At the conclusion of the weekend, it appeared as though the New York Yankees had gained enough ground within striking distance of the Boston Red Sox where they were setting up to overtake their New England rivals. Yet, an obstacle in the way of the Cleveland Indians made their presence known and made for a major setback in the boogie down Bronx.
GAME 1
Given the pitching match up, each squad had limited opportunities to cash in. In the end, the Indians took advantage more so with their economical offense in a 6-2 victory.
BE LIKE MIKE
I didn’t think I’d be making a Yankees reference to Michael Pineda ever again but Luis Severino’s outing had a similar feel. Whiff nine Tribe batters and only yield four hits but have three of them being solo home runs. Two of the Indians homers came off the bat of Jose Ramirez.
BOTTOMS UP
Facing Corey Kluber, the Bronx Bombers mustered three hits, all coming from the bottom of the order. Chase Headley crushed a solo home run to right in the third. In the fifth, the Yankees took a brief 2-1 lead when Todd Frazier followed a two-out double by Jacoby Ellsbury, by driving him home with a single to left.
Chase Headley ties it up for the #Yankees 1-1, taking Corey Kluber over the right field fence in the 3rd! #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/CkCZGfU16g
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 29, 2017
GAME 2
Game 1 of the doubleheader was a lazy hazy kind of 2-1 loss for the Yankees.
GARY GOES GUUUH
It may only be symbolic but perhaps the Yankees should change Gary Sanchez number 24 to something else. During the first frame, the Tribe took advantage of the Yanks’ miscues. Francisco Lindor singled to right-center and with one down stole second. A single by Ramirez gave the Indians runners at the corners. A passed ball by Sanchez allowed Lindor to score. Ensuing batter Yandy Diaz followed with a RBI-single off Jaime Garcia to double the lead.
OFFENSE GHOSTING
Aside from a Didi Gregorius RBI-double against Trevor Bauer in the third, the offense lacked firepower, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
DIDI with a RBI DOUBLE!! #Yankees cut the lead in half. It's 2-1 @Indians after 3 innings#YANKSonYES @DidiG18 pic.twitter.com/MisgkDrbyW
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 30, 2017
GREEN DAY
Chad Green was an absolute witch. Green became the first pitcher in major-league history to whiff seven while facing no more than eight batters in a game.
#Yankees' @chadgreen24 makes @MLB history: First pitcher to record 7 Ks while facing only 8 or less batters in a game. 🔥⚾️🔥#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/5SgEKxJnUs
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 30, 2017
GAME 3
The second half of the series finale was essentially over before it started as the Yankees were decimated by the Indians 9-4.
JORDAN JUMPED
One has to feel bad for Jordan Montgomery. The rookie starter is closing in on his innings limit and has seen himself on standby between Scranton and the Bronx. Thanks to an Edwin Encarnacion RBI-single, Carlos Santana RBI-double and a RBI-single from Diaz, the Wahoos lept out to a 4-0 advantage in the first frame.
After Cleveland broke into the bullpen, homers by Encarnacion, Yan Gomes and Lindor, made it 9-1 Indians.
BYE, BYE BIRDIE!
A silver lining in an ugly outcome was perhaps spring training MVP Greg Bird is back. Bird, who knocked in a run in the second, slugged a three-run shot to right-center off Zach McAllister in the bottom of the ninth.
Three-run home run for Greg Bird in the bottom of the 9th not enough, as the Yankees fall to the Indians 9-4. pic.twitter.com/fP8bB7FCsE
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 31, 2017
ON DECK
At 70-62, the Yankees play host to the Boston Red Sox for a four-game set starting Thursday night.
Pitching probables Eduardo Rodriguez vs. CC Sabathia, Doug Fister vs. Sonny Gray, Drew Pomeranz vs. Masahiro Tanaka, Chris Sale vs. Luis Severino.
