The Yankees offense keeps finding new lows to achieve. They’ve managed one or fewer hits through seven innings in back-to-back games, have lost five straight, and mustered just 12 hits across their last four games, which is the fewest hits over a four-game span in franchise history. Yes, three of their best hitters are out injured, but this is a lineup that has not looked MLB-caliber for alarmingly frequent stretches of late.
The division-leading Rays had the day off, so New York only sinks a half
game in the standings, but there was other action around the AL to recap.
Toronto Blue Jays (40-45) 2, New York Mets (35-50) 1
George Springer is second all-time behind Rickey Henderson on the career leadoff home run leaderboard, but I reckon today was the first time in his professional career that he hit a leadoff Little League home run. Leading off the bottom of the first, Springer looked like he lined a run of the mill single to left field. However, Juan Soto completely whiffed the ball on a half-hearted attempt to field it, allowing the ball to roll all the way to the wall, where A.J. Ewing subsequently booted it and Soto didn’t even bother to throw it into the infield as Springer completed his mad dash around the bases to open the scoring.
They would double their lead in the fifth, Luis Urías leading off with a double, advancing to third on a grounder, and scoring on a Myles Straw sac fly. That was all they would manage against Sean Manaea, who logged one of his better starts of the season – 5.2 innings allowing two runs on three hits and two walks. However, that wasn’t enough to outshine Trey Yesavage and his 6.2 innings of one-run ball on just three hits and no walks. That lone run came courtesy of a Francisco Lindor solo shot to lead off the seventh. The Mets had their chances late, but stranded a pair in each of the final two innings to allow Toronto to snap their six-game losing streak, the Mets joining the Rockies as the only two NL clubs with 50 losses.
Texas Rangers (43-42) 6, Cleveland Guardians (44-41) 3
The Rangers opted for a bullpen game, opener Tyler Alexander and bulk man Chris Paddack combining for five innings of two run ball to get the better of Parker Messick, Cleveland’s standout rookie pitcher suffering a rare stumble allowing four runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings. Josh Jung opened the scoring after leading off the fourth with a double and advancing a base each on a pair of ground outs. Cleveland responded with a pair in the fifth, Gabriel Arias demolishing a leadoff home run before Austin Hedges reached with a single and scored on a Chase DeLauter double.
Cleveland’s final run came courtesy of a wild pitch in the seventh that allowed Brayan Rocchio to score from third, but their pitchers were helpless to stop a five-run onslaught from the Rangers in the final four innings. Jake Burger provided the first with an RBI single in the sixth following singles by Evan Carter and Jung. Two more came in the sixth, Cameron Cauley tripling with one out to set the table for an RBI single from Nicky Lopez and an RBI double from Justin Foscue. Foscue would provide the killer blow in the ninth, his two-run double plating a pair after Alejandro Osuna singled, Cauley walked, and Carter singled, though he was only credited with one RBI thanks to a misplay by Steven Kwan in left.
Seattle Mariners (43-43) 6, Los Angeles Angels (36-50) 2
Cole Young had himself a day, the Mariners’ second year second baseman going 3-for-3 with three RBI and collecting the first multi-homer game of his young career. The first came to lead off the third and the second was a mammoth two-run shot in the sixth to put the final nail in the Angels’ coffin.
Los Angeles actually jumped out to a 2-0 lead courtesy of a Zach Neto leadoff double and Denzer Guzman RBI single in the first and a two-out solo shot from Neto in the third. However, George Kirby locked the door from there and would finish the game with eight strong innings allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk against seven strikeouts.
It was all Seattle from that point forward, Young’s first home run cutting the deficit in half. They grabbed their first lead an inning later, Randy Arozarena getting plunked and Josh Naylor reaching on an error by Guzman at third that allowed both runners to advance into scoring position to set up a two-run single from Cal Raleigh. It was still a 3-2 game at that point until the sixth inning rolled around, a Dominic Canzone lead off blast followed by a Naylor walk and Young’s second home run providing more than enough insurance to secure the win.
