Monty taunts Yankees as he powers Rangers to Wild Card win

Two ex-Yankee pitchers teamed up to make quite a splash on Tuesday helping the Texas Rangers win in the opening game of their pivotal best-of-three American League Wild Card Series.

Former Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery delivered an impressive performance with seven scoreless innings, while another ex-Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman dazzled with a flawless inning of his own. Their contributions were instrumental as the Rangers secured a decisive 4-0 victory over the Rays.

Montgomery didn’t forget to take a potshot at his former team.

“Yeah, I’m sure [the Yankees] saw the potential,” Montgomery told The Athletic in the lead-up to Game 1. “They might have given up on me, but I think it was the best thing for me to get to the Cardinals and get set up with [Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux]. Our pitching philosophies are much closer.”

A stellar show by the ex-Yankees pitcher

Montgomery, stepping onto the postseason stage for only the second time in his career, displayed his mastery. Armed with a diverse repertoire of four pitches, the player who the Yankees once traded to win the postseason, expertly navigated the Rays’ lineup, striking out five batters while effectively disrupting their rhythm.

Montgomery expressed satisfaction with contributing to the team’s victory by doing his job, following his seven-inning performance in which he allowed six hits. In a moment of brilliance, the left-handed pitcher demonstrated his exceptional skills, coming to his own rescue when confronted with a precarious situation. With remarkable agility, the ex-Yankees pitcher executed a diving catch along the first base line, thwarting Jose Siri’s attempt at a bunt single and potentially preventing an RBI for the opposition.

Montgomery described how he saw the ball elevated high in the air, prompting him to take a couple of rapid steps toward it. He then mentioned that he couldn’t recall the specific details of what happened next, as he essentially acted on instinct to make the play.

Yankees made a mistake by trading Montgomery

The 30-year-old pitcher delivered a stellar performance in every aspect of the game, showcasing his talents on the mound. Montgomery, originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2014 draft, was part of a trade deal at the deadline last year, with the Yankees acquiring outfielder Harrison Bader.

In hindsight, that trade didn’t pan out favorably for the Yankees, as Montgomery went on to compile an impressive 3.31 ERA across 32 starts during his tenure with the Cardinals over the past two years. Eventually, he found himself in Texas after another deadline move this year.

During his 11 regular season starts with the Rangers, Montgomery displayed a remarkable 2.79 ERA, solidifying his status as a valuable asset to his new team.

Conversely, on the other end of the spectrum, Bader had a notable postseason performance with the Yankees in 2022. However, prior to his departure, he struggled during the regular season, batting just .237/.274/.353 across 98 games. Eventually, he was placed on waivers and subsequently claimed by the Reds on August 31.

Montgomery acknowledged that the Yankees had likely recognized his potential, but he also indicated that they might have lost faith in him. He believed, however, that the trade to the Cardinals had been beneficial for him. According to him, it was essential to work with Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux because their pitching philosophies aligned more closely.

Montgomery acknowledged that Maddux played a pivotal role in encouraging him to utilize his four-seam fastball more frequently, and indeed, he deployed this pitch on 26 out of the 93 deliveries he made during Tuesday’s game.

Chapman got back to form

Meanwhile, Chapman showcased his formidable skills on the mound, registering the game’s six fastest pitches and striking out one batter, with three of his pitches hitting an impressive 101 mph.

Having spent seven years with the Yankees, Chapman ventured into free agency last offseason, eventually signing with the Royals. Later, in late June, he was traded to the Rangers, where he has been contributing to fortify their bullpen.

The Rangers now have an opportunity to secure victory in the first-round series with a win in Wednesday afternoon’s game.

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