A sunny Sunday Autumn afternoon in New York. My favourite version of the song “Autumn in New York” is by Carolyn Leonhart, who is one of Donald Fagen‘s “Danettes“. Great song, great singer, and this promises to be a great game. Final game of four against the great rivals, Boston Red Sox with the New York Yankees needing to win to take the series and Boston able to achieve a tie if they can take a win. so, why it’s not quite all to play for, it is enough to keep it interesting. Let’s have a shilling on the side.

Pitching for the Yankees is Carlos Rodon. For Boston it is Kutter Crawford.

First pitch is at 1.39 pm, and Rodon hits his stride immediately. Jarren Duran lines out, Romy Gonzalez grounds out as does, Rafael Devers.

But Crawford is not going to be a slouch either and Gleyber Torres grounds out, Juan Soto flies out. Indeed Crawford is the first to achieve a strikeout as he leaves Aaron Judge flailing.

Another 1-2-3 in the top of the second with Tyler O’Neill flying out, Connor Wong grounding out, and Masataka Yoshida skying one to Jasson Dominguez in leftfield.

But, then first offensive blood to New York. Jazz Chisholm jr hit a single on a line drive. Giancarlo Stanton brought him home with another line drive to left, which the laboured Stanton managed to turn into a double as Chisholm scored with the ball pinballing around the leftfield.

Jasson Dominguez extended the likelihood of the Yankees adding a second with a single on a ground ball to centre, which moved Stanton up to third.

However, the Yankees ambitions came crashing down as Crawford struck out first Anthony Volpe and then Oswaldo Cabrera and Jose Trevino in order. 1-0.

The narrow lead only just held in the top of the third. With one out (Trevor Story), Rodon walked Danny Jansen. One step forward and one back when Rodon caused Cedanne Rafaela to hit into a 5-4 ground out, forcing out Jansen. Rafaela then stole second, and then his 19th steal of the season saw him advance to third. A real chance which suddenly evaporated when Duran grounded out 4-3.

It was time for the Yankees to rip the game wide open. The bottom of the 3rd began with Torres’ 14th homer. That brought up Soto who hit a single before Aaron Judge hit a towering fly ball into centerfield for a two run homer. 4-0.

Chisholm lined out. Stanton was walked. but then this on-again, off-again game for Crawford turned around again as he struck out Dominguez and Volpe.

There was life in the Red Sox yet and with one out (Gonzalez), Rodon gave up a leftfield single to Devers, which O’Neill turned to his advantage with a 2 RBI homer to left centre. Wong hit a single and so did Yoshida, and now Boston not only had a chance to level the game, but a further home run would put them ahead. However, neither ambition was realised. Story struck out and then Jansen hit into a 5-3 ground out. 4-2.

But, despite their deficit, Boston now seemed to hold the steering wheel. They gave the Yankees nothing as they grounded out Cabrera, caused Trevino to hit a little looper into foul territory which Story easily captured, and then Crawford struck out Torres on strikes…

However, once more, Boston could not get their onfield advantage (as opposed to on scoreboard) to tell. Rafaela struck out. A single to left field for Duran followed, but the off-form Gonzalez struck out. Rodon then gave up a walk to Devers, which coupled with a passed ball by the defensively struggling Trevino moved Duran to third with 2 outs. Rodon once again recovered as O’Neill struck out.

Soto hit one up in the air which was an easy catch for O’Neill, but then in these topsy-turvy pitching performances, Crawford walked Judge. Time for Crawford to leave and be replaced by Zach Penrod. He struck out Chisholm and made Stanton ground out 6-3.

The sixth started with Wong hitting a double, and when Yoshida moved him up to third on his ground out, it was time for the other starter to leave. Rodon was lifted, and Ian Hamilton entered from the bullpen.

He immediately tightened things up as he struck out both Story and Jansen in quick succession.

Luis Guerrero became Boston’s third pitcher. Dominguez grounded out. Volpe swung widely and struck out. Cabrera cast a little light on the situation with a single, but a Trevino strikeout, emphasised just how bad the catcher is doing.

When Rafaela hit a single to leftfield, it was also time for the Yankees to move to their third pitcher with the call to the bullpen causing Tim Hill to be next man up. Another glimmer of hope for Boston was immediately snuffed with Duran hitting into a 4-6-3 doubleplay, leaving the bases empty once more. Gonzalez grounded out to bring us into the bottom of the 7th.

A single for Torres started things off, but Soto struck out. Guerrero did his best to evade Judge and only resulted in issuing a walk. Bye, bye Mr Guerrero. Bailey Horn was on from the bullpen. Jazz Chisholm reached on a fielder’s choice which was enabled by a fielding error by second baseman Gonzalez who was having his own private nightmare. This allowed the bases to load with Torres on third, Judge on second, and now Chisholm on first.

Things got worse for Horn when Stanton lifted a sacrifice fly into left field which allowed Torres to score. Horn was slowly dying on the mound and Judge stole third, and Chisholm stole second. and then a walk to Dominguez loaded the bases again.

Boston did the smart thing and removed Horn, and brought on Greg Weissert who has been doing well in this series against his old club. Volpe grounded into a force out and Dominguez was third out. 5-2.

Hill rounded out his time on the mound by causing Devers to hit a soft one to first baseman Oswaldo Cabrera. Clay Holmes was brought in and he struck out O’Neill swinging. Holmes has been giving some of the Yankees’ fans palpitations in recent days, and this sensation returned as Wong hit a double into rightfield.

However, Yoshida hit into Judge’s part of the park, and the centrefielder made the third out on the flyball.

Oswaldo Cabrera began the bottom of the eighth with a single. Weissert deflected it and Story made the out. Whether the deflection helped or hindered the Red Sox cause will be debated elsewhere.

If Gonzalez’s game was like a bad dream, then the equivalent for the Yankees was Jose Trevino’s contribution (or lack of it). Now, he hit into 6-4-3 doubleplay, resulting himself and Cabrera both being out. The inning came to an end with another Torres strikeout.

And so. we moved to the top of the 9th with Jake Cousins replacing Holmes. Mmm… Signs are that all not is well here. First, he hit catcher Story by pitch. Red Sox needing 3 runs before the Yankees achieved the requisite three outs, brought in pinch hitter Triston Casas. Casas struck out, but it was still obvious that all was not well with Cousins, and the Yankees were getting increasingly busy in the bullpen.

Another pinch hitter. Wilyer Abreu entered for Rafaela. Cousins gifted him an easy walk. Runners on first and second. Aaron Boone had seen enough and called for Tommy Kahnle. Very much a watch this space to see what the Cousins’ problem is.

One out and Duran enters. Duran hits 6-3 and its a game-ending doubleplay.

Frank Sinatra always sounds better when the Yankees win. And take a series over Boston. You could here us sing all the way to the 4 train.