Hurlers get out of control
Entering Saturday’s doubleheader, the Rays were scuffling for runs, so they gladly accepted the multiple chances to score provided by bouts of wildness by Yankees pitchers in Game 2.
Mike King, Luis Avilan and Albert Abreu combined to issue nine walks and hit a batter, which helped the Rays bounce the Yankees, 5-3, and get a split.
Two of those walks scored, as did the hit batsman.
In his first big-league start, King issued three consecutive twoout walks in the first inning when a free pass to Yoshi Tsutugo forced in a run. After settling down in the second and third frames the righthander walked two more with two outs and the bases loaded. Avilan walked the bases full in front of Austin Meadows dumping a two-run single into left.
“I felt like I was nibbling. I was getting down 1-0 to everybody which is not a good recipe for success,’’ King said of the first inning, when he threw 32 pitches. “I am frustrated with myself. I let the umpire [Vic Carapazza] get in my head. I threw a 2-2 pitch to Willy Adames [in the fourth] which actually was a ball and I thought it was a strike, and I couldn’t get back to it.’’
Aroldis Chapman threw a bullpen session Saturday at the alternate site in Scranton, and if he comes out of that well, the plan is for the Yankees’ closer to face live hitters this week.
Zack Britton has gone 5-for-5 in save situations filling in for Chapman, who is on the COVID-19 IL.
The Yankees placed backup catcher Kyle Higashioka on the 10-day IL with a strained right oblique and replaced him with Erik Kratz . Had Chris Iannetta reported to the Yankees’ alternate site when he was outrighted on Aug. 4, he might have gotten the call to back up Sanchez. Iannetta didn’t report and was placed on the restricted list.
Manager Aaron Boone didn’t want to get into the reason why Iannetta was on that list. A report out Saturday said Iannetta was retiring. Iannetta was on the 30-man roster and designated for assignment on Aug. 1
“No. I will leave it at that right now,’’ when asked why Iannetta was on the restricted list.
The Yankees recalled infielder Thairo Estrada from the alternate site and designated reliever Nick Tropeano for assignment prior to Game 1. They then optioned Estrada to the alternate site between games and recalled pitcher Ben Heller.
They also added pitcher Albert Abreu as the “29th man’’ for Saturday’s doubleheader. Abreu made his major league debut and gave up two runs, three hits, walked two and hit a batter. Abreu was returned to the alternate site after the second game.