Wed AM BRB (4-28-21): Higgy & The Stooges
This Day in Music (4-28-1968)
The original production of the rock & roll musical Hair opens on Broadway, where it would stay in production until 1972.
Photo Credit: Jason Miller/Getty Images
Things continue to be up and down for the Yankees, but the world is certainly looking up for Kyle Higashioka. The Yankees backup catcher, turned Gerrit Cole’s personal catcher, turned platooning starter, continues to shine with every opportunity given to him. Higashioka, who has inherited more playing time thanks in part to a tremendous run of form and in part to Gary Sanchez’s recent return to the doghouse, answered the call again last night in the Yankees 5-1 win, going two for four and adding his fourth home run of the year. Raising his average to a very healthy .320, Higashioka is proving to be an integral part of the lineup at a time in which the team desperately needs a spark. While I’m the first to stand in skepticism of such things, his presence behind the plate even brought a vintage-ish performance out of Yankees starter Corey Kluber, who was finally able to give the team length with 6.2 innings of one run baseball. The Yankees should still be concerned with trying to salvage the talent that lingers deep within the confusing depths of Gary Sanchez, and Higgy’s recent run gives the team full license to do so. The longer Higashioka can ride this wave, the more time it buys Sanchez (and the Yankees) to get his game sorted out…Though the hot and cold nature of this team makes it tricky to make declarative statements about anyone other than their very expensive and very outstanding ace, last night was a positive step for Aaron Judge. The Yankees right fielder has been okay to begin the season (at least compared to his teammates), but it’s fair to say he’s not been the go-to man the team, and the fans, expect him to be. Last night, Judge was determined to set the tone for the team, first moving DJ LeMahieu in position to score on the team’s first (!!!) sacrifice fly of the season thanks to Gio Urshela. Judge then followed that up with a solo HR in the third which ended up being the difference in the game. However, because nothing can ever be completely awesome, it does sound like Judge will be sitting out the next day or so due to some soreness. So it goes…
The Mets were unable to find an answer for Red Sox starter Garrett Richards on Tuesday night, as the Boston hurler struck out 10 and walked none in a 2-1 victory in Queens. The Mets were able to open the scoring in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a solo home run by Jeff McNeil, but saw only two runners make it into scoring position the rest of the evening. The loss was no fault of the Mets pitching staff, which answered the tone set by Richards and kept the game within reach until the bitter end. Mets starter David Peterson was by no means fantastic Tuesday night, but he should still wake up today feeling like a bit of a hard-luck loser, allowing just two earned runs in six solid innings of work. Luckily, the young starter has the perfect mentor in Jacob deGrom to guide him through the zen of receiving no run support. Taking their lead from Peterson, the Mets bullpen continues to be inconspicuously good (for now), with Jeurys Familia, Trevor May and Miguel Castro allowing just one combined hit while striking out five Red Sox hitters in their three innings of work. The Mets have every reason to believe their pitching will once again be in top form tonight, as deGrom puts his absolutely stupid 0.31 ERA on the line against an American League lineup for the first time this season. If you want my editorial, I think he’ll fair just fine. Given their opponent, no one should need any reassurance that I’m rooting for 16 K’s tonight. Why not 17?!