Technically, the Yankees were swept by Robinson Cano and the Mariners at home. Seattle won the first two games in New York back in April, then won the make up of the rained out game on Monday night. The final score was 10-2. The Yankees are now 11-13 against the Mariners, Cubs, White Sox, Pirates, Astros, Twins, and Mets this year. Cream of the crop.
Bad Pitching, Bad Defense, Bad Team
The infield defense was terrible yet again, but the Mariners scored enough legitimate runs that it would not have mattered if the Yankees played flawless defense anyway. Kyle Seager scored on a ground ball after whacking a leadoff triple off the wall in the second, then Brad Miller drove in two runs with a single back up the middle in the seventh. The bases were loaded on a double, a walk, and a bunt hit. That’s three runs right there, all without the aid of bad defense.
But, of course, the infield defense led directly to three other runs. Derek Jeter played a definite single and probable double into a leadoff triple in the fourth inning (more on that in a second), a runner that eventually came around to score. Then, with men on second and third in the seventh, Michael Saunders pulled a two-run single under Kelly Johnson’s glove. The ball went right under his glove, very make-able play. There was only one out and one run probably would have scored anyway, but instead two came across and no out was recorded. Three legit runs, three Yankees-aided runs.
Because official scoring is weird, David Phelps was charged with six earned runs in six innings of work. The Yankees were not charged with a single error for … reasons. I’m sure there were reasons. Phelps retired seven in a row at one point but ran into trouble early in the game and towards the end of his outing. Again, a real Major League defense would have helped limit the damage. I don’t even mean a Gold Glover at every position. A below-average defense would be an upgrade over this abomination.
Token Two Runs
If Felix Hernandez had not stuck out his foot in the fourth inning, the Yankees would have been shut out. They had men on the corners with two outs, and Miller was all set to field Ichiro Suzuki’s ground ball back up the middle for the final out. Instead, Felix kicked it away and both runs scored. That’s what it takes for the Yankees to score a run these days. The pitcher needs to kick would-be routine outs away from defenders.
The Yankees had eight hits in seven innings against Hernandez and five of them came in that fourth inning. Three were infield singles. Yangervis Solarte had two hits, including a double down the right field line. Brian McCann singled to center, Johnson blooped a single to left, and Jacoby Ellsbury yanked a ground ball between the first and second basemen. That’s all. A legit double, two legit singles, a bloop, a grounder with eyes, and three infield singles, including one the pitcher kicked away. Ellsbury singled off reliever Charlie Furbush, but otherwise 15 of the final 16 Yankees to bat made outs.
Mistakes, Because We Love Mistakes
Things are going so poorly for the Yankees right now that even Jeter is making mental errors. Say what you want about his defense and double play prowess, but the Cap’n very rarely makes a flat out dumb mistake on the field. And yet, a few days ago he got caught in that rally killing rundown against the Twins, and on Monday he assumed a ball was foul and took his time throwing it back into the infield. Brett Gardner slid to make the catch, but the ball bounced off his glove in fair territory and right to Jeter. He picked it up and jogged down the line with his back to the infield, all while Seager was rounding the bases. What a weird play.
Then, an inning or two later, Johnson slapped a weak little ground ball through the shortstop hole while the Mariners had the shift on, though Ichiro over-ran third base and was thrown out. That mistake wasn’t really on Ichiro though, third base coach Robbie Thomson was waving him around. Miller got to the ball pretty quickly, so he deserves some credit. Either way, someone on the Yankees screwed up and they ran themselves out of bases loaded situation with the top of the order coming to the plate. Can’t blow those opportunities against Felix, especially not by gifting him outs.
Leftovers
Joe Girardi challenged the call at third base on Endy Chavez’s bunt to load the bases in that seventh inning, and although the call was not overturned, I thought it was the right time to challenge. Tie game in the late innings, the play was very close, and it was the difference between bases loaded with no outs and runners on first and second with one out. Gotta take a shot there.
Matt Thornton allowed a single in his inning of work, but it was the single under Johnson’s glove and should have been an error. Both runners he inherited scored because of that non-error. Alfredo Aceves allowed five hits, including two homers in two garbage time innings to put the game out of reach. I have no idea what’s going on with him and McCann. McCann isn’t putting down signs but they’re on the same page and he knows what’s coming. Very weird. Obviously it isn’t working. Aceves has been terrible.
Still can’t believe the Yankees were not charged with an error. What was that about?
Box Score, WPA Graph & Standings
MLB.com is the place to go for the box score and video highlights. FanGraphs has some additional stats and ESPN has the updated standings.
Source: FanGraphs
Up Next
The Mariners were only in town for this one makeup game. The Yankees and Athletics open a three-game series on Tuesday night, when veterans Hiroki Kuroda and Scott Kazmir get the ball. If you want to catch any of the final three games on the homestand, RAB Tickets can help get you in the door.
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