The New York Yankees’ offense is skating on thin ice after loss to Mariners on Wednesday:
The New York Yankees entered Wednesday afternoon’s game against the Seattle Mariners, having lost a 13-inning bout on Tuesday night, failing to score a single run.
The Yankees were hoping their offense would step up to the plate, but they failed to provide ample production for starting pitcher Nestor Cortes.
Cortes entered the game with a 2.57 ERA over 112 innings pitched, the most he’s ever tossed in his career. This season, Cortes hosts an 85% left on base rate and 33% ground ball rate with a 9% HR/FB ratio.
Cortes has been the team’s most consistent starter this season, giving up just four runs over his last 16.1 innings.
However, the Yankees were only able to score three runs of support on the afternoon (4-3 final score). Cortes allowed three, giving up his first run in the 6th inning before Seattle peppered him in the 7th to take the lead. His final stat line was 6.0 innings pitched, three hits, three earned runs, and 10 strikeouts tallied.
Offensively, the Bombers were lackluster. Striking out nine times, they only managed to record four hits. The return of Anthony Rizzo at first base didn’t amount to much. The left-handed slugger struck out twice and failed to get on base. Despite two home runs in the game, one from Kyle Higashioka, who drove in Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and a solo blast immediately after from Aaron Judge, the Yanks have failed miserably to drive in runners in scoring position.
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Having lost seven of their last eight games, the Yankees will take on the Boston Red Sox in a three-game series starting on Friday night. Boston has lost five of their last six games, so this is a perfect opportunity for the Yankees to get out of their current funk.
Boston will feature Nathan Eovaldi on the mound against Domingo German on Friday. Eovaldi hosts a 4.23 ERA this season with a 1.23 whip. He gave up four runs on seven hits in his last performance against the Kansas City Royals on August 6.
The hope is the Yankees will get healthier and enjoy a bit of rest on Thursday, hopefully turning the tables and getting them back in the win column as they look to continue extending their lead in the AL East.