The Yankees are officially rolling.
After turning a 4-1 deficit into a 5-4 win thanks to a four-run sixth inning, the Yanks have now rattled off five straight wins, the last four of the comeback variety, to move to a season-high 12 games above .500.
It didn’t look like it would turn out that way after Andrew Heaney, who was bombed for four home runs in his Yankee debut, allowed four runs over the first two innings, but the lefty settled down and didn’t allow a run the rest of the way, going six innings to save a bullpen that was needed for all 11 innings in Friday night’s win.
“I was thinking at some point Anthony Rizzo is gonna be pitching in this game, to be honest with you,” Boone said when asked about his mindset in the second inning, when Heaney was again struggling.
But Heaney settled down, and the Yankees fought back, showing a resiliency that was rarely seen through the first three months of the season. The Yanks pounced on defensive miscues by the Mariners that they were used to making themselves, and a heads-up baserunning play by DJ LeMahieu, stopping in his tracks to force a rundown while Kyle Higashioka scored the go-ahead run before the final out of the inning was recorded, proved to be a big turning point. It was also a refreshing change of pace for a team that has run into endless outs on the basepaths this season.
But again, this version of the Yankees, the one that is a league-best 19-8 over their last 27 games, is much different from the first half of the season.
“We didn’t know how we were gonna necessarily do it today, but a really good job by everyone,” Boone said. “Just know the importance, keep playing, hung around and got it done.”
With the win, the Yankees have now won eight series in their last nine tries, and sit just one game back of the A’s for the final playoff spot. But there is enough time to shoot for more than just a Wild Card spot, especially when considering who the Yanks don’t have right now. Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, Domingo German, Aroldis Chapman, Luke Voit, Gio Urshela, Gary Sanchez, Corey Kluber, and Luis Severino are all currently out, but the Yankees continue to pick up much-needed wins. For the first time all season, the Yankees look like the team many expected them to be at the beginning of the season, and it’s better late than never.
“We’re playing for a lot,” Boone said. “Everyone is keenly aware of that. We show up, it’s about us and trying to figure out a way to get a win. That’s the kind of selflessness we’re seeing from guys right now. I had guys walking in my office today saying ‘I can pitch,’ when I’m obviously staying away from certain guys right now. They’re hungry in there, they’re playing well and they know they have to keep playing well.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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