THE YANKEES ARE SO EXTRA... EXCEPT FOR LAST NIGHT

These last three games against the Tampa Bay Rays have exposed the Yankees' inner core.  The team has had to dig deep to win three in a row in extra innings.  But last night, they couldn't pull off another extra inning win despite CC Sabathia going into the 7th and Aaron Hicks tying the game at 3 with a two strike home run to left field in the top of the 9th. But after two quicks outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Rays walk off with a Travis d'Arnaud home run off Chad Green. 

Source: NJ.com

"The loss was just the Yankees’ third in 12 games this season against the Rays, who still are 7 ½ games out in the division with the All-Star break coming after Sunday’s series finale," reported NJ.com.  So if you are looking for a silver lining, that is it.  This team is relentless.  They keep going after opponents.  Yet, I get it.  This is a tough loss for the Yankees with Sabathia going just under 90 pitches and carrying his team into 7th.

Source: NJ.com

The Yankees are 27 games above 500 just about where they were last year at this time but this year they are way ahead of the pack at the top of the American League East.  Another something to be happy about despite the loss is Aaron Hicks appears to be back in business.  "Hicks was heating up after a slow start coming back from what he said was “chronic,” lower back pain. In the last 10 games, Hicks hit .297/.391/.541 with nine RBI and two homers," reported NJ.com.

Seeing Brett Gardner hit home runs 13 and 14 is another reason to be optimistic despite last night's difficult loss.  The Yankees play the final game of the series and the last game before the All Start break this afternoon in Tamp.  It is sink or swim for the Yankees after that and if these few games are any indication of what they have in the tank, I am all in.  This team is exciting to watch.  Yea, last night was hard but overall this is the team I am betting on to take it all.  Mistakes happen along the way; but they make winning the championship even sweeter.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof