YANK BATS FAIL IN CLUTCH, SKID HITS 4
AFTER ANOTHER day of futility at the plate, which cost them a rare chance to beat King Felix Hernandez at the new Stadium, the Yankees were left clinging to the idea that, at least, they’ve been creating scoring opportunities lately.
It all seemed so hollow, though, in the wake of a 3-2 loss Saturday to the Mariners in front of an announced crowd of 38,574. The Yanks were supposed to hit enough if they stayed healthy, but they’ve now gone oh-fer in consecutive games with runners in scoring position. Their biggest name, Alex Rodriguez, is mired in an 0-for-19 slump after going 0-for-5 and hearing some boos after whiffing in the ninth.
That’s embarrassing enough. Add in that the Mariners took the lead for good in the fifth on a single that scored a runner from first base. Yes, from first. On a single. Jacoby Ellsbury, as he put it, “double-clutched” Robinson Cano’s hit and Ketel Marte never stopped running.
Those are the kinds of things that seem to happen when you’re in the midst of a losing streak. The Yanks have lost four straight and aren’t getting much help from their starting pitchers or their bats.
“I just hope we’re not putting too much pressure on ourselves,” Mark Teixeira said. “We’ve got guys in our lineup that can drive in some runs. And we will. It’s just been a tough couple of days.”
How tough? Look at these numbers: The Yankees were 0-for-12 with RISP for the second straight game. They are 3-for-46 (.065) with RISP over their past five games.
No one seems to have answers beyond the idea that it’ll change. Maybe it will. Joe Girardi keeps saying that hitting with RISP is “up and down” for teams. This is what down looks like then. The Yankees might’ve solved their problems had they been able to get Carlos Beltran to the plate with RISP. Beltran drove in both Yankee runs in a big day at the plate. He went 4-for5 with his third homer and two doubles. He never had a swing with runners in scoring position, though.
The Yanks had one last chance in the ninth, getting consecutive twoout singles against Seattle closer Steve Cishek. But Chase Headley grounded out with runners on second and third.
“I took a decent swing. Got on top of it,” Headley said. Everyone, Headley added, wants to come through to deliver the Yanks from this funk. “I wish I could’ve got it done there,” he said.
CC Sabathia, making his 200th start as a Yankee, lasted only 42⁄3 innings, undone by a mistake-filled fifth inning that included a home run by Leonys Martin blasted so far to right that Beltran did not even move to track its flight as it soared over his head.
The Cano RBI there seemed to irk Girardi, though Marte was running on the pitch. Asked about the play, the manager said, “Jake came up and looked at the runner instead of throwing to the infielder and that little pause cost us that run.”
Said Ellsbury: “I’m always ready. I charged the ball hard. I knew he was running, when he hit second he was getting after it. I think if I don’t double clutch we have him pretty easy.”
Ellsbury’s throw had no real chance, though, and Teixeira cut it off. Marte beat Teixeira’s relay easily.
Nelson Cruz followed with an RBI double, giving the Mariners a 3-1 lead that appeared much bigger with the Yankees swinging the way they are.
It was all too bad for the Yankees, because King Felix was vulnerable. The man who has the lowest ERA (1.41) in the new Stadium’s history, was wild, walking six batters in five innings. He allowed five hits and one run while striking out four. Five of the first 10 Yankee batters reached base against him. None of those scored.
Several Yankee voices lamented blowing a chance against Hernandez, who is now 6-1 at this Stadium.
Girardi even said, “You should win,” when Hernandez is that generous. “But we didn’t,” the manager said.
“He gave us opportunities. Our guys were patient, and they made him work. You usually don’t see him throw (106) pitches in five innings.
“We just never got the hit to score the runs.”