THE YANKEES GOT PUNCHED, BUT THEN PUNCHED BACK.

The Yankees were embarrassed 10–2 by the Orioles in Friday’s doubleheader opener. Read HERE. Then they came back out and won the nightcap 6–3. That’s the story: a team that could have let one ugly game turn into an ugly day answered with a win.

Was a split what we wanted? Of course not. But after that first game, the Yankees needed to show some fight. They did. They gave their fans a reason to leave the Stadium talking about a victory instead of spending the whole night stewing over a blowout.

Anthony Volpe helped make it happen with a two-run double in the sixth. Good for him. I’m happy to see him deliver in a big spot. But one hit should not turn into another announcement that Volpe has finally figured it out. The recent eight-game batting figures of roughly .200 to .222 that have circulated from StatMuse are a reminder of why fans still question his consistency.  

Volpe gets credit for Friday’s double. The Yankees get credit for the 6–3 win. Now they need to bring that same response to the next game, because a split is only satisfying when it leads to something better.