1961? The last time the Yankees won as many games in a row (12) as they had entering Friday, Whitey Ford was playing catch with Yogi Berra, Mantle and Maris were in the outfield and young Joe Biden was celebrating his 50th birthday.
Nestor Cortes Jr. (2-1, 2.56 ERA) was inserted into the Yankees’ starting rotation earlier this month and he responded. Cortes put back to back wins together, allowing three runs over 13 innings. The Athletics are heading in the other direction. They have made things easy for the division-leading Astros by losing eight of their past 10. Frankie Montas (9-9, 3.84 ERA) threw a gem last out, shutting out the MLB-best Giants for seven, scattering two harmless hits. Yanks look like they are going to run the table, but we will take Montas and the A’s for 20 units.
Over before it started. The Rays put three on the board in the first and went on to beat Matt Harvey and the Orioles, 6-3. Loss takes us to -1,280 cuellers.