Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Phillies’ Bryce Harper lead all-star voting
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper have been selected as All-Star Game starters.
unbranded – Sport
BALTIMORE – Already guaranteed a series victory against their top divisional rival, the Yankees were set up for a three-game sweep Sunday at Camden Yards.
They moved from greedy to gritty to giddy when Ben Rice’s three-run homer off Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel erased a one-run deficit in the ninth.
But one out away from reclaiming sole possession of first place entering the All-Star break, the Yankees watched all their newfound good fortune sink into the Inner Harbor.
“Tough way to lose a game going into the break,’’ said manager Aaron Boone, after consecutive misplays by two of the Yanks’ most reliable defenders sealed the Orioles’ 6-5 walk-off win.
“But the reality is we’re starting to turn the corner and compete in a really good way,’’ said Boone. “We just weren’t able to finish one off today.’’
Still, the sting of letting one get away like this – especially against the first-place O’s, staring at a sixth-straight loss – will linger until the team reconvenes Friday at Yankee Stadium.
Yankees let one get away
Protecting a two-run lead and facing the bottom of Baltimore’s order, Yankees All-Star closer Clay Holmes’ shaky sinker command was the first sign of distress.
“Didn’t have my best stuff, but just had to compete with what I had,’’ said Holmes, who struck out Gunnar Henderson before two potential game-ending plays went Baltimore’s way instead.
Holmes pitched around Adley Rutschman, who walked to load the bases, but shortstop Anthony Volpe regretted not making a more aggressive play on Ryan Mountcastle’s grounder – laying back on an extra hop, bobbling the ball and losing the force play at second, allowing a run to score.
“Still processing what happened,’’ Volpe said of the error, cutting the Yanks’ lead to 5-4.
That led to Cedric Mullins’ fly ball to left field, misread by Alex Verdugo, who broke in and then back – only to lose his footing, and falling to the turf.
“This one’s on me,’’ Verdugo said softly, after watching the ball drop beyond him for a game-winning, two-run double.
“Took a step in and that little step in was enough to beat me back,’’ Verdugo said of his rare misread. “Just trying to catch up ground that I gave away with that initial step.’’
Before and after Verdugo spoke with reporters, Sunday, he was still in full uniform, hands folded and head down at his locker.
“It’s a play we should make,’’ said Boone. “Broke hard in, not wanting to (have the ball drop in) and obviously it carried enough.’’
See you in September, and maybe October
A high pitch count (98) on a 94-degree day limited Carlos Rodon to four innings (two runs, seven strikeouts), during a stretch where his ERA had soared from 2.93 to 4.63.
“Wanted to go deeper with the stuff I had,’’ said Rodon, who succeeded in throwing more sliders to get the O’s off his fastball, but one hung to Henderson for a two-run homer.
So, maybe this is a game the Yankees further regret, with the Orioles winning six of their first 10 meetings and just one regular season series remaining – late September in the Bronx.
“That’s a killer, right? I mean, let’s acknowledge that,’’ Boone said after the loss, with a “show and go” 11:35 a.m. start, a day after the Yanks’ clinched their first series victory in a month.
And the intensity level spiked with Friday’s bench-clearing incident, triggered by Holmes’ 97-mph sinker off Heston Kjerstad’s helmet.
Aaron Judge belted his MLB-leading 34th homer in Saturday’s win, and Sunday he absorbed Dean Kremer’s first-pitch fastball off the elbow guard – apparent payback for Kjerstad.
Judge just jogged to first base. No one stirred on either bench.
“It’s been a rough several weeks for us,’’ said Boone. “But the other reality is we’re in a great spot,’’ a game behind Baltimore. “Even through some rough, rough stretches, it’s all right there in front of us.’’
Source link : https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2024/07/14/yankees-regrettable-late-loss-ends-up-then-down-first-half/74378932007/
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Publish date : 2024-07-14 17:10:11
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