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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 11: Michael Pineda #35 of the New York Yankees reacts after giving up a three run homer to Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Yankee Stadium on May 11, 2016 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Yankees Game 32: First inning struggles continue for Michael Pineda

Kansas City Royals 7 – New York Yankees 3

The Yankees turned to Michael Pineda to keep the good times going.

Unfortunately, first innings are a struggle for the Yankees starter. Alcides Escobar started the game with a single but was caught stealing. Lorenzo Cain was hit by a pitch, followed by a single by Eric Hosmer and a walk of Kendrys Morales to load the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly by Alex Gordon scored the first run but Salvador Perez delivered the big blow when he hit a deep, three-run home run to left field, putting the Royals ahead by four before the Yankees came to bat.

Entering tonight’s game, Michael Pineda has a 12.00 ERA, allowing four home runs and it looked worse after tonight. The Yankees were held silent in the first inning against Yordano Ventura but struck in the second inning.

Carlos Beltran led off the second inning with a solo home run just deep enough in the right field seats for a solo home run. After the first out, Aaron Hicks got on base with a single and advanced to second on the second out of the inning; he came around to score on a soft single by Chase Headley to bring the Yankees within two.

After the first inning, Michael Pineda turned the page and became a different pitcher, allowing three base runners over the next four innings. In the fifth inning, the Yankees got a lead off walk from Ventura of Brett Gardner and Starlin Castro followed with a double to put two in scoring position with no outs. Brian McCann made the very productive ground out to first, scoring Gardner and advancing Castro to third. Unfortunately, two more ground outs were not enough to bring home Castro to tie the game.

With the pitch count rising, Michael Pineda got into trouble in the sixth inning.

Pineda allowed a leadoff walk but generated a double play to help him out. But a walk of Christian Colon and a single by Jarrod Dyson ended his night. Reliever Nick Goody came in and hit the first batter he faced, Alcides Escobar, to load the bases. Lorenzo Cain dropped a single into shallow center field for a two-run single, extending the Royals lead to three.

In 5 2/3 innings, Michael Pineda allowed six runs on six hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Two of the runs scored after he exited and the other four runs came in the first inning.

Phil Coke entered the game for the final out in the sixth inning and remained in the game for the final 3 1/3 innings. He gave up a home run to Kendrys Morales.

The Yankees got two base runners in the final three innings, including Brett Gardner reaching when he was hit by a pitch from Wade Davis. It is reasonable to suspect that was in retribution for the three Royals hit by pitches tonight, regardless of intent, if any.

 

Win – Yordano Ventura (3-2)

Loss – Michael Pineda (1-4)

 

Notables

Royals

*Salvador Perez – 1 for 4, R, BB, Three-run home run (5) in the 1st, 3 RBI (18)

*Lorenzo Cain – 1 for 2, R, 2 BB, 2 RBI (17)

Yankees

*Aaron Hicks – 3 for 4, R

*Carlos Beltran – 2 for 4, R, 2B, Solo home run (7) in the 2nd, RBI (15)

 

Current Yankees Record: 13-19