BRONX, N.Y. — In their 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, the New York Yankees left a lot to be desired. They also left a lot of runners on base. Eleven to be exact. Plus, they were an anemic 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Believe it or not, the Bronx Bombers jumped on the board first. During the first frame, following a Gleyber Torres single, Giancarlo Stanton was about to take a walk if not for a brutal strike call by the umpire. Instead, Stanton took the next Shane Bieber pitch into the right field stands and a jog around the bases for a 2-0 advantage.
Welcome to Stantober. pic.twitter.com/Ii8t2SUSH6
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 14, 2022
While Nestor Cortes Jr. provided a decent showing, he was touched up a bit in the fourth and fifth innings. Andres Gimenez plated a run with a single to right in the fourth. His double-play partner Amed Rosario homered to right in the fifth for the equalizer.
Nestor 🤯 pic.twitter.com/IJIPAOGm5L
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 14, 2022
With potentially four games in a row, skipper Aaron Boone decided to burn Lou Trivino after three batters with two outs and a light-hitting Myles Straw at the plate in the sixth. While Jonathan Loaisiga would do the job, it makes one wonder why you’d want to use up your relievers that early.
In the home half of the sixth, New York stranded a pair of runners, as pinch-hitter Matt Carpenter struck out to end the inning.
Jumping to the eighth inning, the pinstripes had James Karinchak on the ropes but with two down and two on, Cleveland brought on Emmanuel Clase. Clase got Kyle Higashioka to line out to third to end the threat.
Fast forward to the tenth and still with relievers in tow, Boone chose to turn to Jameson Taillon. Taillon allowed a bloop double to left, that Oswaldo Cabrera pulled up on. Cabrera pulled up because Josh Donaldson was charging in his direction and then Donaldson proceeded to throw the ball past second base, enabling Jose Ramirez to scamper to third. Oscar Gonzalez lined one off Anthony Rizzo, which was somehow ruled a hit, and plated Ramirez. A Josh Naylor double to center, made it 4-2 Guardians.
Clarke Schmidt came on to stop the bleeding but the damage was done.
In the bottom of the tenth, Boone somehow allowed Tim Locastro to bat and he lined to left. Donaldson walked. Cabrera was overmatched and struck out. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who otherwise had a decent day, tapped out to second to end the game.
