Oh hell yes. Get used to seeing a lot of this. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
On an afternoon when neither starting pitcher seemed to have any interest in going deep, Jesus Montero certainly did, connecting for his first career home run in the fifth — a tie-breaking shot to right field that would also end up being the difference in the game — and a two-run shot in the seventh, that gave the Yankees two additional huge runs that they most definitely needed in Sunday’s wild 11-10 victory over the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Montero became the first Yankee to hit his first two MLB home runs in the same game since did it on August 7, 1998, and neither blast was a cheapie either — both bombs were opposite field shots to right, giving Yankee fans quite an introduction to a player who has perhaps even more raw power than initially expected. While it’s the smallest of small samples, I can’t help but note that Montero is now hitting .385/.467/.846, good for a .549 wOBA and 255 wRC+, across his first 15 career plate appearances.
Freddy Garcia had nothing in this one, lasting only 2.2 innings — his second-shortest outing of the season — and giving up seven runs on nine hits. Thankfully the Yankees have developed a knack for bailing their starters out of terrible performances these days. Down 7-2 after 1 and 1/2 innings, the Yankees immediately fought back against , as punched a two-run double to cut the lead to one, which drove Matusz from the game. Perhaps it’s simply a matter of growing pains, but Matusz just doesn’t seem right this season. Last Labor Day he threw six strong innings of three-run ball against the Yankees, leading the O’s to victory. His line in this game was an ugly 1.1 innings of five-run ball (not to mention being shelled by the Yankees a week and a half ago), and didn’t even think about letting Matusz work his way out of trouble.
Enter , who promptly walked before plunking , loading the bases for . This at-bat had “foregone conclusion” written all over it, and sure enough, Jakubauskus’ 91mph fastball was no match for Cano, who fouled off four pitches before absolutely pummeling the seventh pitch of the at-bat into the right-field bleachers for his third grand slam of the season. It was a majestic shot, putting the Yankees ahead 8-5, and truly underscored just how out of the Yankees’ league the Orioles are. Though to Baltimore’s credit, it wasn’t for lack of trying. The O’s did manage a whopping 17 hits against Yankee pitching in this one, and managed to put the tying and go-ahead runs on 2nd and 3rd with two outs against a shaky in the ninth before Mo recovered to fan and save the game.
was certainly thankful that rosters expanded on Thursday, as he was able to piece together most of the game without using his top relievers. Of course, the bullpen didn’t quite make it to the finish line without some hiccups of its own — I know he won’t be pitching any meaningful innings, but I’m already over the reunion — but the end result is all that matters. Also of note, hit his sixth home run of the year against the Yankees, giving Reynolds the most home runs of an opposing player against the Bombers this season. has five, and Jose Bautista four ().
Just like that, the Yankees are riding another five-game winning streak, and Boston’s loss to Toronto extended the Yankees’ lead on first place to 2.5 games. Between a rare sweep of the Blue Jays and Jesus Montero introducing himself to the league in style with a multi-home-run game that included the game-winner, this truly was a Labor Day weekend to remember in Yankeeland.
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Imagine if they had traded this kid for two months of Cliff Lee.
Je…sus…
Yeah, here’s what would’ve happened:
2010 ALCS
Games 1 & 5 – Cliff Lee
Games 2 & 6 – Andy Pettitte
Games 3 & 7 – C.C. Sabathia
Phil Hughes, an 18-game winner, starting Game 4
Yanks in 5
Same rotation for the 2010 World Series.
Yanks in 6 (I’d give Lincecum and Cain a win each out of respect.)
I think Pettitte would’ve returned for one final season this year after back-to-back World Series titles, six WS rings out of eight tries as a Yankee, and nine total WS appearances. I couldn’t see him walking away. Winning is addictive.
If Pettitte still retired, Sabathia/Lee/Burnett/Hughes/Nova to start 2011 (I don’t think the Yanks would’ve signed Garcia and/or Colon had they landed Lee.) Maybe they would’ve still signed Colon if they didn’t think Nova was a lock to be a serviceable fifth starter. I wouldn’t have been surprised had Colon been given the fifth starter job over Nova if the Yanks got Lee.
I like what I see from Montero so far, but let’s not annoint him The Second Coming Of Miguel Cabrera / Manny Ramirez yet.
Cliff Lee today is the #2 starter on the Phillies, would be their ace if Halladay got injured, and would be the ace on any AL team save the Yankees (Sabathia), Tigers (Verlander), and Seattle (Hernandez.)
They would have another World Series ring.
Word.
Btw here’s why I think the Yanks have unofficially clinched the division title:
If they play only 12-11 ball in their remaining 23 games, Boston would have to finish 14-8 to win the division. I don’t see the Yanks doing worse than 14-9 which means Boston would have to play at least 16-6 ball to win the division. If the Yanks swept the Orioles – why not since the Os are so wretched? – they’d have to play only 11-9 ball the rest of the way to go 14-9 in their final 23 games.
I don’t see Boston finishing 16-6 with 7 against the Os including a doubleheader, 6 against the Rays, 6 against the Blue Jays, and 3 against the Yankees. Even if they 6-1 dominated the Os, they’d still have to play 10-5 / 2 wins every 3 games / .667 ball against the Rays, Blue Jays, and Yankees to win the division if the Yanks played 14-9 ball the rest of the way – ‘not happening. The Rays, Blue Jays, and Yanks are too good to be collectively .333 or worse. That means the Red Sox would have to win every series vs. those teams and sweep a series for every series they win only one game in.
The Beckett injury could cost the Red Sox the division for if he’s put on the 15-day d.l. tomorrow, he comes back 9/22 just in time for the Yanks-Red Sox series at Yankee Stadium 9/23-25 – too late when he could make only one more regular season start where he could go the distance (my guess 9/23) since he has to pitch Games 1 and 5 of the ALDS thus can’t make one more full start vs. the Os.
It’s a little premature to hand the division to the Yanks, but I do agree that the Beckett injury may make it a little tougher for the Sox.
[...] Source: https://yankeeanalysts.com/2011/09/montero-clubs-first-two-major-league-home-runs-in-11-10-yankee... [...]
[...] series off by playing a three-game set at Yankee Stadium (which the Yanks won, highlighted by Jesus Montero’s first career two-home-run game — and first two career home runs) and then a one-off back down in Camden Yards to make up for [...]
[...] series off by playing a three-game set at Yankee Stadium (which the Yanks won, highlighted by Jesus Montero’s first career two-home-run game — and first two career home runs) and then a one-off [...]