New York Rallies But Falls To San Diego

In game two of the three game series New York had a setback.

The splitter that has mystified hitters throughout Masahiro Tanaka's first five years with the Yankees has carried a spotty attendance record so far this season, and in his work between the five or so days that he sets foot on the mound, the right-hander has spent untold hours attempting to restore the pitch's vibrancy. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

Some days, the splitter looks like it is under control, as it did in Tanaka's previous two starts. Then there are moments like the split-second after Tanaka floated one to Eric Hosmer in the first inning of Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Padres, and the hurler finds himself bracing for loud impact, then returning to the search for consistency. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

"I've been in challenging situations before, not having pitches," Tanaka said through a translator. "I had to work through it. I think I've overcome them for the most part. It's a challenging time for me as far as the split goes, but I'm pretty confident that I'll be able to go over this hump." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

Tanaka had limited opponents to three or fewer earned runs in five straight starts, though any damage has largely come from the splitter. Last season, opponents hit .210 with a .318 slugging percentage against the pitch, managing five homers against 77 strikeouts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

Hosmer's homer was the fifth that Tanaka has surrendered this year on a splitter, and opponents are batting .338 with a .610 slugging percentage against the pitch, recording 11 strikeouts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

"The first inning was definitely tough," said catcher Gary Sánchez, who largely steered Tanaka to his fastball and slider the rest of the way. "The split was a little too hard. He threw some good ones and some other ones that weren't necessarily where we wanted it. But we battled and we're going to find a way to make the adjustment." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

Sanchez hit a fourth-inning homer to join Mickey Mantle (1956) as the only Yankees to hit 17 homers through their first 37 games of a season, accounting for the only run the Yankees managed against left-hander Eric Lauer, who scattered four hits across 5 1/3 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

San Diego added a run off Tanaka in the sixth as Ty France singled, advanced to third base on an Austin Hedges hit and scored on Greg Garcia's safety squeeze. Tanaka was charged with five runs (four earned) on a season-high nine hits, walking two and striking out seven.

None of the 15 splitters Tanaka threw Tuesday generated a swing-and-miss.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

"When something is off, you feel that something is off," Tanaka said. "You don't necessarily give up on that pitch. You go back to it and try to get it back during the game. I guess it didn't work out today." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

An inconsistent strike zone prompted barking on both sides, with Sanchez in particular irked by a called strike in the sixth inning on a 2-1 pitch that he said was "very low." Facing Matt Wisler, Sanchez struck out and Gleyber Torres flied out to left field, squelching a two-on, one-out rally. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

"You definitely are going to be more comfortable hitting 3-1 against 2-2," Sanchez said. "When you find yourself in a count like that, you can expect a fastball or a pitch in the zone that you can hit. It definitely changes the at-bat." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

The Yankees produced three runs in the seventh inning as San Diego sent four pitchers to the mound, including two -- Phil Maton and Robbie Erlin -- who did not record an out. LeMahieu stroked a two-run single and Aaron Hicks legged out a run-scoring fielder’s choice off Craig Stammen, trimming the deficit to a run, but Sanchez flied out to end the frame. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

“Anytime we start to put it together, it's winning time,” Boone said. “These guys can smell it. They do a really good job in those moments. The bottom line is, you're going to come through some and as a hitter, you're usually not going to. It's about giving yourself that chance and we continue to do that.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

Stammen hurled 1 2/3 innings ahead of Kirby Yates, who pitched around a pinch-hit Gio Urshela single in the ninth to record his 21st save in as many opportunities. The former Yankee induced LeMahieu to ground into a double play on a replay-reviewed call for the final outs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

"We had that big inning there and got that feeling that we've been getting lately, that we're going to come back and somehow find a way to win," LeMahieu said. "We just fell a bit short there." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-allows-4-runs-in-1st-inning

Meanwhile San Diego got back in the win column after suffering two straight losses.

The bullpen door opened. Yet another soggy Padres reliever trotted from the left-center-field warning track to the Yankee Stadium mound. This time, it was Craig Stammen, the sixth San Diego pitcher in a stretch of eight batters. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

He didn’t. They didn’t. No excuses necessary. Maybe the 2019 Padres really are different. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

The skies had opened. The Yankees’ offense had come to life. A once-sleepy ballpark turned electric. If Stammen and the Padres had wilted, they would’ve had any number of reasons to excuse their late-inning meltdown on a rainy night in the Bronx. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

"You pitch through it," said Stammen, after San Diego hung on for a tense 5-4 victory. "You had to suck it up and get it done. Obviously you wish it was sunshine and everything was great. Sometimes that's not the case. We had a little bit of a tough time in that seventh inning, but we got through it." “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

The Padres have serious questions in the middle of their bullpen, and those were on full display Tuesday night. But at the back end, they’ll take their chances with Stammen and Kirby Yates, who slammed the door by combining to record the final eight outs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

After 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball from Eric Lauer, the Padres led, 5-1, entering the seventh inning. That’s when things spiraled. Brad Wieck, Phil Maton and Robbie Erlin all allowed the first hitter they faced to reach base. Trey Wingenter, who recently returned from a shoulder strain, was unavailable on back-to-back nights. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

“After the first runner got on, we started playing a little bit more matchups,” manager Andy Green said. “It didn’t work out well, so that’s what I take the heat for. Ultimately, we look at that situation and want to see guys rise up and claim that situation.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

None did, leaving Green in a precarious spot. In the pouring rain, if he called on Stammen to escape the seventh, he’d have no cover for the eighth in the event of a delay. Green rolled the dice and went to Stammen anyway. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

In the moment, it looked like the move might backfire. Stammen allowed a single up the middle, then a slow chopper that stayed fair up the third-base line. With the bases loaded, Yankee Stadium came to life. Stammen coolly escaped, getting Aaron Hicks to ground out and Gary Sanchez to pop to left. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

“This is a really tough place to play,” said first baseman Eric Hosmer, whose three-run first-inning homer gave the Padres an early cushion. “It was tough, it was rainy, it was wet. Craig did a good job shutting everything down.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

On a strange night, filled with incessant rain and pitching changes, Yates delivered a fittingly strange finish. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

He got DJ LeMahieu to hit a chopper toward short, where Manny Machado fielded and threw to second. Greg Garcia made a lightning-quick turn, but when Hosmer gloved the baseball, first-base umpire Andy Fletcher ruled LeMahieu safe. The Padres challenged the play instantly.

“I knew it was close,” Hosmer said. “I thought at first it’d be one of those deals where it’s whatever the call was on the field. After seeing the replay, I knew we had him. That’s my first walk-off on a replay.”

The infielders gathered behind the mound to watch the different angles on the center-field videoboard. Yates and catcher Austin Hedges only watched one replay. They figured LeMahieu might be out, but they couldn’t afford to let their focus drop, so they turned and began discussing how they’d pitch to Luke Voit. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

After a short review, crew chief Joe West raised his fist in the air. The Padres poured onto the field from the third-base dugout. Yates had recorded his Major League-leading 21st save -- and his first against the team that helped turn around his career. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

In one season in the Bronx, Yates posted a 5.23 ERA, and it’s clear he harbors no ill will toward the Yankees -- even noting that he agreed with their decision to place him on waivers. Now he’s one of the game’s most dominant closers, and fittingly, it was Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka who helped teach Yates his devastating splitter. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

“I’m not the same pitcher I was when I was here, and that season was a huge reason why,” Yates said. “It feels good because we got the win. It’s not easy to come in here to Yankee Stadium and walk away from a situation like that with a win. That is the feeling that I enjoy.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

The Padres needed only four batters to jump out to their 4-0 lead. The first three men reached base, including Machado on an RBI single, before Hosmer smacked a 111 mph rocket into Monument Park. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

Hosmer, it seems, has changed the narrative surrounding his eight-year contract. (Perhaps one year wasn't an appropriate sample to deem it a bust.) The Padres first baseman pushed his average above .300 on Tuesday, before it dipped back to .298 after his 2-for-5 night. He downplayed the significance. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

With the loss, New York who is a member of the American League East drops to 35-19 on the season while with the win San Diego who is a member of the American League West improves to 29-26 on regular season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

New York and San Diego are supposed to finish up their series on Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadiumbut once again mother nature could play a factor in decision if they get the finale in or not. “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

We’ve got a long way to go,” Hosmer said. “That’s how this game is. You’ve got to be consistent, ride it out. That’s the thing I’m most happy with. This last month, I’ve been consistent throughout the whole month, stepping up in key situations, trying to drive in runs. That’s my job.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/craig-stammen-kirby-yates-help-padres-beat-yankees

New York and San Diego return to the diamond on Wednesday afternoon but mother nature may or may not put a cramp in those plans.