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Yankees game 119: Bullpen struggles in Pineda’s return

Cervelli

Tonight, for the first time since April, Michael Pineda took the mound for the Yankees.

Michael Pineda pitched a scoreless first inning that featured a 95 mph fastball to strikeout Chris Davis. He would finish the second inning with a strikeout and the Yankees would snap a hitless streak that is indicative of their offensive woes.

Entering tonight’s game, the Yankees are 0-for-23 with runners in scoring position. In the third inning, Stephen Drew hit a double to deep left field so a runner would be in scoring position with no outs. He would advance to third on a fly out to right field but Francisco Cervelli would snap the streak in futility with a two-run home run to left center field. His second home run of the season put the Yankees ahead by two and gave Pineda a lead.

After retiring the first 12 batters, Michael Pineda would give up his first hit, a double to Nelson Cruz, to start the fifth inning.

In five innings, Michael Pineda allowed one run on two hits while striking out four. He threw 67 pitches in his first game back since April, a great outing by those standards.

After five strong innings from Pineda, the Yankees would have Dellin Betances take over in the sixth inning. After a leadoff single, Betances would strikeout Nick Markakis, Chris Davis and Adam Jones, all swinging. Betances would retire three more in the seventh inning for six consecutive retired.

The game would feature a controversial call in the seventh inning.

With two outs in the seventh inning, Stephen Drew would hit a ground ball in front of the catcher. Stephen Drew would run along the base path, possibly taking steps to the left of it, onto the grass, and the throw from catcher Nick Hundley would be wide of first, allowing Drew to reach. The home plate umpire Gerry Davis would change the call and rule Drew out for running out of the base path. Manager Joe Girardi would be ejected for arguing the call.

Dellin Betances would be asked to pitch a third inning of relief for the first time in his major league career. After getting the first out of the eighth inning, new era Yankee killer Jonathan Schoop would hit his fourth career home run against the Yankees and it tied the game for the Orioles. Schoop would be the last batter of Betances’ long outing.

In 2.1 innings, Dellin Betances allowed one run on two hits while striking out four.

Shawn Kelley would take over and get the first out. After a single to Nick Markakis and a walk to Chris Davis, Adam Jones would jump on a missed location slider and turned the tie game into a three-run game with his 23rd home run of the season.

With the three-run lead in the ninth inning, closer Zach Britton would come in. With one out, Mark Teixeira would be walked and Carlos Beltran hit a double to put two runners in scoring position. Chase Headley would ground out for one run but a second ground out would end the game as the four-run eighth inning change in momentum defeated the Yankees.

The Yankees are on a four-game losing streak.

 

Win – Darren O’Day (4-1)

Loss – Shawn Kelley (2-4)

Save – Zach Britton (25)

 

Notables

Yankees

*Francisco Cervelli – 1 for 2, R, BB, 2-Run Home Run (2) in the 3rd, 2 RBI (8)

*Stephen Drew – 1 for 4, R, 2B

Orioles

*Adam Jones – 1 for 4, R, 3-Run Home Run (23) in the 8th, 3 RBI (75)

*Jonathan Schoop – 1 for 3, R, Solo Home Run (11) in the 8th, RBI (32)

 

Current Yankees Record: 61-58