Yankees start second half of season weak, lose to Rockies 7-2

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New York Yankees 2, Colorado Rockies 7

DENVER — Kris Bryant hit one of Colorado’s three long balls in a unique way, and it was a powerful home run. Austin Gomber also won again, making it four wins in a row. As a result, the Rockies beat the New York Yankees by a big score of 7-2 on Friday night.

In a highly anticipated game following the appointment of their new hitting coach, Sean Casey, the struggling Yankees wasted no time making an impact. Giancarlo Stanton set the tone with an impressive two-run home run. However, as the game progressed at the offense-friendly Coors Field, the Yankees‘ momentum dwindled, and their performance faltered.

In his second outing of the season, Carlos Rodon conceded four runs across five innings, leaving New York in a challenging position. Unfortunately, the Yankees struggled to mount a comeback. Since the injury to their power hitter Aaron Judge on June 3, with a league-worst batting average of .219, the Yankees (49-43) have encountered difficulties. Notably, they have scored two runs or less in a staggering 12 games during this period, highlighting their offensive struggles.

This is the first time since August 23, 1992, that New York finds itself tied for the bottom spot in the AL East at this stage of the season.

Randal Grichuk and Nolan Jones joined in on the home run spree for the struggling Rockies, who currently hold the worst record in the National League. Austin Gomber, with a solid performance, pitched six innings and successfully reduced his ERA from 6.30 to 6.19. Among the 62 qualified pitchers, only Jordan Lyles has a higher ERA at 6.42.

After Gleyber Torres kicked off the game with a single, Stanton stepped up and blasted a monumental 455-foot home run. However, Gomber displayed exceptional pitching prowess, surrendering only four hits and shutting out the Yankees for the remaining five innings at Coors Field.

Stanton’s impressive performance at Colorado continued, as he now boasts a remarkable tally of 11 home runs in 24 games at the venue. Notably, among his incredible feats, he shares the record for the longest home run in Coors Field history—a colossal 504-foot blast achieved on August 6, 2016, during his time with the Miami Marlins.

In a determined effort, Rodón (0-2) allowed four hits while recording six strikeouts and issuing two walks. The left-handed pitcher showcased his velocity, reaching an impressive 97 mph with his fastball, throughout his 88-pitch performance. Notably, Rodón had to overcome significant obstacles as he battled forearm and back injuries, which sidelined him for the first three months of the season.

During the game, Brenton Doyle delivered a pivotal two-out, two-run double in the second inning, propelling the Rockies to take a 3-2 lead against Rodón. The sequence began with a walk to C.J. Cron and a single by Grichuk, setting the stage for Ezequiel Tovar to drive in Colorado’s first run with a timely single.

At the forefront of rookie shortstops, Tovar distinguishes himself with an impressive tally of 46 RBI.

As the game progressed, Grichuk made his presence felt with a home run in the fourth inning, further solidifying the Rockies’ advantage. In the seventh inning, Bryant joined the action with a powerful two-run shot off Michael King, extending the lead to 6-2. The offensive display continued as Jones launched a remarkable 469-foot home run in the eighth inning, leaving spectators in awe.

Nursing narrow leads, Gomber showcased his ability to navigate through challenging situations on two occasions. In the third inning, with a slim 3-2 lead, he induced Harrison Bader to pop out with two runners on and two outs, skillfully evading potential trouble. Similarly, in the sixth inning, Gomber found himself facing a critical moment after Stanton’s opposite-field fly ball fell for a double, putting him in scoring position. However, Gomber displayed composure and stranded Stanton at third base. It’s worth noting that Gomber currently shares the league lead with 22 homers surrendered.

Meanwhile, Torres shined at the plate, delivering an impressive performance with three hits to his name.

UP NEXT

In the upcoming middle game of the series on Saturday, the Yankees will have right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt (4-6, 4.40 ERA) taking the mound, while the opposing team will be led by right-handed pitcher Connor Seabold (1-6, 6.65 ERA). Schmidt enters the game on a positive note, having emerged victorious in his last two decisions and boasting an impressive 2.85 ERA in his previous nine starts. On the other hand, Seabold has faced challenges recently, allowing a total of 24 runs across his last four starts.

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