Yankees Recap: Bullpen Collapses as Yankees Drop Third Straight Series

With Nathan Eovaldi taking the mound for the rubber match between the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles, we all knew what to expect. His electric fastball, a lot of hits and plenty of strikeouts.

Sure enough, Eovaldi didn’t disappoint. He pitched five solid innings, struck out nine and left the game with a 3-2 lead after trowing 101 pitches. Eovaldi managed to pitched himself in and out of several jams, but unfortunately the bullpen spoiled his second bid at earning his first win as a New York Yankee.

Though it wasn’t enough to earn him a quality start, his solid performance was ruined moments after he exited the game, as Jonathan Schoop cranked a solo home run off a hanging slider from Yankees reliever David Carpenter to lead off the sixth inning.

The bullpen woes continued in the sixth inning, as the Orioles blew the game wide open. After Carpenter gave up Eovaldi’s lead, he gave up a single to Alejandro De Aza, who was moved into scoring position by an Everth Cabrera sacrifice bunt. Skipper Joe Girardi elected to walked Adam Jones, setting up runners on first and second with one out and two lefties coming to bat against Yankees reliever Justin Wilson. Wilson gave up a pinch-hit single to Delmon Young that scored De Aza and put the Orioles up 4-3, and then came the dagger, a two-run double from Chris Davis that plated Delmon Young and Adam Jones, putting the O’s up 6-3. Prior to that at-bat,Chris Davis was hitless in his first eleven plate appearances of the series.

Chris Martin came in to replace Justin Wilson, and even he couldn’t escape without giving up a run, as Caleb Joseph singled with two outs to drive in Chris Davis and put the Orioles up 7-3 before ending the inning.

The Yankees rallied late with two runs against the struggling Tommy Hunter in their half of the eighth. Chase Headley singled to start the inning, and later scored on a deep Brian McCann sacrifice fly to the warning track that was hauled in by Adam Jones. Had that ball gotten over his head, this game may have had a different outcome. Mark Teixeira, doubled with one out, and proceeded to score on a wild pitch, cutting the Orioles lead to 7-5.

Lefthander Zach Britton was called upon in the ninth inning to preserve the Baltimore lead, and with the help of an expanded strike zone by home plate umpire Sean Barber, he earned his second save in as many nights, and his third of the 2015 season. The Yankees fell t0 3-6 and have yet to win a series this season.

Lost in the sixth-inning bullpen collapse and the 15 hit onslaught by the Baltimore Orioles, was career home run no. 656 for Alex Rodriguez in the top of the fourth inning. The home run gave Alex 1,923 career runs scored, tying him for ninth on the all-time list with Derek Jeter. He’s also now four home run shy of tying Willie Mayes for fourth on the all-time home run list.

The Yankees will have a much needed off-day tomorrow, and will kick off a three game set against Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday at 7:05pm in St. Petersburg, Fl. Adam Warren will take to the mound for the New York Yankees to start the series.

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