Yankees offense continues to sputter in loss to Jays 4-1

The New York Yankees are going through a stretch not witnessed in some time. They can’t hit. There is no particular situation that is giving them fits, they are having trouble in all facets of the offense. Their first look of Toronto Blue Jays rookie Drew Hutchison ended up much like the previous two games, with a terrible performance from the offense and a loss.

The Yankees now find themselves in fourth place in the division with a 20-18 record, one-half game back of the Jays and 4.5 games back of the AL East leading Baltimore Orioles.

Early on, it looked like the Yankees were poised to break out of their slump. After Derek Jeter made an out trying to jumpstart the offense with a bunt, Curtis Granderson walked. Up came Robinson Cano, who is about the only reliable hitter on this team right now, and he delivered a run-scoring double. Mark Teixeira struck out and Raul Ibanez grounded out to end the early threat, but the Yankees had a lead for the first time in a long time.

The Yanks went quietly in the second, but in the third they got a two-out double from Granderson and then Cano walked once again bringing Teixeira up with a runner in scoring position. He couldn’t produce and flew out to right field.

Yankees starter Phil Hughes was throwing the ball well through the first two innings, but it was apparent that the Yankees were not going to provide much run support again, so he had to be extremely good, not adequate. Hughes turned out to fulfill the later and gave up two runs in the third on a Jose Bautista two-run home run.

Hutchison tried his hardest to allow the Yankees to score, placing runners in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but each time the Yankees failed to plate a runner. The Yankees ended the night going 0-for-8 with RISP.

Hughes wasn’t spectacular but he kept the Yankees close going 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five. Hutchison tossed six innings giving up one run on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts. It would come down to the bullpens in a tight game. The Blue Jays won that battle making the Yankees looked overmatched in the process.

In the seventh, Yankees reliever Cory Wade, who has had a nice season so far, allowed a two-run homer to Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia giving the Jays a 4-1 lead. The Blue Jays end-game relievers consisting of Jason Frasor, Darren Oliver and Casey Janssen didn’t allow a base runner in the seventh through ninth innings.

NOTEWORTHY

• The Yankees went 1-for-16 with RISP in the two-game series.
• The Yankees are hitting an appalling .144 (13-for-90) in their last three games scoring a total of 4 runs.
• Yankees pitching allowed 6 home runs in the two-game series.
• Alex Rodriguez sat out last night’s game to rest.
• Ivan Nova expects to start on schedule Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium.
• The Yankees claimed Matt Antonelli off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles and was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

INTERLEAGUE PLAY BEGINS

The Yankees have their first interleague series begin today against the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds are 19-18 on the season and sit 2.5 games back of NL Central leading St. Louis Cardinals. The Yankees will throw Andy Pettitte, Nova and CC Sabathia in the series. The Reds will counter with Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey and staff ace Johnny Cueto. Below is a look at each teams’ statistical leaders heading into tonight’ action. Check out the Yanks Go Yard Podcast Preview for the series here.

TODAY’S GAME

The Yankees send Pettitte to the hill for his second start of the season against Reds veteran Arroyo. Pettitte has little experience against the current starters in the Reds lineup, while the Yankees are pretty familiar with Arroyo.

EDITORIAL NOTE

Later today I’ll take a look at what’s happening around the rest of Major League Baseball with Friday’s weekly feature, Outside the Bronx.