📌 Join the BPCrew Chapter in your city and meet up with more Yankees fans! 👉 CLICK HERE
ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 29: Starting pitcher CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees reacts after giving up a solo home run to C.J. Cron #0 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the seventh inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 29, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Yankees game 77: Offense struggles behind strong CC

New York Yankees 1 – Los Angeles Angels 4

Offense struggled in series opener in Anaheim.

In the first inning, Brett Gardner led off the game with a ringing double to right field against C.J. Wilson, keeping his hot bat on fire. After a pair of outs, Brett Gardner attempted to advance to third on a wild pitch but catcher Carlos Perez prevented that from happening with a strong throw. The last out was made at third base, cardinal rule of baseball broken.

In the bottom half of the inning, CC Sabathia gave up a leadoff single to Johnny Giavotella. After getting a pair of strikeouts, including one of Mike Trout; Albert Pujols came through with a two-out double to right field, scoring Giavotella and putting the Angels ahead by one.

In the third inning, the Yankees strung baserunners together to rally. With one out, Didi Gregorius walked and Brett Gardner continues raking with a single to left field, his second hit in as many at-bats. Chris Young looked to put the Yankees ahead with a deep fly to center but center fielder Mike Trout made a leaping grab to rob Young of sure extra bases and a pair of runs.

Alex Rodriguez backed up Young though when he went the other way with a single to right field to tie the game at one.

The tie only lasted half an inning as Mike Trout continued to do damage to the Yankees tonight. With two outs in the ninth inning, the Angels star center fielder hit a fly ball to center field that kept carrying until it went over the wall to break the 1-1 tie.

In the fifth inning, Brett Gardner hit a one-out double down the right field line but the Yankees could not produce the run-scoring play, including yet another sure extra base hit robbed by a leaping Trout in center field. Daniel Robertson got a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning and ended up racing around the bases to score on a double by Kole Calhoun.

After six innings, C.J. Wilson allowed one run on five hits and three walks while striking out five.

In the seventh inning, the Yankees threatened when pinch-hitter Brian McCann led off with a walk against reliever Trevor Gott. Didi Gregorius hit a single to put two on with no outs. The Yankees followed the two baserunners with three consecutive outs to douse the rally yet again.

CC Sabathia returned to the mound in the bottom half of the inning and surrendered a deep home run to C.J. Cron to extend the Angels lead to three. Sabathia retired one more batter in the eighth inning before his night was over. In 7 1/3 innings, CC Sabathia allowed four runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Not a bad outing for the large lefty but the offense could not support him.

As a team, the offense was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base. This is certainly not the formula for winning baseball.

 

Win – C.J. Wilson (6-6)

Loss – CC Sabathia (3-8)

Save – Huston Street (22)

 

Notables

Yankees

*Alex Rodriguez – 1 for 3, BB, RBI (45)

*Didi Gregorius – 2 for 3, R, BB

Angels

*Mike Trout – 1 for 3, R, BB, Solo home run (20) in the 3rd, RBI (43)

*Albert Pujols – 1 for 4, 2B, RBI (48)

 

Current Yankees Record: 41-36