Marcus Stroman goes ‘a little off’ forcing Yankees to pay a heavy price

Thursday April 11, 2024

In a night where precision was paramount, Marcus Stroman‘s momentary lapse in command proved too costly for the New York Yankees to overcome. The right-hander had been nearly flawless through his first two starts of the season, entering Wednesday’s contest against the Miami Marlins with a spotless 12-inning scoreless streak. However, a fateful third-inning mistake disrupted Marcus Stroman’s record and allowed Miami to steal the game away with a three-run homer.

After a 10-pitch battle resulted in a walk to Nick Gordon, the Marlins exploited a defensive lapse, with Nick Fortes’ slow roller finding its way into the outfield as Gleyber Torres had vacated the right side anticipating Gordon’s stolen base attempt. Luis Arraez followed with an RBI single, ending Marcus Stroman’s early-season earned run drought in pinstripes.

The real damage, however, came two pitches later when Jake Burger ambushed a middle-of-the-plate slider, sending it deep into the Marlins’ bullpen in left-center for a backbreaking three-run homer. Despite the Yankees’ best efforts to chip away at the deficit, Marcus Stroman’s uncharacteristic third-inning stumble proved too significant a hurdle, as the Bronx Bombers fell 5-2 to Miami before a chilly crowd of 36,295 at Yankee Stadium.

While Marcus Stroman had been a model of consistency to start the year, his one misfire on this crisp Wednesday evening served as a harsh reminder that even the slightest mistake can have resounding consequences in the unforgiving major leagues. As the Yankees look to rebound, they’ll hope their veteran hurler can quickly regain the razor-sharp command that had fueled his early-season success.

“Burger put a really good swing on a bad pitch…I was just losing the zone,” conceded Marcus Stroman and admitted to being “a little off” mechanically.

Though the veteran right-hander surrendered four runs on four hits and four walks, he countered with seven strikeouts, showcasing his arsenal’s potency. A movement and command specialist by trade, Marcus Stroman’s usually pinpoint control briefly wavered, allowing the Marlins to pounce.

Despite the hiccup, Marcus Stroman had delivered solid outings against Houston and former club Toronto, fueling optimism in his Bronx debut. One aberration dug too deep a deficit, but Marcus Stroman’s determination to limit further damage underscored his fortitude. As the Yankees regroup, they’ll bank on their prized offseason addition rediscovering his trademark precision and consistency.

Marcus Stroman starts his first Yankees game at Yankee Stadium on April 5, 2024. — NYY

Yankees fail to come back after Marcus Stroman’s meatball

Marcus Stroman’s rebound couldn’t mask the Yankees’ offensive struggles on a night where opportunities went begging. Though the right-hander rebounded from an uncharacteristic early lapse, New York’s bats failed to capitalize, ultimately leaving them short in a 5-2 loss to the Marlins.

This Yankees team had shown a knack for late-inning heroics, rallying against top clubs like Houston and Arizona earlier in the season. However, that clutch gene eluded them on this crisp evening in the Bronx. Despite generating a modest six hits, Aaron Boone’s squad squandered several prime scoring chances.

The fourth and fifth innings saw pairs of runners reach base, only for the rally to fizzle. Then, in the ninth, the Yankees loaded the bases against Miami’s lefty closer Tanner Scott, giving slugger Aaron Judge a chance to author another signature moment with two outs. But Judge, mired in an early-season slump at .178, could only muster a routine fly out to center, stranding the potential tying run.

When the dust settled, the Yankees finished a paltry 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, failing to mount a comeback against the Marlins’ bullpen. While the offense sputtered, Marcus Stroman’s perseverance provided a glimmer of hope – but one the bats simply couldn’t capitalize on in a missed opportunity against a division rival.

As this team looks to regain its winning ways, consistent clutch hitting will be paramount to complement their formidable rotation. On this night, however, the timely knocks never materialized, leaving the Yankees stuck in neutral.

Juan Soto and Aaron Judge are together during the Yankees home opener against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 5, 2024. — NYY

The crowd at Yankee Stadium roared to life on Giancarlo Stanton’s opposite-field blast and manager Aaron Boone’s heated seventh-inning ejection over a missed strike call. Soto’s no-out RBI double an inning later, scoring Anthony Volpe, pulled New York within 4-2 and stoked hopes of an improbable comeback.

“Gosh, I thought we competed really well all night,” Boone said. “We didn’t get the big hit tonight. We had chances in the middle of the game where it looked like we were building something. They were able to get out of it and then all the way to the end there.”

Boone’s lineup tinkering saw Volpe batting leadoff for the first time, with Gleyber Torres moving to sixth. The moves provided an initial spark as Volpe ended up with 1-for-3 with two walks. But the Yankees ultimately couldn’t overcome their inability to cash in on scoring opportunities, finishing 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position in a 5-2 defeat.

Captain Judge did not turn up for the post-game press briefing.

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