A night of horror exposes chinks in Yankees’ armor a day after playoff joy

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Just hours before Thursday’s game, the Yankees’ locker room still carried the scent of champagne and beer from the previous night’s playoff-clinching celebration. But despite securing a postseason berth, the team still had unfinished business in the form of the American League East title.

Their quest was paused as the Mariners’ pitching staff stifled New York’s offense, leading to a 3-2 loss at T-Mobile Park, preventing a Yankees sweep. The Orioles snapped their losing streak earlier in the day, cutting the Yankees’ lead in the AL East to four games with nine remaining. The Yankees’ magic number to clinch the division remained at six.

Now 89-64, the Yankees struggled at the plate, managing just one hit in 12 chances with runners in scoring position. They left eight runners stranded, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. providing the only offensive spark—a two-run homer off Logan Gilbert in the third inning.

Soto hits injury wall in a rude shock to Yankees

A tense moment unfolded in the seventh when Juan Soto made a sliding catch in foul territory, crashing into the wall and injuring his left knee. Soto stayed on the ground in visible pain as manager Aaron Boone and the medical staff rushed to his side. Thankfully, the Yankees outfielder shook off the injury and remained in the game, avoiding what could have been a major blow to the team’s playoff hopes.

Yankees’ reliever too falls to injury

The Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the Mariners on Thursday was overshadowed by a potential setback when reliever Jake Cousins left the game with tightness in his right pectoral muscle. Cousins was pulled from the mound in the sixth inning after throwing just six pitches. His final pitch, a slider that struck out Julio Rodriguez, prompted manager Aaron Boone and a team trainer to rush out and assess his condition.

Boone later noted that Cousins had been dealing with the issue for several days, and his velocity had noticeably dipped across all pitch types. While the Yankees manager suggested the injury might only sideline Cousins for a few days, there was concern given the timing.

Cousins’ velocity was alarmingly lower than usual. His first pitch, a sinker, came in at 90.4 mph, well below his season average of 95.1 mph. A fastball that hit Josh Rojas registered at 91.8 mph, compared to his typical 94.9 mph. While the Yankees freliever struck out Rodriguez on four sliders, those too averaged 80.9 mph, slower than his usual 82.1 mph.

The injury is untimely for the Yankees, who have been relying on a bullpen-by-committee approach in late innings due to the absence of a defined closer. Cousins has been a crucial piece, posting a 2.39 ERA and striking out 52 batters over 37 ²/₃ innings before Thursday.

An error that shouldn’t happen

In the first inning, a misplay by Jasson Dominguez helped the Mariners jump out to a 3-0 lead against Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt. The trouble started with Julio Rodriguez, who, after being picked off third base the previous night while dodging Randy Arozarena’s errant bat, led off with a single. Following a one-out walk, Luke Raley dropped a bunt that Schmidt couldn’t handle, loading the bases.

Justin Turner followed with a fly ball to left field that seemed routine, but Dominguez misjudged it, possibly due to the sun, allowing the Mariners to score their first run. Jorge Polanco then hit a sacrifice fly, and JP Crawford capped the rally with an RBI single to left, putting Seattle up 3-0.

This marked Dominguez’s second defensive error in as many games. The day before, while playing center field, the Yankees rookie misjudged a fly ball from Turner, leading to a double that landed on the warning track well behind him.

Dominguez tried to make up for his mistake by leading off the second inning with a double. With two outs, Anthony Volpe singled to right field, and third-base coach Luis Rojas waved Dominguez home. However, Raley’s throw from right field was on target, and catcher Cal Raleigh applied the tag, ending the Yankees’ scoring threat.

Arozarena also had his share of struggles tracking fly balls in left field later in the game, suggesting that tough outfield conditions might have played a role in Dominguez’s error.

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