Yankees game 89: Tanaka struggles, offense absent late

New York Yankees 3 -- Cleveland Indian 5

The Yankees score early but fall flat behind a struggling Tanaka.

The Cleveland Indians turned to Trevor Bauer for the start against Masahiro Tanaka. After a lead off walk by Brett Gardner, Derek Jeter would fly out to Michael Brantley in deep center field. Jacoby Ellsbury and Mark Teixeira would go back-to-back on singles and Gardner would come around to score the Yankees' first run. A rare double steal, rare because it involved the less than swift Mark Teixeira, would succeed. In addition to a successful steal, catcher Yan Gomes' attempt at catching Teixeira at second base would be errant. The throwing error by Gomes would let Ellsbury to score and the Yankees made the second run happen.

In the first inning, Michael Brantley got to Masahiro Tanaka for a run-scoring double to chip away at the Yankees lead. The Yankees would score in the second inning to get the run back that Tanaka gave up. With a lead off single and a walk, Zelous Wheeler would sacrifice the two runners over and Brett Gardner would hit the second productive out of the inning as the Yankees plated the third run of the game.

In the third inning, Brian McCann's one-out single would be the last hit for the Yankees. In the fifth inning, Jacoby Ellsbury would be the last Yankee to reach base after a second error on an Ellsbury ground ball. When the Yankees offense retires the last 13 batters in a game, that's not good. Hitless through the last 20 plate appearances for the team, is not winning baseball.

After retiring seven straight after the second inning, number nine hitter and former Yankee Chris Dickerson would hit a single and Michael Brantley would be a thorn in Tanaka's side as he hit his second double of the night. The run-scoring double made it a one-run game as Tanaka's lead slowly diminished.

A second former Yankee would shift the momentum of the game with one big swing.

After a single led off the sixth inning, Nick Swisher, who hit a home run in yesterday's game, would make it a two-game home run streak. This home run was for two runs and turned the one-run Yankees lead into a one-run Yankees deficit. In the seventh inning, Masahiro Tanaka's night would be ended due to ineffectiveness after Michael Brantley made it a three-hit night with his 14th home run of the season, a solo home run off of the Yankees starter.

Masahiro Tanaka would exit after giving up his 10th hit of the night, a career-high. Over 6.2 innings, Tanaka allowed a career-high five runs on ten hits while walking one and striking out five.

While the offense is very responsible for the inability to plate more runs and hit more; Tanaka's ERA has been on the rise over his past four starts. This is most likely a product of fatigue so Yankees fans can only hope he can make it to the break in good shape for a strong second half.

Win - Trevor Bauer (3-4)

Loss - Masahiro Tanaka (12-4)

Save - Cody Allen (10)

Notables

Yankees

*Mark Teixeira - 1 for 4, RBI (44)

*Jacoby Ellsbury - 1 for 4, R

Indians

*Michael Brantley - 3 for 4, R, 2 2B, Solo Home Run (14) in the 7th, 3 RBI (60)

*Nick Swisher - 1 for 4, R, 2-Run Home Run (7) in the 6th, 2 RBI (32)

Current Yankees Record; 45-44