The Yankees secured their second-consecutive sweep on Sunday over the White Sox and fourth sweep of the season. This sweep secured the Bombers’ seventh straight win—the team’s longest winning streak since they won seven in a row in September of 2022. One theme carried over from the last series, and Jon Berti, who locked down his first homer as a Yankee on Sunday, put it best:
We’ve just been clicking on all cylinders.
The Rotation Keeps Rolling
The Yankees' rotation has accomplished something not seen in the Bronx since July 2010. During this seven-game winning streak, each pitcher has thrown at least six innings while limiting opponents to two runs or fewer. Nestor Cortes, Luis Gil, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, and Marcus Stroman have collectively achieved a 0.80 ERA during this stretch, and the entire pitching staff now leads the league with a 2.81 ERA. All of this has been achieved without the Yankees’ ace and reigning 2023 AL Cy Young, Gerrit Cole. Cole is currently rehabbing and, according to the YES Network’s Meredith Marakovits, is expected to face batters for the first time on Tuesday since going on the IL.
Baseball is Poetic
You probably remember or have heard about David Cone’s perfect game with battery mate Joe Girardi on July 18, 1999. What you may not remember or know about that day is that it was Yogi Berra Day, which was the first time Yogi Berra had returned to Yankee Stadium after a falling out that lasted more than a decade with then-owner George Steinbrenner. Naturally, the Yankees had Don Larsen throw out the ceremonial first pitch to his battery mate, Yogi Berra. The duo had been the first pair of Yankees to throw a perfect game when they did so during the 1956 World Series.
Talk about poetic justice.
During Saturday’s game of this series with the White Sox, the Yankees invited Orlando Hernandez (“El Duque”) back to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, as they would be honoring him at the annual Yankees Homecoming Dinner. El Duque had previously held the record for most strikeouts in a single-game by a rookie with 13, which took place during the 1998 season. That was until Luis Gil took the mound on Saturday and retired 14 at-bats via strikeouts, breaking the nearly 26-year-old record.
The 25-year-old Yankees’ starter completed six innings, giving up just five hits, one run, one walk, and 14 strikeouts.
Today, Luis Gil recorded 14 strikeouts, a Yankees single-game rookie record. Who held that record before him?
El Duque -- who just so happened to throw out today's ceremonial 1st pitch.
Baseball is the Best. pic.twitter.com/zsboKhIpbz
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 18, 2024
Gil attributed some of his recent success to the teams' ace Gerrit Cole via a translator.
I have a teacher, Gerrit Cole, who's teaching me how to pitch, how to handle situations and how to execute," Gil said via his translator. "And that's what we're doing, what he teaches me, and we're applying it in the game.
The Bats Remain Ablaze
In addition to the piping hot rotation, the bats continue to be hot hot hot, especially that of the team Captain, Aaron Judge. Judge was named the AL Player of the Week, and rightfully so. The accolade was fueled by a week-long surge in extra-base hits, a .500 batting average, five doubles, and three home runs. Judge got off to a slow start this season, but it appears he has returned to his AL single-season home run record form. While he finished the month of April with a .220/.361/.450 slash line, he currently holds a .386/.521/.912 slash line through May and a .500/.625/1.208 in his last seven games.
Juan Soto put on a show in the Bronx going 4-for-4 with a walk, and two home runs. This marked Soto’s first multi-homer game as a Yankee.
Giancarlo Stanton contributed a pair of doubles, a pair of homers (his 10th and 11th of the season), and four RBI’s in this series. He’s hitting .393/.414/.786 in his last seven games.
Additionally, Anthony Volpe is currently flying under the radar with an 11-game hitting streak.
The Yankees are the first team with three players who have reached 10+ home runs this season.
Up next in the Bronx
The AL East frontrunning Yankees start a four-game series with the Mariners on Monday before they make their way up the west coast next week starting Friday in San Diego.
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