In the New York Yankees second game of the season, the Nationals pretty much had their way with the Yankees. James Paxton got through the first but gave up three runs in the second inning in his first failed attempt to win for the Yankees this season. Michael King replaced Paxton to close out the second. It was a bit unusual because the Yankees did not roll out their best relievers in the game.
In the third inning, Gio Urchsela singled and then stole second. Brett Gardner had a sac fly moving Urshela to 3rd base. LeMahieu singled and scored Urshela. Michael King, out for his second inning, put down the Nationals one two three. From then on, it was mostly the Nationals as all the Yankees hits seemed to target the Nationals outfield gloves.
In the New York Yankees, fourth Giancarlo hit his second home run of the series a 417′ shot. That would be the last run scored for the Yankees on the night.
Brett Gardner walked in the top of the fourth to load the bases with Yankees, but they left the bases loaded in the inning. At the bottom of the frame, Victor Robles homered for the Nationals 5-2 lead. In the Nationals fifth, Adam Eaton got a hit and went to 3rd base when an errant throw to first base that went off-center. Eaton would score on a ground-rule double that went into the stands by Howie Kendrick.
Then with a failed catch by Aaron Judge Asdrubal Cabrera, drove in Howe Kenrick for the 7-2 Nationals lead. At the bottom of the seventh inning Asdrubal Cabrera was at it again, this time with a homer to center, making it 8-2 Nats. The Nationals were taking advantage of every Yankee pitching mistake as the Yankees continued hit directly to the Nationals outfielders.
At the top of the eighth inning, Giancarlo doubled getting on base all three times he was at the plate. At the bottom of the frame Michael Taylor hit another Washington Nationals home run for the final score of 9-2 Nationals. There were plenty of errors to go around, the Nationals had 5 and the Yankees had 2.
The New York Yankees in the loss used six pitchers in the effort with only David Hale not giving up a hit. It is unclear why manager Aaron Boone did not use his premium relievers such as Chad Green, Adam Ottavino, Tommy Kahnle, or Zack Britton especially considering that the Yankees had a day off yesterday.
Late in the afternoon, the Nationals announced that scheduled pitcher Stephan Strasburg was scratched due to nerve pain in his right hand. They replaced him with Erick Fedde. The Yankees had thought they had gotten a very early Christmas present with the move. Instead, Fedde pitched four innings, giving up just one run. James Paxton just didn’t have it, not making it out of the second inning.
The final matchup with the Washington Nationals will be on Sunday at 1:05 pm when the Nationals Patrick Corbin will face an “opener” for the Yankees. The opener will probably be Chad Green, but in this short season, nothing is for certain. After the game tomorrow, the Yankees will move on to face Joe Girardi’s Phillies in Philadelphia.