New York Yankees 4 – Cleveland Indians 5 (16 innings)
The Yankees slay offensive futility but fall in extras.
After Carlos Carrasco pitched a scoreless first inning, Luis Severino took the mound got the first out before Francisco Lindor hit a single to left field. Michael Brantley was hit on the foot with a slider and Carlos Santana put the Indians ahead with a single to right field, scoring Lindor and giving them a 1-0 lead. Severino struggled in the second inning when he faced the bottom of the order. Chris Johnson and Lonnie Chisenhall reached on a pair of singles that dropped in the shallow outfield. They were erased on a double play but Jose Ramirez cashed-in with a runner on third, hitting a single that put the Indians ahead by two.
The Yankees continued to struggle against Carlos Carrasco, held to one hit over the first five innings, but Luis Severino settled down after the rough start.
After the third inning, Luis Severino retired nine of the last 10 he faced in his longest start of the year.
In six innings, Luis Severino allowed two runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out two.
Entering tonight’s game, the Yankees were on a 26-inning scoreless streak. Five innings in, the streak stood at 31 innings but the all-or-nothing power source Stephen Drew ended the streak. With a solo home run to right field, the Yankees were on the board.
Chasen Shreve, Dellin Betances and Justin Wilson pitched a scoreless inning to keep the game close. In the eighth inning, Carlos Beltran hit a home run just over the wall in right to tie the game at two. After a scoreless ninth inning, the game went to extra innings where the Yankees offense woke up, even if briefly.
In the 10th inning, Bryan Shaw got the first out before walked one before giving up a pair of singles to load the bases. Stephen Drew could not come through in the bases loaded situation when he grounded into a force out at home. Pinch-hitter Chase Headley came up big with a two-run single to give the Yankees the 4-2 lead.
With the lead, Andrew Miller came on to continue his streak of converted saves, 24-for-24. The 10th inning started with an infield single in no man’s land toward first base. Michael Brantley hit a double to put two in scoring position with no outs. Carlos Santana hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring the Indians within one. Yan Gomes hit the game-tying single to right field and Miller blew the first save of his season. He retired the next two batters but the damage was done and it was costly to the bullpen.
Adam Warren provided a scoreless inning in extras but Bryan Mitchell put in a substantial effort in extra inning relief.
Mitchell didn’t run into much trouble until the 14th inning, his third inning of relief. After retiring the first out, Jose Ramirez hit a single to center field. He advanced to second on a wild pitch but Mitchell got the second out on a strikeout. To avoid Michael Brantley, Mitchell intentionally walked him. He also walked Carlos Santana before getting a ground out from Yan Gomes to keep the game tied.
Following the 10th inning, the Yankees had two baserunners, an example of a possible return to offensive futility.
In the 16th inning, the second inning of work from Branden Pinder, Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor got on base with a pair of singles. Michael Brantley came across a situation that did not accept an intentional walk and he made the most of it when he hit a single off the glove of Mark Teixeira, into right field for a walk-off single to push the AL East leaders another full game closer to the fired up Toronto Blue Jays.
Heartbreaking.
Win – Austin Adams (1-0)
Loss – Branden Pinder (0-2)
Notables
Yankees
*Carlos Beltran – 2 for 4, 2 R, Solo home run (10) in the 8th, RBI (36)
*Chase Headley – 1 for 3, 2 RBI (46)
Indians
*Michael Brantley – 3 for 6, R, BB, Walk-off single, RBI (62)
*Jose Ramirez – 3 for 8, R, RBI (15)
Current Yankees Record: 61-50
