Orioles 5, Yankees 4: Yanks grab defeat from jaws of victory

Source: FanGraphs

Well that annoying. The Yankees let a perfectly winnable game against the last place Orioles slip away in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader. Yuck. The final score was 5-4. I’m not writing two full recaps in one day, so let’s bullet point this one:

• Three Early Runs: Good start to the game! Giancarlo Stanton hit a second inning solo homer and, in the third, Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorius made up for a dumb contact play double play with back-to-back two-out run scoring singles. The Yankees went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position! But lost anyway. Could’ve used some more homers.
• Long Leash: I know it’s a doubleheader, but I thought sending CC Sabathia back out for the sixth inning was questionable given how he labored in the previous inning. A leadoff walk, a double two-base error through Neil Walker’s legs that could’ve been a double play, and a three-run Danny Valencia home run on a cement mixer gave the Orioles a 5-4 lead. Sabathia also allowed a two-run homer to Mark Trumbo earlier in the game. His line: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 2 HR on 99 pitches. Easily his worst start in nearly two months.
• A Blown Opportunity: The Yankees had a chance to tie the game in the ninth. Miguel Andujar led off with a pinch-hit single, moved up on a pitch in the dirt, then moved up again on Brandon Drury’s ground ball. Alas, Kyle Higashioka struck out and pinch-hitter Brett Gardner grounded out. Gardner really should’ve pinch-hit for Higashioka. Not Aaron Boone’s best game by any means.
• Leftovers: Single and a homer for Stanton and a double and a walk for Higashioka. They were the only Yankees to reach base multiple times … every starter had a hit except Drury and Clint Frazier … Sabathia (1,524) passed Red Ruffing (1,526) on the franchise strikeout list and is now third all-time behind Andy Pettitte (2,020), Whitey Ford (1,956), and Ron Guidry (1,778). Cool.

Here are the box score, video highlights, and updated standings. Here’s our Bullpen Workload page. The Yankees and Orioles will play the second game of this doubleheader shortly. Luis Cessa and former Yankees farmhand Yefry Ramirez are the scheduled starting pitchers.