Bullpen Implosion Dooms Yankees

Michael Pineda made his triumphant return tonight. He pitched well, well enough to earn a win if the bullpen held the lead. The bullpen didn’t and the Yankees fell to the Orioles 5-2.

In the third, Stephen Drew led off with a double off Chris Tillman. Francisco Cervelli then hit his second homer of the year.

Pineda began to tire in the fifth. Nelson Cruz led off with a double. After a groundout, Steve Pearce blooped a single moving Cruz to third. Ryan Flaherty hit a sac fly to make it 2-1.

Dellin Betances came in and pitched two shutout innings. Joe Girardi decided to leave Betances in for a third inning. Johnathan Schoop then hit his 11th homer of the year to tie the game and knock out Betances. In came Shawn Kelley who didn’t exactly help. After a groundout, Nick Markakis singled and Chris Davis walked. Adam Jones then blasted his 23rd homer to left to make it 5-2.

The Yanks rallied a little bit off Oriole closer Zach Britton. After a strikeout, Mark Teixeira walked and Carlos Beltran doubled. Chase Headley grounded out to bring home a run, but Drew grounded out to end the game.

After an off day, the Yanks head to Tampa for the weekend. Brandon McCarthy will face Alex Cobb at 7:10.