New York Falls To Baltimore In The 9th

The way a pitcher  pitches  can change the outcome of a game and on this night that is exactly what happened.

Two fat pitches to Manny Machado created a recipe for disaster on Tuesday evening, as the All-Star shortstop cracked a pair of game-tying blasts that set up Jonathan Schoop's walk-off single, helping the Orioles rally for a 6-5 victory over the Yankees at Camden Yards. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

Schoop's deciding knock off Dellin Betances was a hard-hit grounder that caromed off the glove of first baseman Greg Bird, boosting the last-place Orioles to their fifth win in nine tries over the Bombers. Yankees manager Aaron Boone suggested that Bird had been screened by Machado, the runner at first base, but Bird offered no such excuse. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

It's a play I want to make. That's the way I classify it," Bird said. "A big spot there. That's a play I want to come up with. He put a decent swing on it. It rode up and I didn't get [the glove] up in time. That's it." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yank

There were other frustrations in the ninth inning for the Yankees, as they challenged when Didi Gregorius was called out trying to advance to second base on a pitch in the dirt, only to have the call ruled to stand. As the visiting clubhouse opened to reporters, Gregorius hovered over a video screen, still not convinced that his left hand reached the bag after Machado's tag. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086 "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

"We usually don't challenge for the heck of it," said Boone. "We thought we had an angle that maybe said it was safe. We also understand that it was incredibly close." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

In the home half of the ninth, Betances snapped an errant curveball that clipped Caleb Joseph and Adam Jones ripped a one-out double into the right-field corner. Machado was intentionally walked and Betances struck out Mark Trumbo, but Schoop got the barrel around on a 1-1 fastball for the deciding hit. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

"They seem to always play us good, from the time I've been here," Betances said. "They've got some good hitters, obviously. You've got to make good pitches when you're playing them. Every time any team comes to play the Yankees, I'm sure they're trying to beat us. That's what it is." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

Clearly not distracted by the rumors that continue to attach his name to several interested teams, including the Yankees, Machado belted a solo homer off Masahiro Tanaka in the fifth inning and took Chad Green deep for a two-run drive in the seventh. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

Machado's performance overpowered Bird's four-RBI showing, equaling a career high. Bird mashed a three-run homer off Andrew Cashner in the fifth inning, then added a seventh-inning sacrifice fly as the Yankees peppered Cashner for five runs in 6 1/3 innings. Cashner retired the first 13 men he faced. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

"These have been close games," Bird said. "That game tonight was close the whole way. Cashner threw the ball well and their bullpen came in and kept it close and they came up with some big hits in big spots. Credit to them." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

Tanaka returned from the disabled list to permit three runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings, starting for the first time since sustaining strains of both hamstrings on June 8 at Citi Field. Tanaka appeared to be laboring in the fourth inning, prompting activity in the bullpen, but Boone allowed him to begin the fifth. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

The one-run advantage produced by Bird's homer was quickly erased, as Machado belted Tanaka's first pitch over the wall in left field. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

"As far as the fourth inning goes, maybe there was some bad luck there," Tanaka said through an interpreter. "What I'm most disappointed in was the fifth inning, that first pitch to Machado. I can't do that. I have no excuse for that." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

There was a similar turn of events in the seventh, as Neil Walker's run-scoring single later in the frame gave New York a two-run cushion. Machado soon erased that, too. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

"I tried to stay on the edges," Green said. "With a hitter like that, you can't miss in the zone. That's why he's one of the best players in the league." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

SOUND SMART
Betances' streak of scoreless appearances was snapped at 18, matching his career high. He also had a 17 2/3-inning scoreless streak come to an end, which had been the second-longest active streak in the Majors. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
Green knew that Machado's seventh-inning drive was struck well off the bat, but he hoped Aaron Judge's 6-foot-7 frame could save it from leaving the yard. The ball tipped Judge's outstretched glove and struck the top of the groundskeepers' shed before falling onto the field. A moment of confusion prompted Machado to hold at first base, but a replay review helped the umpires recognize that the ball was a homer according to the stadium ground rules. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

"I was close," Judge said. "I jumped up a little early and wasn't able to make the play. It was right over the fence. I wasn't able to pull it back." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086

With the loss, New York falls to 59-31 and is 3.5 games back of their rival Boston who is leading the American League East. With the win, Baltimore improves to 26-66 on the season and is last in the division. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/

UP NEXT
Sonny Gray (5-7, 5.85 ERA) will have another opportunity to find his rhythm on Wednesday as he takes the mound for the Yankees at Camden Yards, with the right-hander looking to bounce back after not being able to complete three innings in back-to-back starts. Gray is 4-4 with a 4.64 ERA in eight career starts against the Orioles, which includes a 3-1 record with a 3.74 ERA in four starts since joining the Yankees last summer. Right-hander Dylan Bundy (6-8, 4.08 ERA) gets the call for the O's, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/greg-bird-hits-three-run-homer-but-yanks-lose/c-285186086