Ugh.
The Joe Nuxhall Honorary Memorial Star of the Game
Oh, boy. Todd Frazier hit a late inning game tying home run...but he played a crucial role in allowing the Yankees' walk off win. Skip Schumaker doubled to drive in the first run of the game...but later TOOTBLAN'd himself off the bases just in time to prevent Frazier's game tying home run from being a go-ahead home run. The Reds spent the entirety of this game shooting themselves in the collective foot. Nobody gets the JNHMSotG, because nobody deserves it.
Key Plays
- The game was shaping up to be a pitcher's duel early, with Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda held the Reds in check while Johnny Cueto worked himself into and out of trouble, including a bases loaded situation in the third inning.
- The Reds got on the board in the top of the fifth inning when Zach Cozart reached base on a Brian Roberts error and advanced to second on a Ramon Santiago sacrifice. Skip Schumaker ground rule doubled Cozart home to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.
- The Yankees came right back in the bottom of the fifth inning as Cueto walked the first two batters he faced, then allowed back to back RBI singles to Derek Jeter and Jacoby Ellsbury. Yankees lead 2-1.
- In the top of the eight, Schumaker led off with a single off Yankees reliever Dellin Betances, but was promptly erased after being caught in a rundown between first and second with Todd Frazier batting. This proved all the more costly when Frazier then homered to left, tying the game at 2-2.
- In the bottom of the ninth inning, with Aroldis Chapman pitching in a non-save situation, Ellsbury led off with a single, then stole second base. Ellsbury then advanced to third on a wild pitch. With one out, Brian McCann blooped one to shallow right field and the ball inexplicably fell in between Jay Bruce, Frazier and Schumaker. It was difficult to tell exactly what happened, because the ball was catchable by any of them, but either way, McCann is credited with a walk off infield single and the game ended with a 3-2 Yankees victory.
Fangraph
Source: FanGraphs
Other Notes:
- Todd Frazier now has 20 home runs on the season. That is a new career high for him. Congratulations, Todd.
- With his strikeout of Mark Tiexiera in the ninth inning, Aroldis Chapman extended his streak of appearances recording at least one strikeout to 41. It was the only out he recorded in the game.
- Frazier's home run was only the second allowed by the Yankees' Dellin Betances all season. That's even more impressive considering his home ballpark.
- Manny Parra hasn't allowed a run in 18 games. He last allowed a run - two, actually - on May 25 against the Cardinals.
- It was scored as a hit, but Billy Hamilton dropped what seemed to be a routine fly ball in the seventh inning. It appeared he lost it in the sun.
- Johnny Cueto wasn't at his sharpest, throwing 112 pitches in only five innings before being removed from the game. Based on his body language, he seemed to be very frustrated with the strike zone set by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez.
- Tune: Gil Scott-Heron said it best: New York is Killing Me.