After two separate rain delays totaling 63 minutes, the Yankees dropped the series opener in Milwaukee tonight after getting blown out 16-4. Dwight Gooden couldn’t make it out of the fifth inning, allowing 10 runs (five earned) on six hits while walking a career-high eight on the night. Two errors in the fifth – both by Derek Jeter – lead to a seven-run inning for the Brewers.
For Gooden, he reverted back to the way he pitched over the first three-weeks of the season. Many are wondering if there’s something wrong health-wise, but Gooden insists that his “dead-arm” troubles are behind him. “It’s not the arm,” Gooden said. “It’s no pain. I have to do better making the pitches. I feel a little pain, but it’s no excuse for making those pitches” (via NY Times). Gooden has now reached the 100 innings pitched mark for the first time since 1993.
The Yankees’ offense struggled as well. They amassed 10 hits, but could only push across four runs against Brewers pitching. Milwaukee starter Scott Karl went seven and allowed three runs.
Jim Mecir and Dale Polley followed Gooden, and gave up a combined six runs in relief to put the game out of reach for good. Position player Mike Aldrete was called upon to pitch the ninth, and was perhaps the best Yankees starter of the night. He allowed one hit and a run, which was charged to Polley, on a sacrifice fly.
“I can always tell my kids I pitched an inning in the big leagues,” Aldrete said. “It was kind of dampened because we were getting blown out.” (via NY Times)
The Yankees have now lost two tough games in a row, and will look to rebound tomorrow as Andy Pettitte goes against Cal Eldred. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 pm.
Notes:
- The Yankees scouted 41-year-old Jack Morris, who’s currently pitching for the St. Paul Saints of the Independent League, the same team Darryl Strawberry was with earlier in the year.
- As the Yankees continue to look for a fifth starter, Mark Hutton will start in place of the struggling Ramiro Mendoza on Saturday. This will be Hutton’s first start since Sept. 12, 1993.
Box score and current stats
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Yankees 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 4 10 3
Brewers 0 0 3 0 7 4 0 2 X 16 13 0
Batting AB R H RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG
Boggs 3B 2 0 0 0 1 0 .321 .393 .404
Leyritz PH-3B 2 0 1 1 0 0 .240 .330 .344
B.Williams CF 3 0 0 0 0 1 .319 .400 .545
G.Williams PH-CF 2 0 1 0 0 0 .310 .367 .503
ONeill RF 3 0 0 0 0 0 .322 .443 .479
Aldrete RF-P 1 1 0 0 1 0 .247 .344 .494
Strawberry DH-RF 3 2 1 0 1 1 .273 .415 .545
Martinez 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 .285 .342 .460
Sierra LF 4 0 3 1 0 0 .261 .331 .409
Duncan 2B 2 0 0 0 0 0 .318 .338 .464
Howard PH-2B 2 0 1 2 0 0 .196 .224 .283
Girardi C 4 1 2 0 0 0 .298 .364 .367
Jeter SS 2 0 0 0 0 1 .278 .353 .392
Fox PH-SS 2 0 1 0 0 0 .206 .297 .282
2B:Girardi 2(15, 2 off Karl) Strawberry(3, off Karl). 3B: G Williams (4, off Bones). RBI: Howard 2 (9);Leyritz (26);Sierra (49). Fielding DP: 1.Sierra-Duncan. E: Polley (1); Jeter 2 (10). Outfield Assists:Sierra (Valentin at 2nd base)
Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Gooden L (9-5) 4.2 6 10 5 8 2 0 4.67
Mecir 1.1 4 4 4 1 1 1 4.13
Polley 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 7.36
Aldrete 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
