Yankees embarrassed by O’s; lose fourth straight

Source: FanGraphs

The free-fall continues. The Yankees lost their fourth straight game on Saturday night, get completely demolished by the Orioles 11-3. New York has won just 12 of their last 32 games while being outscored 143-100. This ship is sinking and the captain isn’t even around to go down with it. Let’s recap the loss:

• David Plops: In his last seven starts, David Phelps has allowed 25 runs (6.35 ERA) and 54 base-runners (1.59 WHIP)  in only 34 innings pitched. The Orioles pounded him for nine runs in only 2.1 innings on Saturday, which, sadly, is only the second shortest outing of his season. Phelps was wholly non-competitive in this game. He would have gotten beaten up in Triple-A.
• Offense?: Believe it or not, the Yankees picked up eleven hits in the game after having eleven last night. It was the first time they had double-digit hits in back-to-back games since late-April, when they did it in three straight against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Those eleven hits led to only three runs because for every one good hitter in the lineup, there is a bad one both in front and behind him. Brett Gardner and Robinson Cano (surprise surprise) were the only players with multiple hits. They’re a two-man army fighting a losing war these days.
• Leftovers: Good relief work from Ivan Nova, who allowed just two runs in 5.2 innings to spare the rest of the bullpen. He was expected to make a spot start next week to give everyone else in the rotation an extra day off, but that probably won’t happen … Austin Romine was the only starter without a hit, but he got just two at-bats before being lifted for a pinch-hitter … the Yankees are just four games over .500 at 42-38, but their run differential (-14) paints a much uglier picture. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to see this team heading into the All-Star break with a winning record.

MLB.com has the box score and video highlights, FanGraphs some other stats, and ESPN the updated standings. The Yankees are four games out of first and two games out of last in the loss column in the AL East. They are two back of a Wild Card spot. Hiroki Kuroda will get the ball in the ESPN Sunday Night Game as the Bombers try to avoid what feels like an inevitable sweep. Chris Tillman will be on the bump for the Orioles.