There is no clock in baseball, except for the clock between innings and the new clock that times mound visits. And there is no time limit on the baseball itself. There is no 90-minute time period with a break at the 45th, no 15-minute quarters or three 20-minute periods. There is only the slow and steady process of the ball pounding into the catcher’s mitt, occasionally punctuated by the crack of a bat and all hell breaking lose on the field. The inning continues until three outs are made, and only then does everything roll over and the process starts again.
The Yankees’ 7-5 win over the White Sox on Sunday began at 1:09 p.m. ET. It ended at 4:45.
Along the way, there were lead changes, and homers, and walks aplenty. There was ineffective pitching from both the brilliant and the pedestrian. There was a piece of history, a historically great caught stealing, a bases-loaded walk, and two important players finding the good side of the Mendoza line.
Masahiro Tanaka labored through five endless innings of work. He allowed eight hits walked three, allowing four runs when all was said and done. White Sox starter Miguel Gonzalez wasn’t much better, though, walking five and giving up five hits before failing to escape the fifth inning. Both men pitched at a glacial pace, and were drawn out even more by the endless supply of baserunners. Carlos Beltran’s 400th career homer off Zach Duke in the bottom of the sixth put New York up 5-4, but Dellin Betances allowed three straight hits in the seventh and the White Sox tied the game.
Chase Headley would pinch hit for Ronald Torreyes with Didi Gregorius on first base in the seventh. He doubled off the center field wall, putting the Yankees on top for good. Brian McCann added a solo shot in the eighth to make the score 7-5. Strong relief work from Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman sealed the deal.
The Yankees now sit at 16-20, just four games under .500. They won their third straight series and won seven of ten games on the homestand. The light at the end of the tunnel is starting to shine.
The Play: Beltran joins the 400 HR club (.345 WPA)
Beltran’s two-run bomb put the Yankees up 5-4. Robin Ventura had brought in Duke to face Beltran, and Beltran made him pay.
Top Performers
Yankees: Carlos Beltran (1-3, 2R-HR)
White Sox: Melky Cabrera (2-4, BB, 1 RBI)
Notes
– The Yankees just took three straight series from the high-octane Red Sox, the defending champion Royals, and the White Sox, the best team in the American League. The one game they lost to Chicago was started by Chris Sale. You’re gonna lose to Chris Sale. It happens.
– Beltran’s 400th homer should pretty much cement his Hall of Fame case. He used to be an excellent center fielder, he’s been money in the playoffs, he’s a switch hitter, he used to steal a lot of bags, and now he’s got 400 homers. It would be a crime if he didn’t get in.
– How about Chase Headley? He’s found the good side of .200, and he’s hitting for power again. If Headley really is back, he’s a massive asset.
– Tanaka has now had two rough outings in a row, but don’t sound the alarm just yet. These things happen. The White Sox are a good, good team.
– Kirby Yates had another scoreless inning today. He’s been quietly great (1.88 ERA, 10.67 K/9).
The Highlight: Holy Didi Gregorius
Brian McCann’s throw to second was out of place. That didn’t stop Didi from making an utterly incredible play to nab Tyler Saladino.
Up Next
The Yankees will take their talents to Arizona to begin a three-game set with the rather toothless Diamondbacks. Michael Pineda with face off with Robbie Ray in a battle of pitchers who can lay claim to being the subject of “Oh yeah, he was in that trade. Wow.” Ray was the “centerpiece” of the deal that sent Doug Fister to Washington, if you recall.
Photo: Anthony Grupposo / USA Today Sports; Video: MLB.com
I’ve thought for a while that something that makes Didi extra great is his tagging ability. That often goes overlooked for fielders but I’ve noticed him making a bunch of great tags over his year plus with the yankees