YANKEES LOSE 2 TO NATIONALS

Monday night the New York Yankees began a 3 game series against the Washington Nationals.

To kick off the series the Yankees won game 1 with a score of 5-2. Nestor Cortes pitched against Mitchell Parker. Cortes had another great outing, pitching 6 2/3 innings, gave up 1 run on 4 hits and had 5 strikeouts. Parker only pitched 4 innings and gave up 2 runs. The rest of the runs were allowed by the bullpen. Gleyber Torres, batting lead off, started the game with a bang, hitting a solo home run. A run scored in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by DJ LeMahieu. In the sixth inning Austin Wells hit a solo home run and a run scored on another sacrifice fly by DJ LeMahieu. Jazz Chisholm Jr. also hit a home run in the seventh inning. The Nationals’ 2 runs were home runs by Juan Yepez and Jacob Young. Cortes earned the win and Clay Holmes earned his 28th save. Aaron Judge hit his 1,000th hit and the Nationals debuted star prospect Dylan Crews.

Tuesday’s night game went to the Nationals with a score of 4-2. Gerrit Cole pitched against Patrick Corbin. Cole gave up 3 runs in 5 innings but also struck out 7. Corbin pitched 6 shut out innings and held the Yankees to 2 hits. The Nationals scored 1 run in the second inning before Andres Chaparro and Jose Tena hit back to back home runs in the fourth inning. They scored another run in the sixth inning due to a fielding error by DJ LeMahieu. The Yankees didn’t score until the last two innings. LeMahieu scored on a ground out by Aaron Judge in the eighth inning and Jazz Chisholm Jr. scored on a ground out by Anthony Volpe in the ninth inning.  Cole earned his third loss and Corbin who had a record of 3-12 earned his fourth win. Other highlights: Nationals prospect Dylan Crews got his first 2 hits, Kyle Finnegan earned his 33rd save, and 4 other rookies played in this game for the Nationals. 

Wednesday night’s game, unfortunately, went to the Nationals as well with a score of 5-2. The Nationals had 6 rookies playing in this game. The Yankees tried to rally in the ninth inning but left 2 men on base as Alex Verdugo grounded out and Gleyber Torres struck out to end the game. Carlos Rodon gave up 5 runs in 5 2/3 innings but also struck out 8. Mackenzie Gore gave up 2 runs in six innings while striking out 6. The Nationals scored 2 runs in the first inning as lead off hitter Dylan Crews hit a solo home run and James Wood scored on a balk. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a solo home run in the second inning but the Nationals had a better second inning. Jacob Young reached on a bunt, then stole second. Nasim Nunez hit a RBI single and went to second as the run scored and then stole third. Wood hit a RBI single and then stole second and third! Crews also hit a RBI double in the fourth inning. Aaron Judge hit a RBI single in the fifth inning putting the Yankees down 3 runs. The rest of the game was quiet until the ninth inning when the Yankees tried to come back. Anthony Volpe hit a single and Chisholm Jr. walked. Oswaldo Cabrera pinched hit for DJ LeMahieu but lined out to center. Chisholm Jr. stole second and Volpe stole third simultaneously. Next at bat was Alex Verdugo who grounded out and then Gleyber Torres struck out swinging. Gore earned his 8th win and Kyle Finnegan got out of trouble and earned his 34th save.

The Yankees will get Thursday off as they head back to the Bronx where they will face the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend.