Yankees Game 56: Rain delayed win turned loss

The New York Yankees went 7 innings with a lead, entered a rain delay, and exited with a difficult loss on Aroldis Chapman's first blown save as a Yankee.

New York Yankees 1 – Baltimore Orioles 3

After splitting the first two games in the three-game series, the Yankees turned to CC Sabathia to take the series.

Despite a perfect bottom of the first inning for CC Sabathia, today's game was not smooth for him or Baltimore Orioles starter Kevin Gausman. In the third inning, Jacoby Ellsbury got on base with a single. After a wild pitch allowed Ellsbury to advance to second, Brett Gardner grounded out to the right side to allow Ellsbury to advance to third base. Alex Rodriguez came through with a two-out single to center field scoring Ellsbury and giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third inning, Francisco Pena was walked. The Yankees got the second out on a potential double play but a high throw from Starlin Castro forced first baseman Rob Refsnyder off of first base, extending the inning. After two outs, Joey Rickard got on base with a single and Manny Machado walked to load the bases but a strikeout of Mark Trumbo ended the bases loaded threat.

In the fifth inning, the Orioles began the inning with an infield single. Paul Janish was hit by a pitch and after a two-out walk of Manny Machado, Mark Trumbo struck out yet again, ending the inning with the bases loaded.

In five scoreless innings, CC Sabathia allowed two hits and walked six while striking out five.

A season-high 111 pitches was the true enemy for the Yankees big lefty.

The Yankees had numerous opportunities at expanding their 1-0 lead. In the fourth inning, Brian McCann led off with a walk but was replaced on the bases by Chase Headley on the fielder's choice. An error by Manny Machado put Didi Gregorius on and a walk of Refsnyder loaded the bases. A force out at home by Aaron Hicks and a strikeout of Jacoby Ellsbury stranded the bases loaded.

In the sixth inning, Chase Headley and Didi Gregorius reached with a pair of singles but a double play ended the rally. In the seventh inning against T.J. McFarland, the Yankees got a pair of runners on base with one out but Starlin Castro struck out and Brian McCann flew out to right, stranding two on base.

Kirby Yates pitched a strong sixth inning with two strikeouts and led the game to Dellin Betances in the seventh inning. Betances retired three after an infield single. He returned for the eighth inning and got the first out after a walk and a single. With 33 pitches today, Aroldis Chapman got the call with one out.

This call took shy of two hours as the game was under a rain delay before Chapman entered the game.

After an hour and a half wait, Aroldis Chapman came to the mound with two on and one out and proceeded to strikeout Jonathan Schoop for the second out of the inning. Francisco Pena hit a single to right field where Aaron Hicks defended. Reputation preceded Aaron Hicks, who has a strong arm that held up Mark Trumbo at third base to load the bases despite a bobble. Chapman gets ahead of Wieters but the 0-2 pitch was hit back up the middle for a single that scored two. The throw from Ellsbury got past McCann, allowing a third run to score. The first blown save for Aroldis Chapman saw the 1-0 lead become a 3-1 deficit.

The Yankees were set down in order in the ninth inning against Zach Britton, losing today's game.

Win – T.J. McFarland (1-1)

Loss – Dellin Betances (2-4)

Save – Zach Britton (17)

Notables

Yankees

*Alex Rodriguez – 2 for 4, RBI (17)

*Brett Gardner – 3 for 4, 2 2B

Orioles

*Matt Wieters – 1 for 1, 2 RBI (24)

*Francisco Pena – 2 for 3, R, BB

Current Yankees Record: 26-30