by Derek McAdam
June 15, 2023
***
The New York Yankees were looking to sweep the two-game series against the New York Mets in Queens, but failed to do so, after losing 4-3 in extra innings.
Quick Stats:
Gerrit Cole: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 8 K
Billy McKinney: 2-for-4
The Yankees have now failed to win any of their last three series, although this split has been the best result of those three series.
The Big Story:
It was a pitching duel in Queens last night, as Cole faced off against Justin Verlander. While neither team crossed the plate through the first four innings, the Mets struck first in the 5th on a Tommy Pham double, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. In the 6th, Jake Bauers ripped a single into right field to score Jose Trevino and tie the game at 1-1.
In the next inning, the Yankees took a lead on a throwing error from Jeff McNeil that allowed Josh Donaldson to score. Isiah Kiner-Falefa stole second base and advanced to third on another throwing error. Kiner-Falefa then became the first Yankee since Didi Gregorious in 2016 to steal home plate, giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead.
However, the Mets would come back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, after Brandon Nimmo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, followed by a Starling Marle RBI single that would ultimately tie the game.
The Yankees failed to score with a ghost runner on in the 10th, while Nimmo sent in the game-winning hit in the bottom of the inning, giving the Mets a 4-3 win.
My Take:
While you can’t win them all, this is another Yankee loss that was just brutal to see. First, and foremost, the Yankees continue to struggle to score in extra innings with a ghost runner on. And it isn’t just extra innings that the Yankees failed to score runs with runners in scoring position. It also came in the 9th, when DJ LeMahieu had a double with one out, and failed to cross the plate. It’s a trend that Yankee fans are more than familiar with.
It felt like another game of “bullpen roulette” that Aaron Boone was playing, as it was another active night for the ‘pen, even though Cole gave the Yankees six innings of work. What’s interesting is that Boone did not use Clay Holmes, Wandy Peralta, or Michael King, although this may have been just to get the trio an extra day of rest, especially with an off-day today. However, it just seemed as if he was trying to find that one pitcher to blow the game open for the Mets.
But let’s look at the few positives. Kiner-Falefa continues to show that he IS a worthy part of this team. I love his aggressiveness and his drive to do whatever it takes to help this team win. Sure, he didn’t have a hit, but stealing home plate was the first time the Yankees had done so since Didi Gregorius did so on August 27, 2016! I knew it had been awhile, but I don’t even remember Gregorius doing so (I thought it was Jacoby Ellsbury’s steal of home.)
The pitching also continues to do well for the Yankees. Luis Severino’s start on Tuesday wasn’t the best, but the bullpen kept the Yankees in the game, and was ultimately the factor in the win. The pitching kept the Yankees in this game, as they again struggled to push runs across the plate.
Harrison Bader is set to join the Yankees this weekend. Hopefully, he can provide a boost to this offense, but it seems that the Yankees need one player to help them with that: Aaron Judge. Hopefully, things look a little different this weekend, and the offense can come alive.
What’s Next?:
The Yankees head to Boston to face the Red Sox for a three-game series beginning Friday night. Domingo German is set to go for the Yankees, while Tanner Houck is set to start for the Red Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EST from Fenway Park.
