YANKEES BULLPEN CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE

The Yankees had a rough week last week and dropped to 4 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East standings. On a positive note they put a little more separation between themselves and the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox are now 1.5 games behind them.

Here’s a recap:

The Yankees started the week off against the Detroit Tigers. They struggled, only scoring 3 runs combined in the first two games before winning game 3 to avoid being swept by the Tigers.

The Yankees had several games this season where the starting pitcher had a solid game for it only to be blown by the bullpen. Game 1 against the Tigers was no different. Will Warren allowed 2 runs in 6 innings and struck out 5. Casey Mize, pitching for the Tigers had 8 strikeouts and allowed 2 runs in 6 innings as well. The Yankees took the lead first with a home run by Aaron Judge in the first inning. This was his 359th career home run which put him in fifth place in Yankees history.  Cody Bellinger also hit a home run in the fourth inning. The Tigers tied the game in the fifth inning with a 2 run home run by Parker Meadows. Things unraveled in the seventh inning as Fernando Cruz, Mark Leiter Jr. and Tim Hill allowed 9 runs combined. Paul Blackburn allowed a run in the eighth inning. The Tigers won 12-2.

Game 2 went the same way. Carlos Rodon allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and struck out 6 in 5 innings. Jack Flaherty held the Yankees to 2 hits in 7 innings and struck out 7. The Yankees bullpen allowed 9 runs combined between the 7th, 8th and 9th innings. The two runs Rodon allowed were a RBI single by former Yankee Gleyber Torres in the fifth inning. Torres had another RBI in the seventh inning. The Yankees scored only 1 run, a home run by Austin Wells in the eighth inning. Down 10 runs the Yankees decided to let outfielder Austin Slater pitch in the ninth inning. Throwing 36-42 mph he allowed a single and two ground outs. The Tigers won 11-1.

The Yankees avoided the sweep in game 3 on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with President Trump in attendance. Cam Schlittler allowed 1 run off 5 hits with 7 strikeouts in 6 innings. The Tigers used 6 pitchers in this game including former Yankee Tommy Kahnle. Each only pitching an inning or two. Aaron Judge hit a home run in the first inning giving the Yankees the lead early. The Tigers tied the game the next inning off a RBI single by Dillon Dingler. But that same inning Ben Rice and Jose Caballero each had a RBI hit. In the third inning Judge hit his second home run tying Joe DiMaggio in Yankees history and Giancarlo Stanton also hit a home run. In the fourth inning Austin Slater, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. each hit RBI singles. The Tigers added two more runs, a home run by Dingler and a RBI ground out by Gleyber Torres but fell short. The Yankees won 9-3.

The Yankees then headed to Boston for a weekend series against the Red Sox as the Savannah Bananas and the Firefighters took over Yankee Stadium for the weekend.

Game 1 against the Red Sox saw Luis Gil pitching a no hitter in 6 innings before Fernando Cruz gave up a home run to Nate Eaton. Lucas Giolito pitching for the Red Sox allowed 2 runs, 1 earned and struck out 6 in 5 2/3 innings. Aaron Judge continued with the home runs by hitting another one in the fist inning and passing Joe DiMaggio. Cody Bellinger hit a RBI single in the second inning. Jose Caballerro scored on a throwing error in the seventh inning and Ben Rice hit a RBI single. The Yankees won 4-1.

Game 2 Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. shined. Bellinger was 2-4 with 2 RBI and Chisholm was 3-5 with 3 RBI and a home run. Max Fried pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed 2 runs and had 6 strikeouts. Brayan Bello, pitching for the Red Sox, allowed 4 runs in 5 innings with 4 strikeouts. Alex Bregman and Jarren Duran each hit a home run. The Yankees won 5-3.

Game 3 the Red Sox avoided the sweep by the Yankees as Will Warren struggled in the first inning allowing 6 runs. Despite that he pitched another 4 innings without allowing a run. Garrett Crochet on the other hand allowed only 3 runs in 6 innings with 12 strikeouts. The Yankees attempted a comeback and came close. Amed Rosario hit a 2 run home run in the fourth inning, Aaron Judge hit a home run in the fifth inning and Jose Caballero hit a home run in the seventh inning. The Red Sox won 6-4.

The Yankees head into this week with a 3 game series against the Minnesota Twins and a 4 game series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Let’s go Yankees!