Yankees sweep Mets in Subway Series: 3 things each club learned
By Josh Wilson
Mets learned Aaron Judge can hit off any pitcher
Aaron Judge had two home runs, one in each game, in this iteration of the Subway Series after going 2-for-9 with just one RBI in the two games in Queens.
One of Judge’s hits in Queens was a home run, but it came against Taijuan Walker in the top of the first inning of Game 1. He was relatively quiet for the remainder of that two-game set.
So, with Max Scherzer on the rubber for Game 1 of the Bronx volume, you’d expect Judge would be shut down, especially coming off a bit of a home run slump.
Judge, going into the Subway Series, had just one home run in the previous 10 games. He was averaging over 4 home runs per 10 games prior.
Coming in, Scherzer had given up just 8 home runs in 17 appearances with a 2.15 ERA.
Scherzer hung a fastball over the plate for Judge early in the game and Judge took it deep. He did the same later, and Judge hit it to the warning track in right field.
The Mets learned that even with their best pitchers, they’re not going to outright stop the league’s home-run leader.
Yankees learned the deadline might have been worth it
The Yankees have slumped horribly since the deadline. Overreactions would say it’s time for team general manager Brian Cashman or manager Aaron Boone to go.
Pieces acquired at the deadline finally started to fall into place, though. Frankie Montas, the pitcher acquired from the Oakland A’s just prior to the deadline, finally had a good start. Against the Mets in Game 2 he went 5.2 innings with 2 earned runs, 6 hits, 6 strikeouts, and just one walk. He got the win, his first in pinstripes, as well.
On the offensive side, Andrew Benintendi who was acquired in a trade with the Royals, has taken over the leadoff spot and done quite well with it. After an extended slump to start his Yankee career, he’s finally making good contact. Benintendi has 2 hits in each of the last three games and accounted for three of the Yankees 8 RBI.
Yankees players and fans still miss Jordan Montgomery, but are starting to see glimmers of reasoning behind the moves Brian Cashman made in early August.