Luis Gil exits with apparent injury after John Sterling roasts Yankees

Perhaps, instead of going after Aaron Judge, Staten Island's Little League coach should've offered to teach the Yankees some fundamentals.

On Tuesday night, the Yankees opened a three-game series in the Bronx against the fundamentally sound Cleveland Guardians, who hit the ball where the fielders aren't, scratch and claw, and typically come out on top in low-scoring games. You cannot give them an inch.

The Yankees, riding back-to-back home runs from Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, gave them a pair of miles, instead. Despite a 2-0 first inning lead, the Yanks were already trailing by the top of the fourth after giving their visitors some gifts.

Unfortunately, venerated announcer John Sterling caught the worst of it, joining Michael Kay and Paul O'Neill in the television booth and sounding like ... well, every Yankee fan who spent their "exciting summer" watching this team nightly.

Sterling, when asked his thoughts on the team, expressed surprise that the bullpen hasn't held up and the entire roster hasn't hit. Yup! Two-plus months just full of surprises.

Yankees play undisciplined defense vs. crisp Guardians team, Luis Gil leaves with injury

You know what wasn't surprising? What happened next. Luis Gil, who struggled with command all night, compounding issues from his recent starts, allowed a two-out RBI single to tie the game in the third frame. After getting the ball into the infield, the Yankees botched a rundown between first and second, though no additional runs scored in the inning.

Gil then became the latest Yankee to allow a home run to the No. 9 hitter when Brayan Rocchio went deep to begin the fourth. Rocchio somehow represented the 19th No. 9 hitter home run the Yankees have allowed this season, five more than any other club, per Katie Sharp.

After a walk to Steven Kwan -- Gil's sixth of the night -- he waved out the trainers and exited after 78 pitches. We'll update this article as more word comes out, but Gil hasn't been commanding the baseball for three starts now. He needs an outing skipped, whether he checks out just fine or not.

For now, it's been deemed "low back tightness" by the team. Some eagle-eyed fans watched Gil working out his back during the Guardians' rallies. The fans are usually on it.

Where's Clarke Schmidt these days, again? Sorry, John. You deserve better.