The New York Yankees met up with the Cleveland Indians in the finale of a 4 game set at Progressive Field on the shores of Lake Erie. The Yankees had won the first three games of the series. In today’s matinee, the Yankees sent Jameson Taillon to the mound to face the Indians’ Triston McKenzie. It was a partly cloudy day with a significant NW breeze, making it feel like 40 degrees on the field. The Yankees lost the game 7-3.
At the top of the first inning, McKenzie faced the Yankees’ Brett Gardner, who ground out. Giancarlo Stanton singled to right-center with a bullet (120.1 mph, fastest in MLB this season). Aaron Judge went down on strikes. Rougie Odor walked for two on and two outs. Gleyber Torres also walked, loading the bases. Gio Urshela struck out, letting McKenzie off the hook and leaving the bases loaded with Yankees. At the bottom, Amed Rosario led off against Taillon. He popped out to Torres at short. Cesar Hernandez had a one-hopper to Odor. Jose Ramirez popped out at the plate, and that did it for the inning. Taillon looked good. No score.
With 29 pitches, McKenzie faced Mike Ford in the second inning, who popped up to the infield. Gary Sanchez walked. Mike Tauchman struck out swinging. Brett Gardner hit back to the pitcher to end the half. Eddie Rosario started the bottom of the second by flying out to Judge in right. Franmil Reyes singled in front of Hicks. Josh Naylor struck out looking. Jordan Luplow at the plate, Reyes stole second. Luplow flew out to Tauchman in left to end the inning scoreless.
Stanton led off the third inning by grounding out to first base. Aaron Judge hit a high fly ball to right. Rougie Odor, with a long at-bat, struck out for a 1-2-3 inning for McKenzie. Gimenez led off the bottom by sticking out. Austin Hedges struck out. Rosario was also called out on strikes. No score.
Gleyber Torres had a long single up the middle to start the fourth inning. Gio Urshela hit a monster home to center, and just like that, it was 2-0 Yankees. Mike Ford followed with a back-to-back homer, this one into the right-field stands. It was the first time this season that the Yankees hit back-to-back homers in a game. Gary Sanchez popped out to left. Mike Tauchman walked. Brett Gardner struck out for the second out of the half. Stanton flew out to the warning track for the final out, but the Yankees picked up three runs.
At the bottom, Hernandez singled to left. Ramerez singled to first, with Hernandez moving to second with no outs. Rosario had an RBI single with Ramerez going to third. Reyes hammered a three-run homer just over Judge’s head, giving the Indians the lead. Naylor at the plate still with no outs. Naylor popped over Taillon’s head for an out at first. Luplow stuck out. Gimenez struck out, but the Indians took the lead. Cleveland Indians 4 New York Yankees 3.
Aaron Judge faced the new pitcher Sam Hentges and singled to left-center at the top of the fifth. Rougie Odor flew out to the right foul territory. Gleyber Torres hit sharply to third for the second out, but Judge moved to second. Judge on a wild pitch went to third base. Urshela struck out, ending the half. At the bottom, Austin Hedges led off against the new Yankee pitcher Nick Nelson. Hedges walked, Rosario, lined out directly to Torres. Hedges advanced on a wild pitch by Nelson. Hernandez singled right before Judge, who made a diving attempt. Hedges went to third. With one out Ramirez had a sac fly to Tauchman and beat out the throw to home for another Indian run. Rosario flew out to Aaron Judge. Indians 5 Yankees 3.
Mike Ford led off the sixth and chopped back to the pitcher. Gary Sanchez ground out to short. Tauchman hit a standup double to right. Clint Frazier pinch hit for Brett Gardner against Cal Quantrill. Tauchman went to third on a wild pitch. Frazier walked. Stanton hit back to the pitcher, nearly knocking his glove off to end the half a strand two. At the bottom, Reyes got a triple with a strange bounce off the left-center wall. Naylor ground out to Ford. Luplow hit to the left-field wall driving in Reyes as Nick Nelson was quickly losing control. Gimenez struck out. Hedges singled driving in Luplow. Rosario struck out, but the Indians plated two more. Indians 7 Yankees 3.
Aaron Judge led off the seventh by flying to right. Odor made a successful drag bunt ending up with a base hit. Torres hit into a double play catching Odor off first. At the bottom of the seventh birthday boy (29), Luis Cessa faced Herandez, who struck out against Cessa. Ramirez flew out to Tauchman. Rosario struck out. For a 1-2-3 inning for Cessa. Indians 7 Yankees 3.
Urshela struck out swinging to start the eighth. Mike Ford struck out on a high pitch. Gary Sanchez was hit by a pitch and advanced to first base. Tauchman struck out for a quick inning for Karinchak. At the bottom, Reyes lined out to short. Naylor ground out. Luplow was out on a full-body dive by Clint Frazier. Indians 7 Yankees 3.
With last licks on the line for the Yankees, Frazier led off by grounding out to second. Stanton flew out to right field. Aaron Judge flew out to right to end the game. The final score was Cleveland Indians 7 and the New York Yankees 3. The winning pitcher was Sam Hentges, and the loser was Jameson Taillon.