After four straight wins, the New York Yankees entered a four-game series with the rival Boston Red Sox last night. With such positivity the Yankees looked to get their fifth win in a row, it was not to be as the Yankee bullpen gave the game to the Red Sox. It was a crushing 5-4 loss for the Yankees in the tenth inning.
Montgomery’s bad luck continues
Jordan Montgomery is without a doubt the bad luck kid. For the fifth game in a row pitched adequately, but the game was lost by the Yankee bullpen. Last night Montgomery pitched really well and had good control of all of his pitches, especially his curveball. He pitched 5 2/3rd innings giving up only 3 hits and one walk. He threw 83 pitches, 57 for strikes. After not allowing a run, he left the game with the one-run Yankee lead.
Montgomery has gotten the least run support than any other Yankee pitcher. He is now 3-5 in 19 starts, with an ERA of 3.96. in four of his games, he got zero run support. in another 11 games, the Yankees only scored 3 or fewer runs.
One out away from another win bullpen implodes
After Jordan Montgomery pitch a fine game into the sixth inning, call-up Sal Romano pitched a clean 2/3 of an inning. Lucas Luetge gave up a run tying the game. Luis Cessa pitched a scoreless eighth. That was when everything went south. With the Yankees picking up two runs, the score was 3-1 when Chad Green stepped to the mound to close out the win. Green had no command of his pitches and gave up two runs pushing the game into extra innings.
At the top of the tenth with ghost runner Tyler Wade on second LeMahieu against closer Matt Barnes ground out, but Wade went to third base. Brett Gardner sac flew to left, driving in Wade for the as the Yankees again took lead. What happened next was something no one could ever predict. Yankee reliever Brooks Kriske threw four wild pitches. In doing so he gave the game away to the Red Sox as they scored two runs off the lost reliever.
Two steps forward, one back
It seems this season that every time things are starting to look rosy for the Yankee they take a giant step back. Last night the Yankees entered the game after winning four straight games and two series. With a win last night they could have gained a game against their rivals that lead the AL East, but no, they lost the game and went further back in the standings.
If the New York Yankees are going to turn their season around they have to win games against their division foes, particularly the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays. The next six games are against those teams. Gerrit Cole will take the mound tonight to face Eduardo Rodriguez in game two of the series. Jameson Taillon and Domingo German will pitch the last two games. The Yankees need to take these next three games to advance on the Red Sox.
Note: After this Red Sox series the New York Yankees will move on to face the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in Tampa. The Yankees this season are 5-8 against the Rays. In the news yesterday the Rays improved their lineup by acquiring Nelson Cruz from the Twins.