by Howie Karpin, The NY Extra/thenyextra.com
In the first two games of their series in Seattle, the Yankees’ lineup, that featured eight right handed hitters, feasted on the Mariners’ two left handed starting pitchers to score 11 of their 17 runs. With a chance to sweep the series, the Yankees’ lineup, that featured eight right handed hitters, could only produce one hit against a rookie pitcher who was making his 10th major league start.
Rookie right hander Logan Gilbert literally dominated the Yankees as the Mariners salvaged the finale of the series with a 4-0 win. Two relievers combined with Gilbert on a one-hitter.
Logan’s run lasted 7 innings and 103 pitches. The 24-year old gave up one hit and allowed only two base runners, as he dazzled the Yankee hitters by mostly using two pitches, a four seam fastball that maxed out at 97 MPH and a slider.
Gilbert is “sneaky fast” with a deceptive motion and the Yankees were late on those fastballs. “He throws hard and kinda that cross body delivery,” Yankee Manager Aaron Boone said on the post game zoom call. “I thought he mixed in his secondary stuff to keep you off the fastball enough.”
After Kyle Seager slugged a solo home run off of losing pitcher Jordan Montgomery in the bottom of the first to give Seattle a 1-0 lead, Giancarlo Stanton led off the second inning with a double, the Yanks only hit of the game. Gilbert then hit Luke Voit to put runners on first and second with nobody out, but he buckled down and got Gleyber Torres on a deep fly ball to center that Stanton tagged on and went to third. Gio Urshela struck out and Brett Gardner grounded out to end the Yanks’ only threat. Gilbert coasted from there as he set down the final 18 Yankee batters that he faced.
In the 7th, Gilbert was into a third time through the Yankee lineup and he adjusted by throwing a few more sliders than he did in the previous innings. Ex-Met Paul Sewald struck out two and continued the 1-2-3 “dance steps” in the 8th inning.
Unfortunately, the Yankees had more fight when the game ended.
After Mariners closer Kendall Graveman retired pinch-hitter Rougned Odor on a fly out to left (the 22nd consecutive Yankee batter to be retired) to start the ninth, D.J. LeMahieu was hit by a pitch that just clipped his uniform. The Yankee second baseman appeared to say something to Graveman as he went to first base.
Another dismal offensive performance fittingly ended for the Yankees when Aaron Judge grounded into a double play, their 83rd GIDP of the season.
Following the game ending DP, Graveman stared at LeMahieu, who was leaving the field. Eventually both teams came out of their dugouts. Words were exchanged but nothing else came of it. “I don’t really wanna get into it, LeMahieu said after the game. “Threw one in on Roogie, next one in on me, looked suspicious but just baseball.”
There was no history between the two players. It seemed more like the Yankees were taking out their frustrations of not only this game, but the way the first half has gone.
Montgomery did not pitch badly. The 28 year old lefty made two mistakes and the Mariners cashed in on both. On Seager’s home run in the first, Montgomery missed his location. In the second, the #8 hitter, Dylan Moore, found a hanging change up to his liking for a two run shot that put the Yankees in a 3-0 hole.
The Yankees inconsistent play has led them to an inability to sweep a series (3-8) when presented the opportunity. Boone lamented that fact. “A great opportunity today with a chance to sweep a series. Frustrating that we got held down, also credit to Gilbert. He was tough and on his game today. We just, obviously, couldn’t mount anything against him,” he said.
The Yankees now head to Houston for a big three game series against the Astros before the break. “We need to try and win some ballgames to get ourselves in position, going into the break, to make a run,” Boone said. “These are really important games for us, obviously against a really good team that’s playing well, so that’s the focus.”
Boone may have to juggle the lineup as some hitters have gone or stayed cold. Gleyber Torres is 2 for his last 15, Brett Gardner is 2 for 33 with 11 strikeouts and Gary Sanchez is 0 for his last 20.
Karpin’s Korner, the radio show, can be heard on Tuesday nights at 7 PM, eastern time on the 365 Sportscast Network. You can find it at 365sportscast.com
