The Yankees play at home, sweeping the Red Sox with a 6-3 victory

It’s hard to find anything more fun than a whip of four games from the Red Sox. Do it with a lot of home runs, and with a chance to steal the best record in the AL in the process, the list might be top notch. With a 6-3 win over Boston, the Yankees move to 16-6 on the year. This team, it’s so fun.

(Not) The whole Monty

Call out to Matt Ferenchick for the subheading suggestion. Jordan Montgomery had cut his night short due to a rainstorm, and for shame because he was doing his good deeds. Probably the best stuff he’s thrown in all season.

Montgomery used their entire arsenal, with each pitch fairly effective. He threw 15 substitutions and got three swings-and-misses; he threw ten six-yards and got three swings-and-misses; he threw nine curveballs and got three swings-and-misses. Even his sinker, which did not generate a whiff, received many so-called strikes – six of them in 14 threads. After the first win of the match reached an error, Montgomery took the next ten men he faced. It looked like he had a minute game without a hit.

The only run he allowed came in the fourth inning. After beating Kevin Pillar and forcing Rafael Devers to pop out, he allowed three straight singles. One of them also took off Gleyber Torres’ gloves. The definitive line about Montgomery: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K. He looked better than that too.

The 27-year-old has been pretty sneaky this season, with three strong starts that are heavier than a clunker in Philadelphia. He now has a 4.66 ERA (4.33 FIP) on the year, and expects it to slowly decline if he continues this well. There’s a lot too much fun about the left hinger.

Luke Hops

Can the Yankees play the Red Sox every day? Boston seems to be taking the mantle of doormat AL East team from the 2019 Orioles, and you just love to see it. For the fourth consecutive night, Aaron Boone’s lineup pummeled Ron Roenicke’s pitch. They did their scoring with a mix of speed and power, providing an entertaining, although interrupted given.

The Yankees made Martín Pérez work hard in the first inning, causing the veteran southpaw to throw 24 pitches. With two outs and the bases loaded, Miguel Andújar almost delivered a knock-out blow, sending a hanging sinker all the way to the left field wall for a long and loud out. At 381 feet it would have been a big slam in 14 other ball parks (Mike Petriello). Better luck next time, Miggy.

The Bombers grouped the next inning, however, after Tyler Wade was hit by a pitch. Allowing Wade, the number hitter, to take first base will almost always come back to haunt you. The 25-year-old has wheels, and he will find a way to score. He did just that, when Aaron Hicks doubled to right center, sending Wade off to the races, where he scored stand up.

That brought Luke Voit to the plate, which ensured Hicks could enjoy a casual jog at home. The first baseman struck out a 2-2 exchange that hung directly over the plate. Check this out:

He naturally sent that pitch 428 feet to center field, traveling at 107.5 mph.

Voit, however, was not done there, as he was again at the bottom of the fifth homer, this time against Josh Osich. This one came off the bat at 101.4 mph, and it went 380 feet to airfield. Do you know what’s the only thing better than one of Luke’s signature hopscotch night after night? Two of them.

With two bombs on Monday night, that makes seven on the season for the Yankees’ first baseman, hitting .281 / .343 / .625 (158 wRC +). A healthy Voit gives the Bombers another terrific batter in the middle of the lineup, and it’s kind of wild how much he flies under the radar. He’s so good.

More Derpfense

If there’s one area where the juggernaut Yankees can improve in 2020, it’s their defense. Torres in particular has been an adventure on shortstop. He had two throwing errors last night, one in the first, and another in the fifth, plus a ball hit his head in the fourth. The 23-year-old has made six errors on the season so far, the second worst mark in the league, just behind Devers.

No matter the measurement you choose, he’s struggling to position himself this summer. For example, his -10.8 UZR / 150 ranks 23rd out of 26 qualified shortstops. By DRS, his -2 is 22nd out of 26. He’s in the lowest tier of shortstops, and that’s a bit concerning! Now I do not think he really is this one bad, and as long as he hits, the Yankees will take the so-so defense. At the moment, with its below-average bat, it appears to be even more of a sore spot.

Andújar meanwhile has a lot to learn in airfield. He was turned in the top of the sixth, on what appeared to be a ground rule double of Alex Verdugo’s ball. The 25-year-old spun around and around, trying to get a red on the ball, but he came up short at the wall. It’s a new position for Andújar, and this experiment was always time consuming. Can’t blame him for learning along the way, but you can certainly be glad that the Yankees chose Mike Tauchman as a defensive replacement.

Remains

As the #NextManUp energy returned, Thairo Estrada naturally went deep into the bottom of the fourth. The backup infiler homerized Osich off, and it was not cheap either – 411 feet! Aaron Hicks also homered, with his one solo shot from Heath Hembree in the seventh inning. Hit all things, you guys.

The Yankees’ bullpen had a strong night, as Luis Avilán, Mike King, and Aroldis Chapman (welcome back!) Combined to throw 5.1 innings of two-ball. Both King and Chapman allowed runs, but the lead was never in doubt. Chapman also appears in mid-season form, reaching 101.3 mph on his fastball.

And finally, the Yankees sat through an hour and 23 minutes of rain delay in the fourth inning. That’s the team fourth rain delay this season. I love baseball, and watching every baseball this season is a treat. But with the pandemic, and the concerns the league has social distance in the clubhouses, these long delays do not seem worth it.

Here, the Yankees welcome the Rays to a three-game series in the Bronx. Masahiro Tanaka will take over at Blake Snell tomorrow night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Fortunately, there is no rain in the forecast, so we do not have to worry about sitting on another longer delay.

Box Score