Benches Clear as Yankees Beat White Sox 7–5
Donaldson and Anderson exchange words for the second time this year
The feud between the Chicago White Sox and Josh Donaldson continues.
Last week in Chicago, Donaldson and Tim Anderson had words after a tag at third base.
Today, they exchanged words in the third inning. Catcher Yasmani Grandal got into the face of Donaldson in his next at-bat in the fifth emptying both the New York Yankees’ and White Sox’ benches.
Grandal was standing up for Anderson after Donaldson referred to Anderson as ‘Jackie’ (Robinson).
White Sox manager Tony La Russa and Anderson both claimed the comment was disrespectful and racist.
“He deemed that it was disrespectful. Look, if he did, I apologize. That’s not what I was trying to do, by any matter,” Donaldson said.
Donaldson was referencing a 2019 interview where Anderson called himself the ‘modern-day Jackie Robinson.’
While with the Atlanta Braves, Donaldson said they joked about it on the field and Anderson laughed at the comment.
Their relationship is different now than in years past. It was a bad spot for Donaldson to make that comment. He said he would meet with Anderson if Anderson desires.
Let me know your thoughts on what transpired.
Now that that is out of the way, there was a baseball game today that the New York Yankees won 7–5.
Game summary
The Yankees finally got through on Dallas Keuchel in the second inning.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit an RBI single, and DJ LeMahieu hit the Yankees’ first grand slam of the year to make it 5–0.
José Abreu responded with a three-run shot in the third.
Donaldson reached on a fielder’s choice in the bottom half of the frame to extend the Yankee lead by one.
Nestor Cortes, Jr. (3–1) wasn’t as sharp today. Hit pitch count was high which limited him to five innings, but the one mistake was all he made and it was enough to get his third win of the year.
He allowed three runs on six hits, striking out seven.
Michael King relieved Cortes, Jr. and struggled, allowing two runs on three hits.
Leury García and Josh Harrison both hit RBI doubles to cut the Yankee lead to one.
Rizzo tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with a sac fly to make the score 7–5.
Jonathan Loáisiga and Miguel Castro combined for 1 2/3 innings of shutout baseball.
Clay Holmes pitched a perfect last 1 1/3 innings and picked up the save.
Offensive notes
Finally, the Yankees solve Keuchel.
They got timely hits and surprisingly hit their first grand slam of the season. They have had multiple three-run homers, but no slams until today.
Seven of the nine starters scored a run and six recorded hits.
Giancarlo Stanton was the only hitter with multiple hits, going 3/4 with three singles as he continues his hot stretch.
New York moves to 19–1 when scoring five or more runs.
The offense did its job today and was the reason for the win.
Pitching notes
Cortes, Jr. had a bit of a rough start due to the unreasonably high pitch count.
But seven strikeouts through five innings with no walks was good enough for the Yankees. He left with the lead and watched the Yankee offense do the rest.
King struggled for just the second time this year, which is going to happen.
Loáisiga and Castro both looked better today, and Holmes cemented himself as the best reliever in baseball.
He currently has a streak of 21 consecutive innings without allowing a run.
Pure dominance and he doesn’t look like he is going to slow down anytime soon.
New Yankee closer, anyone?
Looking ahead
After Friday’s rainout, the White Sox and Yankees will play a double-header tomorrow.
Game one is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. EST with the pitching matchup being Jameson Taillon (4–1, 3.28 ERA) facing Johnny Cueto.
Game two is Sunday Night Baseball and will have Luis Severino (3–0, 3.64 ERA) squaring off against Michael Kopech (0–1, 1.54 ERA).
Let’s go Yankees!
