McCarthy and Hiroki Kuroda combined to hold the Reds to just five runs (only three earned) throughout the series, with Phelps and Kuroda pitching into the seventh inning on Friday night and Sunday, respectively.
With Phelps improving by each start and McCarthy finding new life in the Bronx, the Yanks have the fourth best team ERA in the American League so far this month (3.19), holding hitters to just a .249 batting average.
The Yankees pitching success has begun to spread to the bats. New York has the third highest batting average in the AL this month (.253), has hit out the sixth most home runs (14) and is second in stolen bases (12).
The run may only be beginning though, but the Yankees solid start at home to begin the second half could lead to some sort of comeback leading up to the end of the month, let alone the July 31 trade deadline.
The Yanks take on the Texas Rangers in seven of the next 10 games, four of which begin at home Monday night. The Rangers currently have the worst record in the American League at 39-59, losing back-to-back games to the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend (whom the Yankees play in a three-game weekend series after Texas).
With the pitching staff consisting of Phelps, McCarthy, Kuroda, Chase Whitley and Shane Greene starting to catch fire, the bats following and the schedule in their favor, the Yankees could rebound into a legitimate playoff chase by the end of the month.
If any team is going to start a run to comeback in the second half, it’s always good to come out of the gates red hot. That’s just what the Yankees did, come out “Red” hot.