Bombers must play up to competition
BIG WEEK. Big loss.
As H. Ross Perot used to say, it’s just that simple.
When the Yankees come up against the teams above them in the hunt, they underwhelm too often. That won’t do when they need to consistently overwhelm to get to their desired destination. Their 6-2 loss to the Indians on Monday night at Yankee Stadium, the kickoff to a critical week featuring three games against American League Central-leading Cleveland followed by a four-pack against the AL East-leading Red Sox, put the Yankees 3 ½ games behind the Sawx, thanks to their 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays in Toronto. “With this team, you have to try to limit your mistakes,” losing pitcher Luis Severino said. Severino dropped the marquee matchup against his Indians counterpart Corey Kluber, the “Klubot,” who checked in with another stellar outing, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out seven. Kluber ranks as one of the few AL pitchers who can say he’s having a better year than Severino. Likewise, the Indians are one of three AL teams that own a superior record to the Yankees, and the Yankees are now a combined 12-15 against the Red Sox (8-7), Indians (2-3) and Astros (2-5). They occupy the top wild-card spot in the AL because they by and large have taken care of business against the clubs below them. Yet they would love to avoid the one-anddone wild-card game by winning the division, and a tough week in their final series against Cleveland and Boston will considerably lower the chances of an AL East title.
This matchup, with potential Game 1 pitchers and an autumnal breeze in the air, felt some like a postseason game, and the early going lived up to the hype, with the two teams tied at 2-2 after six innings. However, Severino floated a seventhinning changeup to Carlos Santana, who powered it into the second deck in right field, giving the Indians a 3-2 edge — Severino also surrendered a pair of Jose Ramirez solo blasts, tying his career worst with three homers allowed — and the situation snowballed from there, with Adam Warren throwing an errant fastball past beleaguered catcher Gary Sanchez for a wild pitch to score another run in the seventh; Warren allowing a solo homer to former Yankees prospect Austin Jackson in the eighth; and a ninth-inning run coming home off Chasen Shreve.
“That’s how well Kluber’s going, too,” Joe Girardi said. “He’s not giving up very many runs every time he goes out there. The few mistakes cost us.”
Girardi opted to play this game without Aaron Judge, whom he benched for at least two games in an effort to recharge the rookie’s batteries. The manager easily could have gone to this dramatic measure weeks ago, given how quickly he exacted even more drastic moves like the demotions of high-priced closer Aroldis Chapman and high-priced center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and the de facto disciplinary benching of Sanchez for his poor defense. The Yankees just have to hope that too late doesn’t lead to too little.
Monday marked an opportunity to climb back to 12 games over .500, air they haven’t breathed since June 15. Instead, at 70-60, they’re still striving to get back to their high-water mark of 15 games over .500, their 38-23 record of June 13. Since then, they are 32-37, and no cupcakes remain on their schedule, thanks to the jampacked AL wild-card race.
That fifth starter Jaime Garcia goes for the Yankees on Tuesday won’t inspire much confidence. Nor will the continuing rest of Judge, necessary as it might be. Somehow, the Yankees have to stop banging their heads as they try to play up to their opposition.