Luke Voit Has Perfect Game As New York Routes Boston

Luke Voit hasn’t been a New York Yankee or in the American League long as he came over before the July 31st trade deadline from Saint Louis who is a member of the National League but he’s already making his presence felt in the Bronx and that presence continued in game two of New York’s three -game series against their American League East rival Boston at Yankee Stadium.

Luke Voit homered twice as part of a career-high four-hit performance, supporting Luis Severino's sterling seven-inning outing. The Yankees kept the beer and bubbly shelved in the visiting clubhouse for a second consecutive evening, preventing the Red Sox from celebrating the American League East with a 10-1 rout on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

We don't want them to clinch here," Voit said. "They're our rival and we're going to try to do everything we can. We've been cold as a team and we haven't been our New York Yankees. It's huge to get [Aaron] Judge and Didi [Gregorius] back healthy, and Gary [Sanchez] and [Aroldis] Chapman. It's scary how good this team is going to be. We're looking to do some damage in the playoffs." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

With 11 games left in the regular season, the Yankees hold a 2 1/2-game lead over the A's for the top AL Wild Card spot. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

Miguel Andujar hit his 25th homer as the Yankees battered familiar opponent David Price and Severino bounced back from an inconsistent second half to compile one of his best starts in weeks. Severino snapped a three-start winless streak, capping his six-hit, six-strikeout effort with a curveball that froze Mookie Betts for a called third strike. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

"Every time we face the Red Sox, it's a huge series, huge game," Severino said. "I think facing a team like this brings out the best in everybody. My mindset today was to go over there and go after everybody. My last start before this wasn't that bad. I was feeling good, too, so I know I'm getting on track again." according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

Boston's only run off Severino came on Sandy Leon's fifth-inning single. With the Yankees eyeing a potential AL Wild Card Game, Severino could be bypassed in favor of Masahiro Tanaka or J.A. Happ, both of whom have pitched more consistently of late. But manager Aaron Boone said that the Yanks will need all three to pitch well if they intend to be the last team standing.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

Price has lost all six of his starts at Yankee Stadium since joining the Red Sox, thumped for six runs (four earned) and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Andujar opened the scoring with a second-inning homer and third baseman Eduardo Nunez muffed an Aaron Judge grounder that chased home another two runs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

The barrel-chested Voit cleared the right-field wall with an opposite-field shot in the fourth, then went deep again to the same area in the sixth for a two-run blast, charging around the basepaths with his top jersey button undone as Price was dispatched to the showers. Price has allowed 33 runs in 30 1/3 innings (9.79 ERA) when pitching for Boston in the Bronx. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

We wanted to take it to these guys," Voit said. "Obviously probably down the line in the playoffs we're going to face them again. We want to get hot at the right time going into those games and it's nice to have a big night. We have to get this offense rolling. It's been dragging the last couple of weeks. That was a big game for us." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

Aaron Hicks added a two-run triple off Joe Kelly, part of a three-RBI performance. Justus Sheffield, the Yankees' top-rated prospect according to MLB Pipeline, recorded the final three outs in his Major League debut. Sheffield loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before getting Betts to ground into a game-ending double play. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

"I was trying to breathe as much as I could, trying to settle down," Sheffield said. "Didi was out there and telling me to slow down and breathe. That's what I just kept doing. I knew that sooner or later if I kept doing that, I was going to make the right pitch." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

SOUND SMART
Voit's second homer gave the Yankees a Major League-leading 245 blasts for the season, equaling a franchise record set by the 2012 s”quad. With nine homers since joining the Yanks, Voit is one deep drive shy of becoming the 12th player on the roster with a double-digit home run total, which would set a Major League record. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

We have gotten it from a lot of different people," Boone said. "Obviously we've needed that. With Miggy kind of kicking in the door and taking that job early in the season and running with it, the role he's played. And then Voit; if you would've said a couple months ago that he'd be playing this kind of role and hitting for this kind of power with us, I don't think anyone saw it coming." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

HE SAID IT
"My legs felt like Jell-O. The first thing I was thinking is, 'Don't trip on the mound. Just don't trip.'" -- Sheffield “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
After Voit had rounded the bases for his sixth-inning home run, the umpires called for a review to see if a fan in the front row had interfered with the ball. The call on the field was confirmed, with the flight of the ball appearing to carry into the seating area. Neither of Voit's home runs were Statcast™ darlings -- the second came off his bat at 94.1 mph and traveled 343 feet -- but he and the Yankees certainly aren't complaining. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

"Tonight it was a little windier, so you didn't know," Voit said. "I thought I got that last one more than I did and it barely went out. Luckily it went over. You watch every guy hit a ball to right field, they're always looking at the outfielder and judging it. There's definitely cheap home runs, but you've got to take advantage of it." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134

With the win, New York improves to 93-58 on the regular season and denied Boston another chance to claim the American League East title. With the loss, Boston drops to 103-49 on the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

UP NEXT
The Yankees will try to prevent the Red Sox from celebrating the AL East title for a third consecutive evening on Thursday as the rivals meet at 7:05 p.m. ET in an MLB Network Showcase Game. Tanaka (12-5, 3.47 ERA) will start for New York, having allowed two earned runs or fewer in nine of his past 11 starts, posting a 2.15 ERA over that span. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (12-4, 3.53 ERA) has the ball for Boston. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134