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For the Yankees, the verdict of their 2018 season could be the result of a single match – a match that is not yet on their schedule. That is, they play there at all.
"Everyone is on the bridge for this game," said managing director Brian Cashman, "and we need to find a way to survive."
Cashman was referring to the AHL playoff game scheduled for Oct. 3 – possibly against Oakland Athletics and perhaps Yankee Stadium. He called the game "a cage match".
But as the Yankees struggled to defeat the Baltimore Orioles, now the losers in a 109-game franchise record, they were unlikely to survive a fight in a playoff game .
The Yankees coach, formerly a force, took over in the seventh and allowed the Orioles to return twice in a game that seemed incongruous, first 6-0, then 9-4. The most troubling was an eighth round of four in which A. J. Cole and David Robertson each conceded a two-run run, turning a trick into a game.
The Yankees kept their lead, 10-8, but after six strong runs from starter C. C. Sabathia, manager Aaron Boone needed six pitchers to get the last nine outings of the match.
"You have to be able to replenish it sometimes," said Boone. "It was not a good night for us, but I'm not too worried."
The Yankees focused on the game of wild cards when their hopes of overtaking the Boston Red Sox in the Eastern AHL died Thursday night in an 11-6 loss that allowed Boston to separate .
After Friday's win, the Yankees dominated Oakland in the wild card standings twice, awaiting the result of A's late game against the Minnesota Twins.
"We have to break our ticket to the playoffs," Cashman said before the game, "and we have to hit our ticket to play at home. Win this game and you are dreaming of great things.
The match against the Orioles has not suggested that this team can finish in glory.
The Yankees had a two-run run of Didi Gregorius, his 27th breath of the season, in the first inning, another two-point homer of Aaron Hicks, his 25th, fourth, and a two-point single in the seventh. Luke Voit, who has amassed 24 points in 31 games.
But the Orioles continued their momentum, narrowing the lead to 6-4 on a two-run home run by Austin Wynns in the seventh and 9-8 at home by Renato Nunez and D. J. Stewart in the eighth. Dellin Betances gave a ninth game to one inning, but managed the last two outings for the save.
"Obviously, we have to finish things here in the regular season because we want to be the local wild-card team," said Cashman. "We want to find our rhythm from the beginning of October so that we can be everything we hope to be."
Boone expressed optimism about the recent return of Aaron Judge, who had two hits and a duo R.B.I on Friday, and Aroldis Chapman from the disabled list.
"Obviously, these games are really important," said Boone. "And now that we are whole, we have the impression that we have very good options to get there every day."
Cashman and Boone have tough decisions to make if the Yankees reach the joker – nothing more difficult than knowing who will start the game. Currently, J. A. Happ, the Yankees' most reliable pitcher of the second half, is set to begin his final regular season on September 28 in Boston. This would give him a normal rest period before the wild card.
But starting this game would also limit Happ, who is 7-4 with an average of 2.82 points in 19 career starts against Boston, to an appearance in a potential series of the Yankees-Red Sox division. Boone said Happ's success against Boston would have little impact on who he will choose to start the game of wild cards.
"We're going to put everything in this game and what gives us the best chance of winning, that's ultimately what the decision will do," Boone said. "It's about winning this game. "
Indoor location
Before the game, the Yankees announced the creation of the Yankees-Stonewall Scholars Initiative, a scholarship fund commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in 1969, considered a turning point in the gay liberation movement. The initiative will award five $ 10,000 college scholarships to graduates of New York City public schools who have demonstrated academic achievement and support to the LGBTQ community.
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