Yankees Highlights: Mike Tauchman’s dominance continues in win over Orioles

Make it seven-for-seven. It has been nearly a week since the trade deadline, and the Yankees have now gone a week without losing. In spite of injuries, in spite of a passive approach at the deadline, this team is still clicking and dispatching all comers. Tonight, the Yankees’ brigade of replacements showed out again, torching the Orioles pitching for six homers, curiously all solo shots, in a 9-4 win.

Winner of the Game

You know the old saying: you cannot stop Mike Tauchman, you can only hope to contain him. Tauchman continued to put together a highlight reel, homering for the second-straight night:

An inning later, he robbed a home run with one of the most spectacular defensive plays of the year:

Sometimes, when a player gets on a heater like this, you just have to set aside the rational analysis, throw your hands up, and enjoy the ride.

Honorable mention: Austin Romine had a big game, roping two doubles and a home run, while DJ LeMahieu popped another homer and reached base four times.

Loser of the Game

At a glance, the loser of this game could be construed to be Aaron Boone, who tried to squeeze chunks of innings from relievers who shouldn’t be tasked with turning over major-league lineups. The Yankees went with Jonathan Holder as the opener, and while he ably navigated the first two innings, Boone attempted to coax another inning from Holder, who quickly yielded two runs in the third. Holder was relieved by Stephen Tarpley, who also gave up a pair of runs after being trotted out for a third frame. Yet it’s hard to blame Boone too much, as the Yankees’ bullpen has been severely taxed recently, with a packed schedule and a rotation fixated on turning in short starts. The Yankees need length somewhere, and tonight, Holder and Tarpley weren’t quite able to provide it.

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FanGraphs