Looking to grab the upper hand against the division rival Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees pack their bags for a four-game set in at Camden Yards. A weekend series featuring a doubleheader is in store for fans. A strong rotation beginning with Michael King, Deivi Garcia, Gerrit Cole and ending with Masahiro Tanaka is how the Yankees will take the mound. A four game set is in upon us, play ball!
Game 1 Final: Yankees 6, Orioles 5
Probables: Michael King (1-1, 6.23 ERA vs Tom Eshelman (3-0, 3.48 ERA)
Win / Loss / Save: NYY – Holder (2-0) / BAL – Lakins Sr. (2-2) / Green (1)
It wasn’t pretty, but the Yankees overcame a rough offensive performance to steal game one in extra innings. SP Michael King pitched well but received very little run support from the Yankees’ bats. Though, King went 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB and 3 K in his outing, which got the job done.
After falling behind 1-0 early, Gary Sanchez (7) put a dent in the scoreboard with a solo home run to tie the game. Having the bases loaded and no outs in the palm of their hands, the Yankees weren’t able to do significant damage to the score. Brett Gardner connected on a two-run single and Mike Tauchman walked in a run to tally three. Just chipping away at the score with fulfilling opportunities, New York was never able to receive the “big hit” with the bases loaded. The O’s would soon tie the game with a two-run home run from Rio Ruiz (7) and a solo shot from Renato Nunez (10).
Headed into extras in game one of a seven-inning scheduled double hitter, the Yankees pulled ahead in the ninth. DJ LeMahieu grounded to first to put the artificial runner to 3rd, and newly recalled Miguel Andújar lined a go-ahead single to right. A batter later, Clint Frazier would add one more by scoring Andújar on his own RBI single.
For the most part, the Yankees bullpen got the job done. Though Ben Heller and Zack Britton ran into some trouble, the rest of the arms bailed them out to secure the game one win. Final: Yankees 6, Orioles 5
Player of the Game: RP Jonathan Holder: 1 IP, K, Run Scored
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Game 2 Final: Yankees 3, Orioles 6
Probables: Deivi Garcia (0.0, 0.00 ERA) vs Jorge Lopez (0-0, 5.59 ERA)
Win / Loss / Save: BAL – Lopez (1-0 / NYY Garcia (0-1) / BAL – Valdez (1)
The Yankees venture back to their old ways and continue their struggles as they fall in Game 2. This is the first time the Yankees have fallen to the O’s since March 20, 2019 and before tonight, the Bombers were riding a 19 game win streak against Baltimore. The answer to their recent struggles is obvious: the offense. New York connected on four hits all game and two of those came from Erik Kratz. This should be an instant red flag Manager Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman.
In the third, the Yankees got on the board via a Thairo Estrada RBI groundout. In the following inning and adding two more, Erik Kratz hit a double that scored Gardner and Andújar. But unfortunately, this would be all for the Yankees as they would not score the rest of the game and the O’s would come back to score four more to win the game.
In this second outing, Deivi Garcia looked very strong in Camden Yards. Entering the game with two runners on, Clarke Schmidt would allow those both to score. Garcia’s final line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB and 6 K. Schmidt, making his MLB debut, entered the game in a high leverage situation with a one run lead and two on in the 5th. On 32 pitches, the Yankees top prospect went 1.1 IP with 3 H, 2 ER and BB. This is just the start for the Clarke Schmidt era — as he will most certainly improve off of this outing.
A four-run fifth is how the O’s would storm back and win. A pair of RBI singles from Mountcastle and Ruiz drove in two as well as a two-run double from Valaika. This one certainly hurts all Yankee fans as it is another frustrating loss. In game two of the doubleheader: Yankees 3, Orioles 6.
Player of the Game: C Erik Kratz: 2-4, 2 RBI
Game 3 Final: Yankees 1, Orioles 6
Probables: Gerrit Cole (4-2, 3.91 ERA) vs Keegan Akin (0-0, 3.62 ERA)
Win / Loss / Save: BAL – Tate (1-0) / NYY – Cole (4-3)
With high hopes entering the game, the Yankees fall nowhere near the high expectations set on the game. Falling short 6-1 in game three, this was a rough loss for the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees have now lost in 4 straight Gerrit Cole starts and not to be surprised, the offense had a horrendous game.
Gerrit Cole was the Cy Young pitcher he usually is through five innings in his start. In this groove, he allowed one hit and struck out nine. But in the sixth, all momentum broke loose as the leadoff batter, DJ Stewart (2) would hit a solo home run. To follow, four unearned runs came into score after an error from 2B Thairo Estrada. Gerrit Cole’s night ended as 6.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, ER, BB, 10 K.
The lackluster Yankees offensive production was at hand again in this game. Only scoring one in the eighth, Clint Frazier (5) knocked a solo home run but it wasn’t enough to sway the tides as they would fall short 6-1. The rest of the New York bats were nowhere to be found. Gary Sanchez continues his cold streak with a golden sombrero (0-for-4, 4 strikeouts). In his return from the IL, Gleyber Torres went 1-for-3 with a walk. Kyle Higashioka and Frazier had two hit nights. This offense NEEDS to turn it around. Final: Yankees 1, Orioles 6.
Player of the Game: RF Clint Frazier: 2-4, R, RBI, HR
Game 4 Final: Yankees 1, Orioles 5
Probables: Masahiro Tanaka (1-1, 3.38 ERA) vs Dean Kremer (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Win / Loss / Save: BAL – Kremer (1-0) vs Tanaka (1-2)
Heading into the final game of the set in Baltimore, the Yankees were looking to turn the gears around and get back in the winning column. Though instead, the team brought a life-less amount of energy to the ballpark and collapsed to allow the Orioles to win, 6-1. The Yankees offense was held to the minimum all game. Connecting on four hits the entire game (three from Andújar), the game was over within a blink of an eye.
The Orioles sent out starter Dean Kremer to make his MLB debut. With low expectations, Kremer walked all over the New York lineup. Allowing one hit, one run and seven K’s in 6 IP, the right-hander was the force that drove the Yankees into the ground.
Scoring one on a Fielder’s Choice, Erik Kratz was scored with an RBI in the second inning. Other than that, the scoring was ALL Baltimore as they counted towards five runs. A two-run home run in the bottom of the first by DJ Stewart (3) started the game on a hot note for the O’s. Later, scoring on a bases-loaded walk was Pedro Severino. An RBI single by Andrew Velazquez and a sacrifice fly out by Ryan Mountcastle scored a pair.
Starter Masahiro Tanaka was certainly not himself in his outing. Allowing six hits and two earned runs, Tanaka has to go back to the drawing board and improve. Though, the bullpen did the work and held the scoring to a minimum. Luis Cessa went 0.2 while Nick Nelson closed the game out and went 2.0 innings.
This game should not sit well with any Yankees fans. Something needs to happen. This team needs a spark. Yankees take one of four in Baltimore. Final: Yankees 1, Orioles 5. Onto Toronto.
Player of the Game: 3B Miguel Andújar: 3-4, 3B
Player of the Series: C Erik Kratz: 2-7, 3 RBI
Upcoming Series: Sept. 7 – Sept. 9 @ Toronto Blue Jays
Photo: Nick Wass / LO
