LOST AT SEA
Yankees offence disappears with shot to sweep Mariners
SEATTLE — Greed isn’t a mortal sin in all walks of life and when a big-league team has a chance to be greedy it hurts to flush the opportunity.
That was the case for the Yankees against the Mariners on Sunday at Safeco Field where they were nine innings away from a three-game sweep and retaining their lead in the chase for the AL wild-card’s top spot.
Yet, when the opportunity to get real greedy surfaced in the fourth inning the Yankees scored one run when they had the bases loaded and nobody out. Instead of taking a lead they tied the score and eventually dropped a 3-2 decision in front of 34,917.
“Disappointing, no question,’’ Aaron Boone said of the fourth frame. “We had [Erasmo Ramirez] on the ropes and a chance to do some damage and couldn’t get the hit to push us over. We had a chance to have a great weekend and obviously a tough one [Sunday].’’
The loss coupled with the A’s beating the Rangers sliced the Yankees’ wild-card lead to 2½ lengths with 19 games remaining.
Consecutive singles to start the fourth by Neil Walker, Luke Voit and Gleyber Torres put the squeeze on the right-handed Ramirez. But Adeiny Hechavarria struck out and Brett Gardner fouled out on the first pitch. Ramirez got ahead of Andrew McCutchen, 1-2, went to a full count and walked him to force Walker home and tie the score, 2-2.
With the bases still loaded Giancarlo Stanton had a chance to emerge from a deep hitting funk but grounded out to the right side.
There were other scoring chances the Yankees wasted. Voit reached second base on shortstop Jean Segura’s throwing error leading off the second and didn’t score. Voit doubled to start the sixth and never moved off second base. For the game, the Yankees went 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.
CC Sabathia gave up two runs in the first inning and nothing in the next four to keep the Yankees close. When Robinson Cano opened the sixth with a single, Chad Green surfaced from the bullpen and provided two spotless innings.
With the score tied, 2-2, Boone turned to Dellin Betances who worked out of a bases-loaded, oneout situation to post the save Friday night with a bloody right ring finger.
Blood wasn’t an issue Sunday, but a four-pitch walk to Matt Han- iger to start the eighth led to a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt by Segura. With the infield in, Cano hit a grounder to Hechavarria at short. His throw home was to the first-base side of the plate and Austin Romine couldn’t get the tag on Haniger.
“Tough luck today, obviously the leadoff walk hurts,’’ said Betances, who explained his finger wasn’t a factor in the walk. With a lead for the first time late in game during the series the Mariners turned to Edwin Diaz who hiked his MLBleading save total to 54 but not before some strike-zone drama from Gardner and plate umpire Jeremie Rehak who ejected Gardner after he whiffed.
Batting with one out Gardner was upset with a 2-0 pitch being called a strike and didn’t care for the 2-1 pitch that was also called a strike.
“I thought that was a big pitch in my at-bat, go from 3-0 to 2-1 against a guy who throws 100 [mph],’’ Gardner said. “It’s frustrating and I let my emotions get the best of me and obviously I said too much.’’