Yankees Snap Losing Streak Against Nationals
The Yankees have struggled against winning teams, sitting at even against those above .500. This past weekend, they lost three of four games to the Red Sox, managing only two wins out of ten matchups this season. Facing strong opponents like the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Houston, and Detroit, their record is a disappointing 7-19.
However, overcoming the top teams is not the only concern. They found relief in a game against the Nationals, where they decisively won 10-5 before a crowd of 36,939.
With a record of 71-60, the Yankees are trailing 5½ games behind the Blue Jays after their recent losses to the Red Sox. Surprisingly, they seem to perform better against weaker teams, especially within the National League.
In this game, Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Jasson Dominguez all hit home runs, while Cody Bellinger had a standout performance with three RBIs. Remarkably, every starter recorded at least one hit, showcasing their strongest offensive display of the season. Despite allowing five runs, the pitching from Yerry de Los Santos and Mark Leiter Jr. was less than inviting.
On a night celebrating the musical “Hamilton,” Cam Schlittler delivered a scoreless six innings, supported by the Yankees’ 12 hits and four walks.
The game was reminiscent of the Yankees’ earlier seasons, marked by an impressive home run from Rice, who drove the ball 435 feet—a personal best.
“When you’re behind the plate, handling pitchers is key,” Rice mentioned, acknowledging his increased time in the lineup. “But hitting is why you’re really here.”
Chisholm, too, celebrated as he notched his career-high 25th homer, attributing his success to being healthy and maybe feeling a bit of “70% Jazz” contributing to his performance.
Dominguez added to the scoreboard with a three-run homer, bringing laughter to the game in the seventh inning. The Yankees now lead the majors with 218 home runs.
Yet there’s a sense of mixed feelings about their reliance on home runs. Bellinger’s first hit contributed to a run, showcasing a different aspect of their offense. After a sacrifice fly, he also executed a two-run single that boosted the team’s score further.
“It’s all about finding a way to win,” Bellinger expressed, reflecting on his hitting approach this season, where he boasts a .321 batting average and a .377 on-base percentage.
Overall, the Yankees displayed an impressive performance—much more than they needed from Schlittler, who had a solid game allowing only four hits and three walks over six innings.
He even threw a blazing pitch clocked at 100.6 mph, his fastest of the season, impressing both fans and teammates. “He’s good,” Boone remarked, chuckling at the understatement, “I mean, he’s fine.”
