Yankees Game 130: Big Mike, bullpen struggle in loss

Two rough innings loom over Michael Pineda despite the Yankees late rally in tonight's loss.

New York Yankees 5 – Kansas City Royals 8

Hot teams clash in KC when the Yankees made their way to visit the 2015 World Series champion Royals.

In the first inning, Michael Pineda got off to a rough start. Jarrod Dyson reached on a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After stealing third with one out, Dyson scored on a single by Lorenzo Cain. After stealing second, Cain scored on a single by Kendrys Morales. Salvador Perez hit a single and Alex Gordon brought home Morales with a single. The inning finally ends at 3-0 when Gary Sanchez threw Gordon out attempting to steal second base but the damage was done.

The Yankees were held to one hit through the first three innings against Dillon Gee but Didi Gregorius got the offense going with two outs in the fourth inning. After a double by Gregorius, Starlin Castro hit a fly ball to deep left where Castro just missed the home run.

He stepped into second base with a run-scoring double.

After the rough first inning, Michael Pineda retired the next 15 in a row until the seventh inning. Morales and Perez led off with singles that ended Pineda's night on the mound. Tommy Layne got Gordon, his lone assignment out but Blake Parker could not get his job done. Alcides Escobar welcomed Parker with a three-run home run that Royals ahead by five.

Parker surrendered one more run and Kirby Yates allowed a run to come across home as well to put the Royals ahead by seven after the five-run inning.

In six innings, Michael Pineda allowed five runs on seven hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. Just two innings, the first and seventh, haunt Pineda in an outing that was slightly better than the line shows.

In the eighth inning, the Yankees faced reliever Chris Young and Jacoby Ellsbury got on base in his own unique way, catcher's interference. Aaron Hicks followed with a walk and Gary Sanchez loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. After manager Joe Girardi was ejected during Didi Gregorius' at-bat; the Yankees shortstop came through with a double to right field that scored two runs. Starlin Castro made it a four-run game with a sacrifice fly against Peter Moylan and Chase Headley brought the Yankees within three on a single. Brett Gardner came in to hit for Aaron Judge and got on base with a walk that brought the tying run to the plate in the form of Mark Teixeira. Needed for a four-out save, Royals' closer Kelvin Herrera got Teixeira to chase out of zone to end the strong rally.

The Yankees tried to rally in the ninth inning when Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius reached base with singles but Castro chased out of zone for strike three, ending the game in a defeat for the Yankees.

Win – Dillon Gee (6-7)

Loss – Michael Pineda (7-11)

Notables

Yankees

*Didi Gregorius – 3 for 5, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI (60)

*Starlin Castro – 1 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI (62)

Royals

*Alcides Escobar – 1 for 4, R, Three-run home run (4) in the 7th, 3 RBI (42)

*Kendrys Morales – 2 for 4, 2 R, RBI (59)

Current Yankees Record: 67-63