By Rich Mancuso/ Sports Editor
Now that Giancarlo Stanton has the home run swing the Yankees are more lethal. Not that they haven’t been hitting home runs out of the ballpark but Stanton who leads his team in strikeouts got the walk-off home run win in the ninth inning Wednesday night in a comeback 7-5 win over the Mariners.
And his home run came off the 0-2 count, deep to left center. The second walk-off home run on an 0-2 count by a Yankee since since 2000 joining Jason Giambi and that occured in June of 2008. This home run, obvious more dramatic and makes the Yankees that more lethal as they continue to lead baseball by wide margin with the home run ball.
This is expected from Giancarlo Stanton. He hits them in bunches and also has his share of strikeouts. But that is two consecutive games with the home run and this came off a right-hander where Stanton has had his difficulties.
It doesn’t matter now. Stanton with an adjusted stance at the plate, though he will not admit to making a change, was the difference Wednesday night in the Yankees sixth walk-off win this season.
He said, “I was trying to decide whether I was going to bowl it or throw it up. I’m part of it now.” There was Stanton admitting this was his biggest hit as a Yankee. He does not have to admit there was an adjustment at the plate, and of course if he hits home runs the Yankees are more dangerous to an opposing pitcher and more than they are now.
The Yankees won their 16th game in the last 20. Stanton connected for his 18th home run and is behind his pace of the 59 hit last year with the Marlins that earned him the National League MVP. Though it never matters about the home run ball for Giancarlo Stanton. All he is concerned about is making an impact.
Now he is a part of it and what is bound to be a historic season for the Yankees with the home run ball, runs scored, and of course what is hoped to be an eventual championship in October.
“That’s what you want when you can help a team,” Stanton said. The walk-off home run and going 2-for 4 and quickly you can forget about the strikeouts 98 of them in the 70 games he’s been in the Yankees lineup.
And when Stanton gets booed, he doesn’t care. The way this Yankees team is constructed, Stanton can go 0-for-3 and become a hero as he did with one swing of the bat. When Stanton doesn’t produce there is that lethal lineup that comes up and down.
“Excited for Carlo how hard he works what he means to all the guys in that room,” manager Aaron Boone said. We always feel like we have a chance. I was feeling like couple of big hits from having a chance.”
Before Stanton, Gary Sanchez continued to swing out of his misery and hit an Alex Colome cutter that went off the back wall of the left center bullpen. It was the game-tying two run homer in the eighth inning and his 14th of the season.
And with the Stanton home run, his 18th, the Yankees have five players with 14 or more home runs, the most in baseball. The home run was the hardest hit walk-off for a team this season and it was the Yankees sixth walk-off win. They had five all of last year.
“I knew our offense was going to come through eventually,” said Aaron Judge. It was the first three hit game for Judge since May 9th. But who would know that Stanton was not hitting the home runs at a pace that was expected?
Each and every game there is someone else in this lethal lineup making the contribution. So when Giancarlo strikes out, leaves the tying run in scoring position, does it matter?
This time Stanton was the difference. And for the Yankees, if Stanton has that home run trot going, it makes them more dangerous. Need more be said, and use Wednesday night as an example, if the Yankees are trailing late in a game opposing managers and pitchers need to pay attention.
Pay attention more, and know because Giancarlo Stanton is a part of it now.
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