I mowed my first three innings with the Yankees on Monday night.
The 6-foot-7 sinkerball player was doing everything he had asked before the game.
“Just become Jack,” Washington said. “He’s sinker, swapping, throwing eye levels and playing the ball early. That’s what he’s doing. That’s all. I’m not looking for him to be anything more than that. If so, that’s good enough.”
At 9 o’clock, 28 pitches, 9 points, Kochanowitz looked “good enough.” He was throwing just as efficiently as he could when he limited his Crosstown opponent to one run in six innings on May 16th. As he was suffering from the mound fourth, the crowd woke up and the volume rose. But it’s not for Kochanowicz.
“Yankees,” a fan in the right field seat at Angel Stadium yelled, “Blurry Creatures” to return to the Bronx. The first baseman Ben Rice singled, then center fielder Trent Grisham. Following the excitement of applause, designated batter Judge Aaron – who raised batting average to league high .398 – loaded the bass for the infield single.
Kochanowicz hiccups when Yankees fans yelled out loud. The sophomore starting pitcher walked on four pitches, with two batters later on, with Anthony Volpe earning a double clear from the wall in the center field, driving the Yankees (33-20) to a three-run lead. It was enough to defeat the Angels (25-28). The Angels struggled to connect hits in three consecutive games to open the series.
“It always comes down to pitch call,” Kochanowitz said. “It’s very easy to ask yourself millions of questions about every pitch you throw, but I just came hard to them in that inning. I didn’t start with a broken ball.
Shortstop first led the first bottom with a 440-foot solo home run to center field, the longest of his career, but that was all the Angel had to offer at the plate. Before the game, Washington called his attack young and inconsistent.
The angels provided many of these traits for the Yankees and left-handed Ryan Yarbra.
Outside of Joe Adele’s single, Net’s home run brought all the angels together for the funky sidearm delivery of New York Southpaws up to six innings.
“The way we were swinging the bat, we thought we had at least three or four guys on the constant clicking line,” Washington said after the Angels were limited to five hits. “Miami comes here and cleans up us, and now we’re about to find it again.”
Yarbrough briefly dispatched Chris Taylor, who started at center field and 0 with two strikeouts.
“Yabra did a good job,” Taylor said. “In most cases, close us down.”
The six innings were not good as the Angels’ top of the lineup fell 1-2-3, and Yarbra undoubtedly left at the start of the season, hitting Seven, with the longest and no doubt. The Angels attacked 11 times in the game.
“We’ll keep that offense we had,” Washington said when asked about matching the offensive rhythm of the Angels’ eight-game winning streak before the game, “it’s impossible.”
Outside his four four innings, Kochanowicz was in “midseason shape” where he described himself on Sunday. The right-hander pumped his fastball at 97.3 mph, averaging 95 for the season. Four of his six innings ended 1-2-3.
“He really thought it was good,” Washington said. “Those first three innings he was dominated. …If we can take (four innings), it would be another ball game.”
Kochanowicz hit a five and walked two, giving up five hits. However, the Angel’s attack did not back up the pitcher, sending him to a three-game losing streak.
Note: Angels Catcher’s Logan O’Hoppe was removed from the game in eight innings after being hit in the head on a backswing of the Yankees’ two baseman Jorbit Vivas. O’Hoppe was removed as a precaution, Washington said, and could not comment after the match. “(O’Hoppe) says he can play (tomorrow), but we’re going to wait and see,” Washington said.
