New York Comes Out On Top In Opener In Seattle

After taking two out of three games in Los Angeles against the Dodgers New York then went to Seattle and came out on top in the opener of their three game series.

- Mike Ford briefly believed that his first big league opportunity would come in the Pacific Northwest, and he was crestfallen when last year’s spring audition with the Mariners did not pan out. That made Monday's performance even sweeter for the big-swinging first baseman. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

Ford went deep in his first two at-bats as the rookie enjoyed his first career multihomer game, continuing a sizzling stretch as he and Gleyber Torres extended the club’s big league record for home runs in a calendar month to power a 5-4 victory over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

"No hard feelings, but it's definitely nice to stick it to them a little bit," Ford said. "It took me a period of time to get over it a little bit, but after that I was like, 'OK, now what's the next step?' I used that as a little boost." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

The intriguing power that Ford displayed during his first five seasons as a Yankees Minor Leaguer prompted the Mariners to grab him as a Rule 5 Draft pick prior to the 2018 campaign. Ford had a solid spring, but the Mariners handed first base to Daniel Vogelbach and returned Ford to the Yankees in late March, recouping half of their $50,000 selection fee.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

Since Ford said he decided to transform that rejection into motivation, perhaps the 27-year-old should be thanking the Mariners for helping him take advantage of this unexpected opportunity. Facing Tommy Milone, Ford mashed a two-run homer as part of a four-run second inning, then added a solo shot in the fourth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

"If opportunity knocks for him, I am confident he can go in there and give us these kinds of at-bats," manager Aaron Boone said. "The power is real. He has been having a great year down in Triple-A and is taking advantage of an opportunity. It's really been nice to see, especially this road trip." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

All season, the Yankees have subscribed to a "next man up" mindset, and Ford's contributions have helped the club absorb recent injuries to first basemen Edwin Encarnacion and Luke Voit. Having homered in back-to-back games, Ford is batting .353 (12-for-34) with eight runs, a double, five homers across his last 12 contests. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

"I think the big thing is regular at-bats," Ford said. "It allows you to get locked in and stay locked in a little bit. This league is really hard, but I've always been confident in my ability to hit. That's what has gotten me to this point. I can't lose that edge." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

Record store

Having secured the all-time mark for homers in a calendar month over the weekend in Los Angeles, the Yankees continued to plug away, adding Torres' 33rd blast to Ford's pair. That gives the Yankees 64 homers in August, and the club still has four games remaining before the calendar flips to September. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

"It's just fun," Ford said. "At any given moment, anyone can leave the field at any time. It's awesome to be part of." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

The Yankees hit three homers for the 35th time this season, which is second in the Majors only to the Twins (39). The Yanks are only the third team in history to have 35 three-homer games within their first 133 contests, joining this year's Twins and the 1997 Mariners. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

A step forward

The 32 home runs that J.A. Happ has surrendered represent a career-high, ranking third in the Majors behind only the D-backs' Mike Leake (34) and the Astros' Justin Verlander (33). Yet the left-hander said that he would look past the three-run homer that Dylan Moore cracked in the second inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

"It was really one swing, and I feel like I could have been out of there," Happ said. "There's nobody more frustrated than me, but in order to stay sane I've got to take the positives here. I think overall it was a good outing." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

Other than Moore's homer, which came on a changeup that cut back over the plate, Happ permitted only an infield single through five innings to pick up his 11th victory. Happ walked three and struck out seven before Mallex Smith hit a seventh-inning homer off Nestor Cortes Jr., making it a one-run game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

"I was just trying to trust my fastball. I felt like it had some life tonight," Happ said. "I was just trying to stay aggressive. We're trying to get ahead and it's working. I've definitely got to take the positives of getting through there with two hits."“according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

Rules check

The Yankees' Cory Gearrin received an unexpected mound visit from home-plate umpire Manny Gonzalez in the sixth inning, informing the reliever that the toe tap he uses is illegal. Gearrin protested, saying that he was cleared by Major League Baseball to use that motion earlier this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

"I was told that it is legal," Gearrin said. "Really, I just have to get some sort of understanding. I'm sure we're going to reach out to the league and try to get clarification." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

Gearrin, who based his motion on a more aggressive one used by Carter Capps, said he used the toe tap throughout 2018 without issue. It prompted a 15-minute delay during a May game between his Mariners and the Athletics, as the umpires utilized their replay headsets to check the rule book. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

That crew reviewed Rule 5.07(a), which states, "The pitcher may not take a second step toward home plate with either foot or otherwise reset his pivot foot in his delivery of the pitch. If there is a runner, or runners, on base it is a balk under Rule 6.02(a); if the bases are unoccupied it is an illegal pitch under Rule 6.02(b).” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

When play resumed, Gearrin indeed was called for a balk, then he issued a walk to Corey Seager before striking out Tom Murphy. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

"I was considering taking him out mid-hitter, just because you are asking a big league athlete to all of a sudden do something different out there," Boone said. "I was a little concerned about it, but I thought he handled himself really well." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

Gearrin said that it seemed to be "convenient timing" for the scrutiny to happen as he appeared against the club for which he was pitching last week, but Mariners manager Scott Servais said that his bench did not say anything to the umpires about Gearrin. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

"I don’t know," Gearrin said. "I'm a Yankee. I'm excited to be a Yankee. It was a great Yankee win." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/mike-ford-homers-twice-as-yankees-beat-mariners

Meanwhile, Seattle had a setback in the opening game of the three game series.

Given that the Yankees have already hit the most home runs of any Major League team in a calendar month with five days still remaining in August, it’s no surprise that long balls decided the fate of the Mariners' 5-4 loss to New York at T-Mobile Park. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

What is a bit surprising is that Mike Ford, a former Mariners Rule 5 pick who was returned to the Yankees last March, launched two of the Bombers’ three homers off Tommy Milone from the No. 9 spot in the lineup. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

Ford is playing because Luke Voit, Greg Bird and Edwin Encarnacion are all on the injured list for the Yankees, and the 27-year-old first baseman now has eight home runs in 32 games. The Mariners gave the former Princeton standout a look in Spring Training of 2018, but wound up going with Ryon Healy and Daniel Vogelbach at first base when camp broke. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

The Yankees, who also got a second-inning blast from Gleyber Torres, hiked their August total to 64 home runs. The previous MLB record for a calendar month was 58 by the 1999 Mariners and ‘87 Orioles. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

“They’ve got power up and down their lineup, and obviously that was the story of the night, the home run ball,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Just a couple mistakes that Tommy left in the middle of the plate hurt us.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

After a 1-2-3 first inning by opener Matt Wisler, Torres jumped on Milone’s first pitch in the second for his 33rd homer of the year. Later that inning, Ford’s first homer also came on a first-pitch fastball. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

“Torres is a very aggressive hitter,” Servais said. “You can’t make a mistake like that. That’s why he’s having the season he’s having. A very talented young player. And Mike Ford, we know very well. We had him in Spring Training last year. He does have power to the pull side, and he got on a couple tonight.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

Seattle has allowed 222 homers, the second-most in MLB, and they are on pace for 272 for the year, which would shatter their franchise record of 237 given up in 2017. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

The Mariners played some long ball of their own with a three-run smash by utility man Dylan Moore in the second inning, his second homer in the past two games. This one projected at 400 feet, per Statcast, to center field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

“That’s a long ways to hit a ball,” said Servais. “That’s probably one of the farthest home runs he’s ever hit. He’s been swinging the bat good here the last couple days.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

Moore hadn’t played in a week until getting the start Sunday and homering in Seattle’s 3-1 win over the Blue Jays and he followed up with his sixth of the season on a J.A. Happ changeup. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

“They kind of punched us in the mouth, but we came back and settled down,” Moore said. “It’s a good matchup. We both have good offenses.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

Mallex Smith -- in the game after Keon Broxton was ejected for accidentally hitting home-plate umpire Manny Gonzalez with a batting glove after being called out on strikes in the second inning -- took Nestor Cortes Jr. deep to cut the lead to 5-4 in the seventh.”according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

But the Mariners managed just four hits on the night and couldn’t dent the Yankees’ potent back of the bullpen, with Aroldis Chapman striking out Moore on a 102-mph fastball to end the night. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

The Mariners are tied for fifth in MLB with 210 homers on the year. That’s on pace for 258 for the season, which would be just shy of the club-record 264 set in 1997. That mark stood as the MLB record until the Yankees hit 267 last year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

But the Twins have already hit 253 this year and are on pace for 315 on the season, while the Yankees are second now with 244. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-outhomered-in-loss-to-yankees

New York and Seattle will play game two of their three game series on Tuesday night at Safeco Field where two pitchers from Japan will face off as Masahiro Tanaka will start for New York while Yusei Kikuchi who is a rookie will start for Seattle.