Indians 2, Yankees 1: Sometimes two runs are too many to overcome

Source: FanGraphs

Well so much for winning two games in one day. The Yankees dropped the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader despite allowing two whole runs. Can’t ask your pitchers to do much more than that, especially at cozy Yankee Stadium. The final score was 2-1 Indians. We’re not writing two full recaps in one day, so let’s bullet point this one:

• A Bad First Inning: Two runs (one earned) in five innings plus one batter against a first place team? Hard to complain about that from your fifth starter. Jaime Garcia allowed both runs in the first inning on three singles and a pretty terrible Gary Sanchez passed ball. Cutter right down the middle and Sanchez couldn’t catch it. If it makes you feel better, the run would’ve scored anyway when the next batter singled. (Fallacy of the predetermined outcome, blah blah blah.) Garcia’s final line: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K. He got batter-to-battered in the sixth, when he walked the only man he faced. A perfectly cromulent outing otherwise.
• One Run & Done: Pretty miserable showing for the offense. They scored their lone run against Trevor Bauer in the third inning, when Didi Gregorius looped a double the other way to drive in Aaron Hicks. Hicks drew a walk, moved up on Sanchez’s fielder’s choice, and moved up again on Trevor Bauer’s wild pitch. Bauer had one 1-2-3 inning, the fourth, so the Yankees had some baserunners. Brought just the one in though. The Yankees were so desperate for offense they gave Tyler Olson — Tyler Olson! — a free out with a sac bunt in the seventh. You will be surprised to learn it didn’t work. The final eight batters they sent to the plate made outs.
• Leftovers: Eight batters, seven strikeouts for Chad Green …  Tommy Kahnle pitched around a walk and a ground ball single to get his four outs … every starter reached base at least once except Greg Bird and Jacoby Ellsbury. Hicks and Chase Headley were the only Yankees to reach twice though. They each had two walks … Bird went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and swung threw several meaty fastballs, and that’s no good.

Here are the box score, video highlights, and updated standings. The Yankees and Indians will play the second game of the doubleheader pretty soon. The grounds crew will touch up the infield and starters Jordan Montgomery and Ryan Merritt will warm up, then they’ll get started.