Danny Salazar was brilliant once again, but the Yankees kept it close early and then the bullpen slammed the door.

The Yankees performance demonstrated why they are going to be so dangerous if they make the playoffs, despite having relatively shaky starting pitching. After Jordan Montgomery went five innings, Joe Girardi pulled him after just 65 pitches in a 1-1 game and turned the game over to David Robertson, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman. And we didn’t even see Tommy Kahnle, Adam Warren or Chad Green.

Once it turned into a battle of the bullpens, the Indians didn’t really stand a chance. While the Yankees were trotting out flame throwers, the depleted Tribe pen was forced to use Zach McAllsiter (who surrendered the game-winning home run), Tyler Olson and Nick Goody.

The good news, however, is that Danny Salazar is officially back. He allowed just one run in seven innings and has been absolutely lights out in his three starts since returning from the DL:

 

Other thoughts and notes on the game…

Salazar set a career high with 12 strikeouts. He joins Bartolo Colon and Sam McDowell as the only Indians in the last 50 seasons with a 12-K game against the Yankees.

Tito Francona said he was going to use Cody Allen in a role more similar to Andrew Miller, but in a tie game in the 8th inning—obviously a spot for Miller Time—Francona gave the ball to McAllister. Allen was warming up in the bullpen but never entered the game. It was a curious decision, and it may have cost the Tribe the game.

In his last 10 games, Francisco Lindor is batting .350 with a .995 OPS. It’s still a small sample size, but it’s obviously encouraging. The Tribe offense could use an extended hot streak from Lindor.

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