It’s now seven straight losses for the Yankees, who were on the precipice of an epic comeback – with the story to match – but squandered two strong chances before imploding again in their 11-inning 6-2 loss to Detroit.
On a steamy Wednesday in the Bronx, both the Tigers’ and Yankees’ offenses were stymied for the most part. Will Warren allowed a solo homer to Kevin McGonigle and a sac fly in the sixth before departing, but Paul Blackburn escaped a runner on third with one out, and he, Brent Headrick, and Fernando Cruz went on to post 4 2/3 scoreless innings with only one more baserunner.
The problem? The Yankees’ offense had two hits and a walk over the first seven innings, and failed to capitalize with runners on second and third and one out in the eighth.
But then came the ninth, where the Yankees indeed, as Michael Kay said, had a rally in their bones, starting when DH and cleanup hitter Amed Rosario homered to left to make it 2-1 with one out. Jazz Chisholm then got the offensive version of a little league home run, singling ahead of stealing second and third and scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game.
The next problem? Jose Caballero sacrificed to open the tenth to put Spencer Jones on third with one out, but the Yankees went strikeout, intentional walk, strikeout to end the threat.
“Tough one going into the off-day; I felt like offensively we finally put some things together in the eighth but didn’t score, and had chances to put it away in the ninth and tenth and weren’t able to do it,” Aaron Boone said after the game.
And then came the 11th, where Camilo Doval, who had allowed just one earned run in 9 1/3 innings over his last 10 appearances, lost the plate. Doval had an 0-2 count on Hao-Yu Lee with two outs and runners on first and third, but Yu worked a seven-pitch walk, Spencer Torkelson walked on a 3-2 count to force in a run, and Zack McKinstry’s single to right cleared the bases after Jose Caballero overthrew the cutoff and Ali Sanchez’s throw to second to try to nab McKinstry sailed into center field and allowed a third run to score.
“You get two outs and ahead 0-2 there on Lee and just can’t get into the zone,” Boone said. “Lee put a tough at-bat on him and spoiled a really good slider to extend the at-bat.”
It was a team-high sixth time this season that Doval has allowed a game-tying or go-ahead plate appearance in the eighth inning or later, and means the Yankees have been swept for a second straight series to end a 16-game stretch where they went 5-11 and lost three of five series.
“Tough one going into the off day, but we have to get over it and start playing better baseball,” Boone said. “It’s a day to refresh the body and mind, but I’m confident in this group. A tough week, but we have to go out and handle business, and I’m confident we will.”
Added Rosario: “I always say the water will come back to its level, so don’t panic and it will come back in time.”
