Bullpen Implosion Leads To A Loss For The Yankees

Jul 10, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (22) makes a sliding catch in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

14 inning games destroy your bullpen. Plain and simple. The Yankees had a 3-0 lead and watched it evaporate as Matt Thornton and Jim Miller were blasted for nine runs in two innings as the Indians beat the Yankees by a 9-3 score.

The game was scoreless going into the fourth, but Zelous Wheeler changed all of that with his second homer of the year to make it 2-0. The Yankees added another when Francisco Cervelli was driven in by the newly recalled Yangervis Solarte with an RBI single.

David Phelps would cruise for six shutout innings. All seemed alright with the world.

Then the seventh inning happened. Chris Dickerson and Roberto Perez singled to knock out Phelps. In came  Thornton. Jason Kipnis singled to load the bases and Asdrubal Cabrera brought everyone home with a triple to tie it. Michael Brantley would give the Indians the lead with a sac fly.

Miller came in and got the Yankees out of the eighth, but the ninth would see the wheels fall off completely. With one out, Dickerson singled and Perez, after review, hit his first major league homer. After two more singles, Carlos Santana would hit his 14th homer of the season to make it 9-3.

The Yankees head to Baltimore for the last series before the All-Star Break. Hiroki Kuroda will face Miguel Gonzalez.