The Yankees were limited to just two heats when they lost the series opener in Pittsburgh.
The Yankees’ hugely impressive start to the season gave us every reason to believe in them, but there was always a fall back in the middle. Though they’ve had some solid performances lately, the Yankees seem to be coping with some of those setbacks and feeling a little down.
Once again, the Yankees’ offense was kept in check. This time it was the Pirates as starter José Quintana conceded a run for six hits and hit seven.They had their chances, scoring ten that day and beating Pittsburgh, but they didn’t take their chances.
Meanwhile, Jameson Taillon also continued his recent struggles, allowing five runs to six hits in 5 1/3 innings on his first start against his former team. That ended with a few more runs as the Yankees lost Game 1 in Pittsburgh to the Pirates 5-2.
The Pirates opened the game and scored a goal in the second inning.In his first start against the organization that drafted him, Taillon allowed Daniel Vogelbach a solo shot and gave Pittsburgh an early lead. In the next half inning, a jump catch by Bryan Reynolds kept the Yankees off the board.
A few innings later, the Pirates extended their lead even further. After Reynolds took the lead with a double, Jack Suwinski added Pittsburgh’s second home run of the day. After a few more bats, with Oneil Cruz taking the field, former Yankees Ben Gamel pitched for the hole, allowing Cruz to score early.
The Yankees had a few chances, but Quintana mostly kept them at bay through the fifth inning. Two batters after a double from Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Aaron Judge home with a single to put the Yankees on the board.
Taillon was again far from his best material, but he managed to eat 5.1 innings before finally being eliminated. He left with a runner still in second who eventually turned to score on Cruz’s sacrificial fly.He was replaced by Lucas Luetge and eventually made it out of the inning but put in a few runners before escaping the jam.
There was a unique opportunity for a rally in the seventh, but again nothing came of it. With two hits and an out, the very man you wanted, Judge, hit the plate. However, he landed late in the inning for a double play.
The Yankees got a run back but missed another chance for more. Matt Carpenter picked Gleyber Torres to narrow the deficit a bit but would end up stranded on base.
Aroldis Chapman pitched the eighth inning for the Yankees and got off to a much better start than his first start from the disabled list. The left-hander threw a 1-2-3 frame and got two ground balls and a flat flyball.
The Yankees had another chance in the ninth game when Isiah Kiner-Falefa scored their third goal of the day. LeMahieu almost rolled a double at the end of the game in the next at-bat, but a botched transfer from Diego Castillo gave them one last chance. But once again they just couldn’t cash in as the judge lashed out trying to end the game.
The fact that a slump includes a couple of notable comebacks and a 19-run doubleheader tag shows the Yankees are a very good team. They just haven’t been at their best lately. They will try to get it working again tomorrow night at 19:05. m. ET when Luis Severino faces Mitch Keller.
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