If the Yankees were going to show to the world that they were serious about contention and prove wrong those calling for a trade deadline fire sale, it was imperative that they send a strong message coming out of the All-Star break. Dropping consecutive games to the rival Red Sox was likely not the message they hoped to send.
The Yankees lost to the Red Sox 5-2 on Saturday afternoon in the type of game that has become all too familiar to Yankee fans this season: inconsistent, homer-prone starting pitching met with a frustratingly anemic offense.
CC Sabathia wasn’t particularly sharp for most of the day, but was able to navigate out of trouble early on. When Boston loaded the bases against him with one out in the third, he induced what might have been an inning-ending double play from Xander Bogaerts if not for an overturned call at first, which took an out off the board and allowed Boston to take a 1-0 lead. Sabathia got into similar trouble in the fourth, allowing a trio of singles that plated Boston’s second run before inducing an inning-ending groundout from Dustin Pedroia that stranded three. Sabathia’s luck ran out in the sixth, however. After allowing a pair of singles from Jackie Bradley Jr. and Aaron Hill to start the frame, catcher Sandy Leon crushed a homer into the left field stands that gave Boston a four-run cushion and a lead the Yankees would never threaten again.
For Boston, starter Eduardo Rodriguez struck out just one batter over seven innings but somehow held the Yankee offense to just four hits and one run, a Brett Gardner solo-shot in the bottom of the third. The Yankees were able to put two men on with one out in the fourth before Mark Teixeira ended the rally with a double play. They threatened again in the fifth when Didi Gregorius led off with a double into the right field corner, though he was ultimately stranded at third.
A Chase Headley solo home run in the eighth inning off of reliever Matt Barnes was the totality of damage the Yankees could muster over the game’s final six innings.
The Play: Sandy Leon breaks it open in the sixth (+.158 WPA)
Sabathia’s rally-killing magic ran out in the sixth after Bradley Jr. and Hill singled to lead off the frame. Leon took full advantage, pummeling this pitch over the left field wall for a three-run homer that drove the nail into the Yankees’ coffin.
Top Performers
Yankees: Brett Gardner (2 for 3, BB, HR, 1 RBI)
Red Sox: Sandy Leon (2 for 4, 1 R, HR, 4 RBI)
Notes
-Rumors were swirling early Saturday regarding the Yankees’ impending trade deadline decisions. Some reports claimed that the Yankees would commit to selling impending free agents Carlos Beltran and Aroldis Chapman if the team did not turn things around quickly, while contrasting reports claimed the Yankees were looking to offer Chapman an extension. Time will tell what course of action the team actually takes.
The Quote
“I don’t get discouraged. You get frustrated when you lose, you’ve known that about me for a long time. But no, I’m not discouraged.” -Joe Girardi
The Highlight: Gardner’s solo shot in the third
It was another game mostly devoid of highlights for the Yanks, but this shot by Gardner certainly qualifies. It was Gardy’s sixth homer of the year, and was the only bit of damage the Yankees were able to do against Eduardo Rodriguez. The shot left his bat at 101 mph and traveled 410 feet.
Up Next
The Yankees will look to salvage something of the series with Boston on Sunday Night Baseball. The aces for each team will square off, with Masahiro Tanaka taking the mound for New York and David Price for the Sox. Tanaka has been the Yankees’ best starter thus far in 2016, posting a 3.23 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 117 innings. Price had an up and down first half, striking out 140 batters in 124 and 1/3 innings, but posting an uncharacteristic ERA of 4.34. Game time is 8:05 pm.
Lead photo: Anthony Gruppuso / USA Today Sports