Yankees drop Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Orioles.
Well, if you like pitching duels, and extra baseball, this was the game for you. Kevin Gausman and Brandon McCarthy battled away a sunshiny afternoon in Baltimore, with the Orioles edging out a win that unfortunately doesn't really affect the postseason picture all that much. Well, not so unfortunate for the Orioles who are going to win the American League East.
Brandon McCarthy was brilliant - stop me if you've heard this before - but received no support from the offense. Serious deja vu overload here. McCarthy pitched seven shutout innings, giving up four hits and striking out six.
A single by Martin Prado and a double by Chris "Yankee Legend" Young left the Yankees sandwiched around a pair of outs set New York up with 2-on and 2-out in the 6th inning. Stephen Drew walked to load the bases before John Ryan Murphy flew out to deep left in foul territory to end the threat.
Antoan Richardson served as the obligatory rookie offering to the TOOTBLAN Gods when he was picked off first base to end the top of the seventh inning and Gausman's stellar outing.
The Yankees ran into trouble in the bottom of the eighth when McCarthy was knocked out of the game by a lead-off double by our old friend Kelly Johnson. Dellin Betances came in to get the pair of strikeouts the Yankees needed but not before a pair of fielders choices and a walk loaded the bases and caused much anxiety. Though not nearly as much as the bottom of the ninth when the Orioles loaded the bases on no hits and three walks. David 'Houdini' Robertson got Schoop to look at a called third strike to force extras.
Chris Young brought his magic to Baltimore with a solo shot to left in the 11th inning that represented the first run of the game. Unfortunately, that was the only run New York could scratch out with the better part of their bullpen having already been used. Adam Warren came on to work the bottom of the frame, walking Nelson Cruz to start the inning. J.J. Hardy was hit by a pitch before Warren got Kelly Johnson to strike out swinging. Steve Clevenger worked a walk to load the bases in front of pinch hitter Jimmy Paredes, who doubled down the right field line to score two and end the game.
Despite the fact that the Yankees are barely hanging on to what could be considered postseason contention, this game was a heartbreaker. McCarthy and the better part of the bullpen did so well to keep Baltimore off the scoreboard, but their offense, as we have seen so many times this season, failed to pick them up.
Bryan Mitchell will have a tough task in front of him as he makes his first big league start in the night portion of today's doubleheader. The bullpen is going to be short, and the two best relievers won't be available at all. Good luck, guys.