Source: FanGraphs
What’s worse than a loss? A loss that completely decimates your bullpen. The Yankees did exactly that in Saturday afternoon’s 2-1 loss to the Giants. The game went 12 innings. Let’s recap with bullet points, because it’s a Saturday night:
- Just One Run: Like Madison Bumgarner on Friday, the Yankees had some chances to get to Johnny Cueto early on the Sunday, but they couldn’t capitalize. They scored their one run in the fourth inning, when Mark Teixeira pulled a single to right field that Mac Williamson bobbled. The bobble was just enough to allow Didi Gregorius to race around all the way from first. He slid in just ahead of the tag. And thus concludes the run scoring for the day.
- Alright Ivan: Props to Ivan Nova for a strong start. The first few innings were pretty shaky, but he settled down in the middle innings and gave the Yankees seven innings of one-run ball. He struck out seven and allowed the run on six hits and two walks. Nova has now allowed no more than one run in three of his last four starts. Nice little showcase before the trade deadline, I’d say.
- The Blown Chance: The Yankees were gift-wrapped a golden opportunity in the tenth. Lefty Josh Osich started the frame by walking Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner, then, for whatever reason, Jacoby Ellsbury bunted the runners up. Why? Hicks is scoring on pretty much any single, and the bunt meant Carlos Beltran wouldn’t get to hit. Sure enough, Beltran was intentionally walked. Brian McCann popped up on the first pitch with the bases loaded, then Starlin Castro flew out to end the inning. What a waste.
- The Bullpen: Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller, and Aroldis Chapman have now combined to throw 132 pitches the last two days. Chapman threw two innings Saturday, and Betances tossed an inning as well. He was pitching for the fifth time in the last seven days, plus he warmed up on one of the days he didn’t pitch. Yikes. Those guys are running on fumes. Anthony Swarzak allowed the losing run on a double and a single. Womp womp.
- Leftovers: The Yankees had nine hits and still managed to go 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. I’m not even mad. I’m amazed … every starter had a hit except Castro. Gardner, Beltran, Hicks, and Chase Headley drew the walks … Gardner, Gregorius, and McCann teammate up for a brilliant play at the plate. Here’s the video. Watch it.
Here are the box score, video highlights, and updated standings. Also make sure you check out our Bullpen Workload and Announcer Standings pages. The Yankees and Giants wrap up this three-game series on Sunday afternoon. That’s a 1pm ET start. Jeff Samardzija and Nathan Eovaldi are the scheduled starters in a matchup of hard-throwing righty enigmas.