When Ivan Nova started the game with a six pitch first inning and the offense put up a five spot on Chris Tillman in the bottom of the frame, this game looked like it might have promise for ending the slump that the Yankees seem to find themselves in. Hope didn't last long once Nova allowed seven runs including a grand slam to Chris Davis in the second inning to put the Orioles on top by two, and it only got worse from there.
The five-run first was the last anyone would hear of the offense for the night and the Orioles kept tacking on without really needing to. Clay Rapada, LOOGY extraordinaire, served up a home run to Nick Markakis to add insult to Nova's five inning, nine earned runs injury. The two lefty specialists have had a rough go of it lately.
Derek Jeter doubled and singled twice to lead the offense as the only batter to record more than one hit. A slumping Robinson Cano got back to being himself with a two-run homer in the first inning before the entire offense decided to head home early, and Ichiro Suzuki's single extended his hit streak to eight games with the Yankees. Even Ramiro Pena had a hit. The person responsible for that should consider a career change.
What else is there to say? The Yankees are playing frustrating baseball right now, and that's probably to be expected when they're missing two of their biggest bats in the lineup. Jayson Nix and Ramiro Pena aren't going to make up for the temporary loss of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. Maybe Phil Hughes can play the stopper, right? Right?
Get well soon, everyone.