The Yankees continue to swear they will come out of their tremendous malaise every day. They continue to promise to win as many games as they have done in previous seasons with most of the same hitters.
We are still waiting.
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Sure, it’s only April, but the losses – shameful losses with no signs of life – pile up as the offensive battle continues.
Perhaps the Yankees’ 4-1 defeat to the Atlanta Braves on a cold night at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night was a low point, as one run, scored with two outs in the ninth, on five hits is about as low as it gets is.
Or maybe not.
This was the 11th time in 17 games that the Yankees have scored three or fewer runs. This was also the fifth game in a row for Yankees in which they have scored five or fewer hits.
How sad is that for a $ 200 million salary?
“It’s absolutely frustrating when you go through this,” said manager Aaron Boone. “Is it hard to stay positive? Not at all. I know we walk out there with heavy artillery every night. We just have to unlock it, and we will. “
Here’s more on that heavy artillery:
The Yankees’ 59 runs this season are their lowest at 17 games since 1984, when they scored 54.
All of this adds up to a 6-11 record, the Yankees’ worst 17-game start since they held the same record in 1991 under the leadership of Stump Merrill.
To make this loss more difficult, third baseman Gio Urshela – who hits .276, which is robust for this team – left the game after the seventh inning with a tight back, which probably explains why he jogged to the first after going into a 1 had been rolled. -4-3 inning-inning double play to end the sixth with Atlanta leading, 2-0.
As for short stop Gleyber Torres jogging to the first after his seventh inning, checked in swing roll for the plate, that was inexcusable and probably justified an immediate benching.
“Of course that should be a little better,” Boone said.
This time, the Yankees were thwarted by 22-year old Braves right-wing Ian Anderson, who threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings while giving up four hits, all singles, and walked four.
The Yanks broke the shutout with two outs in the ninth on a bloop single by Clint Frazier, who hits .175 and picks up his first RBI of the season.
Yankees-starter Corey Kluber (0-2) had a great evening until he lost his command late in his 4 2/3 inning, two-run, four-walk appearance. The right-wing threw two-hit shutout ball in the first four innings, then walked three batters in the fifth before taking off with the bases loaded and the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Ehire Adrianza.
Nick Nelson replaced Kluber and walked Marcell Ozuna on four pitches to bring in a run that made it 2-0.
The Braves made it 3-0 by scoring an unearned run in the seventh on an Ozuna fielder’s choice grounder in which he rushed to avoid the Yankees turning an inning-ending double play. Austin Riley homered off Yankees-reliever Brooks Kriske to open the ninth to account for Atlanta’s last run.
Remarkable
– Urshela is listed from day to day. “No tests planned,” Boone said. “I think (the trainers) feel like it’s going to be a day-to-day thing, I think it’s just a little bit trapped, probably out in the cold for his last at bat. I think maybe he could even have gone on, but we’ll see how he fares after he gets treatment here and I don’t think it’s anything too serious. ”
– The Yankees gave Kriske an option to go to the alternate site after the game. This frees up a selection spot for pitcher Domingo German, who will be called up in Cleveland on Thursday-evening.
– The Yankees have lost six of their last seven and nine of 12.
– Gary Sanchez was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a walk, leaving him 1-for-18 in his last six games.
LOOKING FORWARD
Thursday: Yankees at Indians, 6:10 PM, YES & MLB Network. RHP Domingo German (0-2, 9.00) vs. RHP Aaron Civale (3-0, 2.18).
Friday: Yankees with Indians, 7:10 p.m., WPIX. LHP Jordan Montgomery (1-1, 4.24) vs. RHP Logan Allen (1-2, 4.50).
Saturday: Yankees with Indians, 6:10 pm, YES. RHP Gerrit Cole (2-1, 1.82) vs. RHP Shane Bieber (2-1, 2.45).
Sunday: Yankees at Indians, 1:10 PM, YES & MLB Network. TBA against RHP Triston McKenzie (0-0, 3.55).
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