The Yankees decided to use an opener against lightning on Friday night, but unlike when they used an opener and were defeated in the second game of the ALDS last October, this loss is based primarily on their weak offensive and in some poor quality defense. around the disastrous night in the Bronx.
Yes, reliever Nick Nelson coughed two runs in the first inning, but the Yankees ’surprisingly low-octane lineup tightened again in a well-deserved 8-2 loss to Tampa Bay at the Stadium for a start brutal five-game stand at home.
The ugly game was delayed for a few minutes at the eighth inning of the house, when several rabid fans announced that a crowd of 10,202 had thrown baseballs and other objects on the field.
Reliever Michael King demanded the 31st hit by a Tampa Bay player for a Yankees pitcher since 2018, but the Rays only retaliated with their 14th win in 19 games (playoffs included) against the Fire Department since early 2020. This includes last year’s ALDS Game 2, in which the Yankees threw rookie Deivi Garcia as a single-entry opener before turning to veteran JA Happ in what it became a 7-5 defeat.
Former Mets right-hander Michael Wacha limited the Yankees (5-8) to a six-point inning without scoring, before Giancarlo Stanton’s seven-hundred against Trevor Richards in the seventh prevented his second straight loss. season. Wacha, 29, who walked two and finished nine, achieved an ERA of 6.62 in eight games (seven starts) last year with the Mets.
Aaron Boone’s team also made three errors in the game, two of which led to three undefeated runs in the fifth inning of the four Rays, which extended Tampa Bay’s lead to 6-0.
The Yankees are now hitting just .222 for the season, with 14 homers in their first 13 games. Boone retired first baseman Jay Bruce (1 vs. 19) on Friday and dropped No. 3 batter Aaron Hicks (.167) to sixth place for the first time this season.
The Yankees also chose to start Nelson as an opener, with King returning from the alternate position to work behind him. Nelson, who had previously thrown a 9.00 ERA in three relief appearances this season, fell 2-0 to three batters in the game after Austin Meadows was on foot, Randy Arozarena doubled and Brandon Lowe scored a two-run double. .
King hadn’t pitched since he pitched six unreleased relay innings and allowed just once, on April 4 against the Blue Jays. Two days later he opted for the right to create a roster spot for Rougned Odor, but King was recalled on Friday to replace degraded Albert Abreu in the 26-man roster.
King worked in and out of trouble in two of his three unscored innings to keep the Yankees in two runs. He escaped from a first and third jam, with no head, to the third, and recorded two attacks. King also walked three consecutive hitters with two down in the fourth before retiring clean-up hitter Yandy Diaz on a ground to second.
Luis Cessa relieved King in fifth place, and the Rays quickly extended their lead to three in Mike Brosseau’s double RBI within third base. Gio Urshela ripped Willy Adames ’third to third to allow another run to score before Cessa reloaded the bases with two gears.
The game’s second error, Odor’s second base: a wild throw in front of LeMahieu at the start on what should have been a double-entry end play, put the Yankees in a 6-0 hole. The Rays added two more runs to Mike Zunino’s double against Lucas Luetge in the sixth.
Stanton finally provided a rare positive moment as he followed Glebyer Torres ’single against Richards in the seventh, throwing a 3-1 throw into the right seats for his second homer of the season.