Yankees 2-3 Tigers: Holmes blows lead, ruins game

New York Yankees’ Gleyber Torres, right, scores on a wild pitch by Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal (29) during the sixth inning of the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.
AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar

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New York Yankees 2-3 Detroit Tigers

In a tense 10th inning, the Yankees endured a crushing 3-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers during the Major League Baseball Little League Classic. Parker Meadows delivered the game-winning hit, a single that brought home the decisive run, thrilling the young crowd and shattering New York’s chances of clinching the win.

Yankees Collapse in Extra Innings

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The Little League Classic, often a showcase for Aaron Judge‘s brilliance, saw the Yankees fall to a gut-wrenching 3-2 defeat despite spirited support from young fans. A ninth-inning surge by Detroit, sparked by Colt Keith and sealed by Jace Jung’s RBI single off Clay Holmes, wiped out New York’s lead and marked Holmes’ 10th blown save of the season.

Though DJ LeMahieu put the Yankees back on top with an RBI single in the tenth inning, Detroit quickly countered. The game slipped away when Zach McKinstry crossed home on Parker Meadows’ single, with Jasson Domínguez’s throw to the plate arriving just too late.

Beau Brieske secured the win for Detroit, while Mark Leiter Jr. was saddled with the loss.

Yankees Outplayed in Little League Classic

A solitary run, courtesy of a wild pitch by Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in the sixth inning, was all the Yankees could muster in a disappointing loss at the Little League Classic. The game played in front of a crowd predominantly filled with young baseball enthusiasts, failed to deliver the expected offensive fireworks from stars like Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.

Instead, the game unfolded with a series of errors reminiscent of youth baseball. Wild pitches and poor base running plagued both teams, creating an unusual spectacle for a major league game. While the event aimed to inspire the next generation of baseball stars, the Yankees and Tigers demonstrated that even seasoned professionals can make elementary mistakes.

Despite the underwhelming performance, the true winners of the day were the young fans in attendance. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole took time to engage with a young ballplayer during the broadcast, while injured infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. forged a new friendship with a Little Leaguer. For these young fans, the experience of watching a major league game up close was undoubtedly the highlight, overshadowing the final score.

Ultimately, the Yankees left Bowman Field with a loss and a reminder that even the best teams can stumble.

Yankees Miss Opportunity to Extend Lead

As fans eagerly awaited Aaron Judge to add to his home run tally, the Yankees found themselves in a challenging spot. Despite Judge grounding into a double play against Tarik Skubal in the sixth inning, they managed to take advantage of the situation. A wild pitch by Skubal with Giancarlo Stanton at bat allowed Gleyber Torres to cross the plate, putting the Yankees ahead 1-0.

Marcus Stroman turned in a strong outing, fanning five batters over six shutout innings.

The Little League Classic brought a nostalgic, youth baseball vibe to the game. Fans enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere, with affordable concessions and a one-of-a-kind experience.

Adding to the event’s charm, Australian players served as public address announcers, and the Tigers’ mascot, Paws, became a favorite among the young crowd.

Both teams embraced the spirit of the event, connecting with the Little League players and showcasing the joy of the game. The Tigers’ aggressive base running, highlighted by Jace Jung’s daring attempt to score from second on a double, injected energy into the game.

In the end, the game played out like a classic Little League contest, with wild pitches and bold base running creating an unusual yet entertaining spectacle for everyone in attendance.

The Yankees Roster

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Up Next

The Yankees are set to have a rest day on Monday before they return to their home turf for a six-game homestand, where they will face off against the Guardians and Nationals.

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Don Squires

I haven’t boarded ‘ the remove Boone
train’ but I am at the station. It may be the time to change the leadership and management approach. Apparently ‘don’t
Rock the boat’ and don’t upset the players
methodology is not working. Keeping everyone happy doesn’t always result in
success.

WayneD

Ah, yes, yet another indictment of Brainless Brian Cashman’s Gross Incompetence as a GM.

When it was apparent before the trade deadline that an upgrade in the Closer Role was needed from Clay Holmes, Brainless Brian responded with DFA-worthy Enyel De Los(er) Santos as part of the “solution.”

Tell us, again, Michael Kay, how Brainless Brian Cashman, who’s NEVER built even an AL Championship team on his own, is a HOF-worthy GM, rather than an Abject Failure as a GM! (Brainless Brian inherited the Fab Five of Mo, Jeter, Williams, Jorge & Pettitte from his predecessors, the truly HOF-worthy Gene Michaels & Bob Watson.

Speaking of Holmes, I grew up watching one of the Greatest Sinker Ball Pitchers in Yankees History, Mel Stottlemyre, who should be in the HOF (see FYI, below, for details). And, unlike Holmes, when Mel threw a sinker, it Started Out At or Below the Hitter’s Belt, and ended up At or Below His Knees.

Holmes, on the other hand, frequently starts his “sinker” at the hitter’s chest, so it “sinks” seductively into the hitter’s sweet spot. WTF is wrong with you Holmes? STOP starting your sinker at the hitter’s numbers! If it doesn’t move drastically, it’s a damn BP Fastball. What the hell do you NOT understand about that?

Since no one’s apparently told you, SINKERS are supposed to finish At the Hitter’s knees or Lower! You’re throwing Meatballs, NOT sinkers!

Would someone please sit Holmes down & make him watch 1-2 hours of highlights of how Mel Stottlemyre drove hitters F-ing crazy with his sinker. So, he learns How & Where you’re supposed to throw a sinker!

FYI: for those of you who never saw Mel Stottlemyre pitch, in an 11-year Yankee career as a Starter:

  • Mel had a 2.97 ERA on some of the most horrid teams in Yankee history!
  • Except for his rookie year, those teams couldn’t field or hit! In fact, Mel Stottlemyre sometimes Pinch Hit for Position Players, when he wasn’t starting!
  • Yet, Mel won 20 games or more 3 times on those God-Awful teams, and he won 15 – 21 games 7 times!
  • Opposing batters hit .219 – .255 for 10 of his 11 years, and in his last year & worst year, they hit .273.
  • Mel had SUB 3.00 ERAs in 6 of his 11 seasons, and he had ERAs below 3.23 in 9 of his first 10 seasons!
  • Mel’s WHIP was 1.11 – 1.38 for his entire career, making him one of the Greatest Pitchers in Yankees history!

So, Clay Holmes could learn something about how to be a Great Sinker-Ball Pitcher from studying the Mastery of Mel Stottlemyre.

In the meantime, STOP Starting your G.D. “sinker” at the Hitter’s Numbers, Holmes! You’re not even Italian, so stop serving up Meatballs!

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