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Didi returns but Yankees lose opener in Cleveland

CLEVELAND — Didi Gregorius returned to the Yankee lineup but the team lost its third game in its last four, dropping the series opener to the Indians, 5-2. The team is now just a half game up on the second place Rays, after Tampa Bay defeated the Red Sox earlier today.

The game started well for New York with early runs scored against Cleveland starter Zach Plesac. Clint Frazier‘s RBI-double in the second plated the game’s first run, while Aaron Hicks hit his fourth home run of the season an inning later to make it 2-0.

That was all the squad would get, however, as Plesac settled in and kept the Yankees out of rhythm all night.

On the other side, Domingo German continued his recent struggles, giving up four runs on six hits in six innings of work. He did strikeout six Indians in the effort, though.

The Yankee right-hander looked good early on but was ultimately doomed by two Cleveland home runs.

With New York still leading 2-1, Tyler Naquin took German deep for a solo shot in the fifth inning to equal the score. An inning later, Carlos Santana put the Indians up for good with his 12th home run of the year, a long two-run shot to deep right field.

After Cleveland score an insurance run off of David Hale, the combination of Nick Wittgren and Brad Hand shut down any semblance of a Yankee rally and sealed the win for the Tribe.

Gregorius looked good in his return from the Injured List, going 2-4 with a pair of singles. Conversely, however, DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit both had a rare 0-4 night, with the latter striking out in all four of his at-bats.

CC Sabathia pitches against Adam Plutko in the second game of this weekend series at 4:05 ET, tomorrow.

Current Yankees Record: 39-23