New York Has Setback As Los Angeles Evens The Series

After blowing out Los Angeles in the opening game in California on Friday by a score of 10-2 New York then had a setback in game two of their three game series.

With eight innings in the books, the Yankees' offensive attack had been boiled down to a single Aaron Judge swing. That appeared to be turning in the ninth, with closer Kenley Jansen pinned into a one-out jam, focusing his attention on the runners dancing from first and second bases.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

As Brett Gardner toppled second baseman Max Muncy on a fielder's choice that would see him ruled safe after review, Gleyber Torres dashed from third with what he believed would be the tying run. Instead, the play was waved off, and two outs later the Yankees were unpacking a controversial 2-1 loss to the Dodgers on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

"I didn’t see any umpire call time, so I am just a little bit surprised I am back to third base," Torres said. "… For sure, I saw an opportunity to score.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

As the play was explained to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, home plate umpire Gabe Morales said that he called time when Jansen began waving his arms in response to Muncy writhing near second base. Replays showed that Torres was running when Morales held the play, but Boone said there was no recourse to have the umpires check that footage.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

"Gabe said he killed it," Boone said. "Just looking back, Kenley held his hands up. It looked to me like Gleyber had already started down the line with a guy down on the field. The home plate umpire said he had killed it. … As far as I know, if he calls time, he called time." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

Instead of Torres scoring the tying run, the Yankees had the bases loaded and were down one with one out. Jansen won the battle, striking out Mike Tauchman and Gary Sánchez to even the Interleague series -- and, as Gardner mentioned to some of the Dodgers, a possible World Series preview -- at one game apiece. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

"Great atmosphere, playoff-like atmosphere," Gardner said. "Like I told those guys on second base in the last inning, 'Good luck the rest of the way, hope we see you guys again. Hope we come back to play again.' We had a great rally there in the end. We weren’t able to come through and get it done." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

Muncy added some spice to the proceedings by acknowledging that while Gardner's slide had shaken him up, there was also a fair amount of what he called "a little soccer in there." Muncy believed that if he sold the play, the umpires would halt Torres and send him back to third base, which is exactly what happened. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

"If I'm acting like I was hurt, they have to stop the play," Muncy said. "It's more just hoping they call it. If I get up and act like I'm not hurt, [Torres is] safe at home plate. One of those things. He still got me good, it still hurt, so it wasn't entirely fake, but there might have been a little acting class in there."

Asked if there was any chance of the Yankees filing a protest based on Torres' halted dash, Boone replied: "We'll certainly inquire with everyone and try to get a good explanation." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

The last successful protest was in August 2014, when the league ruled that the Cubs' grounds crew did not get the tarpaulin on quickly enough, ordering that a game against the Giants be resumed from the point of delay. Prior to that, the league had not upheld a protest since 1986.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

Take two

The ninth inning opened with Didi Gregorius earning praise for bunting a 3-1 Jansen pitch down the third-base line, attempting to exploit the Dodgers' shifted infield. It rolled foul and Gregorius tried again on two strikes. That also went foul for a strikeout, prompting a wave of second-guessing.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

"If the first one was fair, it probably would have been a double, too," Gregorius said. "I try to get on base. I am a team player. Any way I can, I try to get on. If they question that, then that’s their problem." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

Boone said that while he would not have ordered the two-strike bunt, he had no issue with Gregorius attempting one. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

"It's a weird way to end, and I know that's a question," Boone said. "But I think when you really break down the play, I don't think it's a bad thought if you're confident in your ability to do it." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

All Rise August

Judge's fourth-inning homer off Tony Gonsolin marked his second of the series and 15th of the year, a 424-foot blast that cleared the center-field wall. It was the Yanks' 58th in August, tying the Orioles (May 1987) and the Mariners (May 1999) for the most power production in a calendar month. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

The O’s needed 28 games and the Mariners did it in 27 games, placing the Yanks (who tied it in just 23 games) in prime position to eclipse those marks with six more games on the slate this month. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

CC you later

Saturday likely marked the final regular-season plate appearance of CC Sabathia's career, and the veteran can walk away knowing that he hit one on the screws. Sabathia grinned when told that his third-inning lineout to right field registered an exit velocity of 96.8 mph. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

"It felt good coming off the bat," Sabathia said. "I don’t know if I hit it hard enough. But it was fun getting in the box." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

On the mound, Sabathia showed signs of progress from his last start, holding the Dodgers to Justin Turner's two-run homer and five hits over four innings. Sabathia walked one and struck out seven before leaving for a pinch-hitter. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

"I felt my pitches were a little better," Sabathia said. "My changeup was a little better. I left the cutter up there for Turner, he homered on it. Everything else felt pretty good." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-offense-falls-short-against-dodgers

While New York had a setback Los Angeles meanwhile bounced back from their loss on Friday and evened up the series.

– For Kenley Jansen these days, there is no such thing as a routine save. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

He had to defuse a controversial, bases-loaded landmine in the ninth inning on Saturday to secure the Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the Yankees at Dodger Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

Setting aside the angst and drama and intrigue that now accompanies him to the mound, Jansen capped four scoreless innings from a Dodgers bullpen that will need to repeat this lockdown relay throughout October if this Interleague Series and possible World Series preview actually ends up as the World Series matchup. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

“It was good for him, it was good for all of us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Jansen’s 27th save and first since Aug. 6. “Need? Maybe a little strong. But for him, for us, it was really good to see. Kenley showed right there he can still command the baseball in a big spot and make the pitches.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

The win went to rookie Tony “Goooose” Gonsolin, who outpitched 251-game winner CC Sabathia. Justin Turner's two-run homer in the third inning gave the Dodgers the lead and after allowing an Aaron Judge solo shot, Gonsolin turned over the slim advantage to Joe Kelly for five outs, then Pedro Báez for four outs. Kelly has a 1.33 ERA since May 28 and Baez has a 2.45 ERA in his last 15 outings.”according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

On came the embattled Jansen, who had blown his two previous save opportunities and three of his past six. If the game started with the buzz of a postseason series, the ninth inning started with Dodgers fans holding their collective breath. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

Things got weird with the first batter, Jansen’s fellow Curacao native Didi Gregorius. Gregorius homered twice Friday night, but this time gifted his countryman the first out by bunting foul to the abandoned left side twice for a strikeout while trying to beat the shift. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

Then came soft contact. Gleyber Torres succeeded in beating the shift with a slow bouncer for a single. Brett Gardner's bouncer went off the glove of diving first baseman Matt Beaty, whose throw to first couldn’t get Gardner because Jansen was late covering the base. Gio Urshela's tapper was fielded by third baseman Turner, whose late throw to Max Muncy at second base triggered a Muncy “soccer flop” (according to the second baseman himself) and several reviews, resulting in an overturned out call and loading the bases with one out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

You can’t worry about the results. Right now, I got to get out of my head,” said Jansen. “Just have fun. Got to go back to how it was when I was 6 years old. Can’t let that stuff annoy you.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

Jansen seemed instead to let the stuff inspire him. Flashing back to the days when he was the best closer in the league, with surprising velocity and renewed command, he struck out Mike Tauchman on three pitches -- the last a fastball, not a cutter. Next was Gary Sánchez, who fouled a fastball and cutter, took a cutter for a ball, then whiffed on a 94.1 mph sinker to end the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

“Straight out adrenaline,” Jansen said of his mid-90s pitches. “I was a happy man on the mound today. I never lose my confidence. I know who I am. It [stinks] that the results aren’t there, but guess what? The cutter everybody’s been hitting got me out of there today. I guess it’s still good.””according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

Teammates noticed. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

“We had a conversation the other day about if he’s not able to get it done, we’ll pick him up and we’re going to need [him] to pick us up,” said Turner. “That play in the ninth, sure enough there was Kenley picking me up. He was great, the velocity and command was there. It was fun to watch when he’s got his old mix going.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

“That last batter, he looked like his old self," Muncy said. "The movement was really, really sharp. If he can find a way to keep that going, we’re going to be in good shape.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

While Gonsolin is on a short leash that left four innings for the bullpen, that’s not unlike the norm for a postseason game. Roberts conceded some of his pitching decisions reflected that. “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

“A little bit of bullpen status (four relievers were used Friday night), a little bit of getting these guys to run the exercise of going one-plus, a lot of it was to win the baseball game,” he said. “Those guys showed really well today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-bullpen-completes-close-win-yankees

New York and Los Angeles will finish up their series on Sunday night in Dodger Stadium.