Yankees Offense Sputters After Hot Start In Loss To Indians

Jul 8, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (11) argus with umpire Manny Gonzalez (not pictured) after striking out to end the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees have a habit this year of getting off to a quick start and then fading into the abyss at times. Tonight was one of those nights as the Yankees got three runs in the first two innings and then nothing after that as they fell to the Indians by a score of 5-3.

It looked like they were going to pound Trevor Bauer early. Brett Gardner walked to lead off the game and then consecutive singles by Jacoby Ellsbury and Mark Teixeira made it 1-0. Brian McCann struck out swinging, but a throwing error on Yan Gomes allowed Ellsbury to score.

The Indians came back in the bottom half, taking an aggressive approach to hitting Masahiro Tanaka by going after the fastball early and often. Jason Kipnis singled, stole second and scored on Michael Brantley‘s RBI single.

The Yanks got that run back in the second when Ichiro Suzuki led off with a single and Kelly Johnson walked. After a sac bunt, Gardner brought home a run with a groundout. That’s all the Yankees would get the rest of the night.

The Indians began to chip away. In the fifth, Chris Dickerson singled and came around to score on Brantley’s double.

They took the lead for good in the sixth as Lonnie Chisenhall led off with a single and Nick Swisher gave them the lead with his seventh homer of the year. Brantley would add his 14th homer of the year in the seventh.

Brandon McCarthy will make his Yankee debut tomorrow night at 7:05 against Josh Tomlin.