The Yankee faithful hoped that a return to the Bronx would mean a return to the team’s hot-hitting ways Friday night, but after a 7-1 loss to the Mariners, it was not to be. After scoring eight or more runs in three times in the season’s opening week, the Yankees have scored just eight total runs since, and have now dropped to 4-5 on the season.
Brett Gardner put the team on the board early with a first-inning home run off the facing of the second deck in right field, but despite collecting five more hits and seven walks, they would not score again. The offense floundered away opportunity after opportunity, none bigger than when they put runners on second and third with none out in the bottom of the fourth. Tied 1-1 at the time, Seattle starter Nate Karns proceeded to strike out the side, putting down Didi Gregorius, Chase Headley and Jacoby Ellsbury in order. In all, the team went an abysmal 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left twelve runners on base. It marks just the fourth time in the past five years that the Yankees have managed 13 baserunners and scored just one run or less.
Luis Severino didn’t offer much in the way of optimism on the pitching side, either. The 22-year-old surrendered eight hits and four runs over 5 and 2/3 innings, striking out just two. Three double plays, two of them notably unorthodox, helped him escape the first four innings relatively unscathed despite giving up a lot of hard contact. In the fifth, however, the Mariners broke through with a 2-run homer by Chris Iannetta. The M’s would tack on an insurance run in each of the game’s final four innings, slowly turning the game into a rout.
The Play: Chris Iannetta’s 2-Run homer in the fifth (+.209 WPA)
After giving up a rocket single off the bat of Adam Lind to start the fifth inning, Iannetta promptly turned around this 96 mph offering from Severino and deposited it deep in the left field stands. The blast came off the bat at 112 mph, breaking a 1-1 tie and putting the Mariners on top for good.
Top Performers
Brett Gardner: 2 for 3, 2 BB, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI
Chris Iannetta: 3 for 3, 1 BB, 1 HR, 1 R, 3 RBI
Notes
-Gardner and Starlin Castro were the only members of the starting lineup not to strand any runners on base. Ellsbury stranded five, while Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann and Dustin Ackley all stranded four.
-After getting called up from Triple-A earlier in the day, LHP Tyler Olson made his Yankee-debut in relief, tossing 2 and 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on three hits and two walks. The 26-year-old made 11 appearances for Seattle last season before the Yankees acquired him this past winter.
-After stealing no bases in 2015, Headley now has two in the first two weeks of the season. He hasn’t cracked double digits since he stole 17 back in 2012.
-After a 2 for 5 night, Robinson Cano is now 14 for 52 (.269) with 11 RBIs against the Yankees since leaving them after 2013.
The Quote
“That goes in cycles, sometimes. That’s usually the difference between winning and losing every night. We’ve struggled the last few days with runners on, and that’s why we’ve lost a few in a row. You understand that you’re going to go through it, and when you’re going through it, it’s no fun. But every team goes through it.” -Manager Joe Girardi on the Yankees’ cold bats
The Highlight: Castro’s Behind-the-Back Double Play
After Iannetta singled and moved to second on a wild pitch to start the third, Castro robbed Leonys Martin with a catch that wouldn’t have felt out of place at a Harlem Globetrotter game. If the behind-the-back snag wasn’t enough by itself, he doubled Iannetta off second, providing one of three twin-killings that would help Severino escape trouble early on.
Up Next
The Yankees will have a quick turnaround as they try to right the ship Saturday afternoon against Felix Hernandez. They’ll send CC Sabathia to the hill for his second start of the season, and first at home. Girardi was non-committal in his postgame interview about tomorrow’s lineup, but it seems a safe bet that Alex Rodriguez will return after receiving a day off Friday. First pitch is slated for 1:05 pm and will be televised on YES.
Lead photo: Noah K. Murray / USA Today Sports