Yankees Salvage Game in Showcase Series vs. Dodgers

The Yankees haven't seen much in the way of on-field adversity this season. 

Yes, losing Gerrit Cole for a better part of the first half was indeed a challenge, but the Yankees have answered the bell almost exclusively on a daily basis. This weekend however has been different. 

The Yankees have been without their superstar slugger Juan Soto all weekend due to forearm soreness, and it showed. The Bombers dropped the first two games of this fascinating series against the LA Dodgers, with Saturday's game a total blowout, 11-3. 

So on Sunday the Yankees needed a pick-me up, and got it in the form of Trent Grisham who unloaded on a Tyler Glasnow fastball, sending it into the seats for a three-run homer. 

So much for the Yankees fans who were chanting, "We want Soto" during Grisham's at bat. 

"You know Grisham works his butt off every single day," Judge said Judge said of the fans chanting for Soto during Grisham's at bat. "He showed up tonight in a big moment. I wasn't too happy with (the chanting) but he made a good point." 

Judge also got his point across when he crushed a solo homer into the second deck in the eighth inning for good measure. 

That was enough to make a 6-4 lead stand-up against a good Dodgers team. 

The Yankees needed that one.  The Bombers haven't faced too many teams over the .500 mark this year (not their fault, it's just the way it is right now in baseball), so to salvage a game against a really good team before a critical road trip is huge. 

The Yankees face the Kansas City Royals this week, who have been baseball's biggest surprise this year with a record of 39-27. After that the Yankees head to Beantown to face the Red Sox. Some huge action is coming up in the coming nights for the Bronx Bombers. 

Gerrit Cole Getting Closer to Yankees Return

 Gerrit Cole said it was a pretty good day, but he felt he still has plenty to work on.

"Definitely did get stronger as the game went along," Cole said in his self-evaluation of his effort on Sunday. "I thought the pitch count landed in a great spot. 

"The fastball wasn't very good. I missed in bad places, but it progressed as we moved along. My curve was sharp. Cutter was great. Slider was ok."

Cole struck out four batters over 4.1 innings of work in his second rehab outing at TD Bank Ballpark in Somerset. Cole gave up a run on a pair of hits, his only blemish being a solo homer in the top of the first inning. 

Cole reiterated that he was pleased with his outing, but wouldn't say how many more innings he would need before returning to the Big Leagues, but hinted at his next start coming in Triple-A.

"It doesn't make sense to go down. I think we will figure out which one we will do," Cole said when asked about either going to Triple-A Scranton who will be on the road this week, or High-A Hudson Valley who will be at home.

Story also on Fox Sports Radio New Jersey.com 

Mets Settle for Split of London Series in Wild Finale

 Let's just say the New York Mets needed that one. 

On the grandest stage they will likely be on all season this year, the New York Mets found to do just enough to hold off a late Philadelphia Phillies charge in the bottom of the ninth inning, to win the finale of the London Series 6-5. 

The result led to a split of the two games over-seas series across the pound in the United Kingdom. 

Thank goodness. The Mets can take a deep sigh of relief. 

In a season where not much has gone right for the Amazin's, they needed a little bit of good fortune, and a spetacular play by catcher Luis Torrens to get the job done. 

Torrens who was just called up this past week when the Mets were in D.C., has hit well, and on Sunday delivered one of the most electric plays the Amazin's have gotten from the position in some time. 

On a broken bat swing by Nick Castellanos, Torrens instinctively picked up the baseball, stepped on home plate for the first out and, while losing his balance, make a dart throw back to first as Pete Alonso secured it for the victory. 

This coming as the Mets appeared heading for another blown game as Philadelphia starting chipping away at a 6-4 Mets lead, when Bryce Harper's single to load the bases was soon followed by a walk to Alex Bohm to score a run. 

It was a wild one in London, a wild one that capped off an incredible week. 

The Mets didn't lead in this game until the ninth when Phillies reliever Jose Alvarado completely lost control. He gave up an infield single to Mark Vientos (not his fault) as the ball bounced up too hard on the field turf at third, allowing Jeff McNeil to score the tying run. 

 

Finally, Alvarado hit Pete Alonso with a pitch to score a run, and then tossed a wild pitch in the dirt as the ball skipped past J.T. Realmuto, to plate Jose Iglesias to give the Amazin's a 6-4 lead. 

The Mets will take it. In a season of little consultation, this had to feel good. The Mets were embarrassed 7-2 on Saturday, and needed a good showing, even if it came courtesy of a Philadelphia implosion.

London Calling: Mets hope to Make Noise in England This Weekend

 It's been a pretty miserable season up to this point for the New York Mets. 

However, for the next couple of days anyway, the Mets are at the center of the baseball world, granted right along side arguably the best team in baseball not named the Yankees in the Philadelphia Phillies as both N.L. East rivals get set to square off in London, England. 

Things are all smiles right now, and for good reason. The Mets needed a break. Not only did they start this road trip with three straight wins against the Washington Nationals, but let's face it, getting out of the country is the best thing for this team. 

Sean Manaea signs autographs. Getty Images

At 27-35, it's been a horrible year. Highlighted by a miserable May that saw the Mets bullpen implode in seven games. Seven games the Mets probably could have won.  And if it hasn't been the bullpen, it's been the lineup, where sluggers like Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso have struggled to maintain consistent batting averages. 

It's asking a lot for the Mets to win two against the 44-win Phillies. Philadelphia not only boats power throughout its lineup. Bryce Harper. Kyle Schwarber. J.T. Realmuto, and Trea Turner to name a few. But they have the best bullpen in baseball. Two of their relievers have ERA's under one. 

 

This won't be easy, but maybe the Mets can ride a little emotion of the moment and squeeze one out in London, and make a good impression to fans across the Pond. 

The series begins Saturday at 1 p.m. ET/6 p.m. LT with Sean Manaea on the hill for the Amazin's against Ranger Suarez. Sunday's game starts at 10 a.m. ET/ 3 p.m. LT.