NEW YORK — The New York Yankees lost their first home game of the season, dropping their series opener to the Baltimore Orioles, 5-2, at Yankee Stadium. A five-run seventh inning from the O’s proved to be the difference in this battle between AL East rivals.
Masahiro Tanaka pitched 6 1/3 , giving up six hits and three runs, but striking out seven Orioles. All the damage against him was done in the aforementioned seventh.
On the other hand, Andrew Cashner allowed just two Yankee hits in six strong innings. The one run he allowed was a homer by Aaron Judge in the sixth inning. Trey Mancini and Adam Jones paced the Oriole offense with three and two hits, respectively, and two RBIs each.
Judge, who torched the Orioles in 2017, continued his ways, producing the game’s opening run with a long home run to right field, his 12th against Baltimore in his career.
'Annihilation' (2018) pic.twitter.com/raRvbLM9bP
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 6, 2018
Before the Judge home run, though, the only other Yankee hit came in the third inning, when Tyler Wade hit a leadoff double. While Miguel Andujar moved him up to third base, Brett Gardner and Judge were unable to bring him home.
Everything, however, went wrong for the Yankees in the seventh inning. Jonathan Schoop worked a long at-bat versus Tanaka, before eventually reaching on a single to center field. Adam Jones then crushed a hanging slider that just got over the reach of Giancarlo Stanton in left field, to give Baltimore a 2-1 lead. After another Orioles hit, Aaron Boone would bring in Chad Green from the bullpen.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, their bullpen woes would continue as Anthony Santander would produce another run with a double, before Trey Mancini would get a huge two-RBI hit that would provide Baltimore some breathing room against New York, 5-1.
Neil Walker’s RBI single to bring home Didi Gregorius in the bottom half of the frame would cut the O’s lead but the Bombers would no longer add to their tally.
Adam Warren and Dellin Betances each pitched shutout innings but Brad Brach came in to close out the Yankees in the ninth.
Notably, Andujar, who has been questioned for his defensive ability, made a couple of nice plays playing on the right side of the infield because of the shift.
The series continues tomorrow with CC Sabathia facing Kevin Gausman.
Current Yankees Record: 4-3
