New York Loses Their Second Straight While Cleveland Takes The Series
After losing the opening game New York then suffered their second straight setback at Progressive Field against Cleveland on Saturday afternoon.
The hope was that CC Sabathia would earn his 250th career win in the building where it all began for him. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
The reality is that what was, in all likelihood, Sabathia’s final start at Progressive Field was over fairly quickly, and he and the bullpen could not contain the Indians in an 8-4 defeat on Saturday afternoon that prolonged a difficult stretch of five losses in six games for the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
abathia had made his Major League debut in this building way back on April 8, 2001 -- or 20 days before the Yankees’ 2019 first-round pick, Anthony Volpe, was born. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
This, though, was not a happy homecoming. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
Sabathia’s right knee, which has required an arthroscopic procedure three times in the last three years, gave him some minor trouble when he fielded a Kevin Plawecki grounder in his fifth and final inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
“It was a sharp pain,” Sabathia said. “It happens a lot. … I felt fine after it got a little rest.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
The bigger trouble, however, was the slider he hung to rookie Oscar Mercado for the two-run homer that gave the Indians the lead for good that inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
“Honestly,” Sabathia said, “I didn’t have anything today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
Sabathia had been staked to a quick 2-0 lead by Didi Gregorius’ first homer of 2019 -- a lined shot to right in Sir Didi’s second game back following Tommy John surgery. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
But though he looked sharp the first time through the Indians’ order, the 38-year-old Sabathia could not maintain that lead. He gave up a pair of runs in the fourth to even the score, and Mercado’s homer changed the trajectory of the ballgame. The runs kept coming off the Yankees pitching staff in the sixth, when Roberto Perez and Kevin Plawecki both went deep off Jonathan Holder to make it 7-2. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
The Yankees have had trouble getting quality starts and solid relief on this trip through Toronto and Cleveland. In fact, the bullpen has allowed 16 earned runs in its last 15 1/3 innings.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
As a result, the Yanks have lost back-to-back series for the first time since mid-April. They had the lead in each of the first two games of this set against the Indians, which wraps up Sunday, and lost it both times. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
“Sometimes that fifth, sixth, seventh inning, we’ve got to be able to get some key outs in those spots,” manager Aaron Boone said. “That’s sometimes the difference. Obviously if we can get a lead through the middle innings with our guys, we feel great about it. But we’ve got to get some key outs when we’re down a run or two or even tied in those middle innings. Those are the key innings.” “according https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
The Yankees’ frustration was most visible when Brett Gardner, mired in a slump, threw his helmet against a dugout wall in anger after his well-struck drive to center -- a ball with just a 20 percent catch probability -- was hauled in on a five-star catch from Jordan Luplow. The helmet bounced back and struck Gardner in the bottom lip, necessitating five stitches. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
That kind of day. That kind of trip. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
The Sabathia storyline was similarly spoiled. As was the case when he met with the media Friday, Sabathia was not keen on discussing any emotion associated with this last trip back to his old stomping grounds, where he starred from 2001-08. And given the result, he was in an even less reflective mood. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
“It’s a long season,” he said. “We’ve played well up until this point. We just need to get back on it. We’re very capable. It’s just a tough stretch for us.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-takes-loss-in-final-start-in-cleveland
Meanwhile, Cleveland not only won another game but the series as well.
In his 45th contest of ‘19, Perez launched his fourth home run in as many games and helped lift the Indians to an 8-4 victory over the Yankees on Saturday afternoon at Progressive Field. In those four contests, he has hit .417 with seven RBIs and a 1.967 OPS. And after winning Friday’s opener against New York, 5-2, Cleveland secured its first series win over the Yankees since Aug. 28-30, 2017. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/roberto-perez-homers-in-indians-win-over-yankees
“It’s always nice when you have a good week like this, especially swinging the bat,” Perez said. “Just trying to take good at-bats. I’m trying to lay off that slider down and away, which early I was chasing that pitch a lot. Right now, I am swinging with confidence, just taking it pitch by pitch. Don’t try to do too much, try to put the ball in play and make something happen.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/roberto-perez-homers-in-indians-win-over-yankees
Although Perez’s two-run blast came in the sixth inning off reliever Jonathan Holder, the 30-year-old came inches from hitting another in the fourth. He launched a 1-0 pitch from Yankees’ starter CC Sabathia off the yellow lining at the top of the wall in center field that was confirmed to be a double by a crew-chief review. But Perez still logged his first RBI of the day, while the home run was waiting for it’s grand entrance two innings later. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/roberto-perez-homers-in-indians-win-over-yankees
I thought it hit the railing,” Perez said. “I had that play happen to me before. But yeah, man, I’m not trying to hit homers. Like I’ve said, I’m just trying to go to the plate and have a great at-bat and to put the ball in play, and I’ve been lucky to hit homers.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/roberto-perez-homers-in-indians-win-over-yankees
Just after Cleveland starter Adam Plutko finished up his night in the top of the sixth, he came into the dugout and talked to pitcher Shane Bieber about Perez’s sudden confidence at the plate this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/roberto-perez-homers-in-indians-win-over-yankees
“Bieber and I were talking about, like, 'Who is this guy, man? We don't even recognize him,'” Plutko said. “And as he hit it, Shane said, 'Yeah, I think he's just a lot more confident now.' As soon as he said ‘confident,’ the ball went over the fence. It couldn't have been better timing. It was just one of those weird things you put out into the ether. He's quite a power.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/roberto-perez-homers-in-indians-win-over-yankees
Perez’s 447-foot blast to left set a career-high four-game home run streak, which is the longest for an Indians player since Mike Napoli homered in five straight contests from July 30-Aug. 3, 2016. It was also Perez’s 11th of the year, as he continues to shatter his previous career-high of eight. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/roberto-perez-homers-in-indians-win-over-yankees
“I mean, shoot, he’s swinging the bat really well,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “Like I said, what comes first? It’s easy to tell people to have confidence. I think it’s because he’s staying on the ball so much better. Like, I was really happy, even his last at-bat, he hit that line drive to right field. That allows him to do other things when he gets pitches he can handle.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/roberto-perez-homers-in-indians-win-over-yankees
Perez’s long ball was just one of three on the afternoon for the Tribe, as rookie Oscar Mercado hit the third of his career in the fourth off Sabathia to tie the game at 2 and Plawecki added one of his own in the sixth off Holder. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/roberto-perez-homers-in-indians-win-over-yankees
Along with the run support, Plutko had solid defense behind him to help carry him through his two-run, six-inning outing. In the top of the sixth, right fielder Jordan Luplow robbed Brett Gardner of a hit, making a five-star catch. According to Statcast, the play had just a 20 percent catch probability, as Luplow had to cover 91 feet in 5.3 seconds.
That completely changed the inning,” Plutko said. “He picked me up huge, where we're trying to shut down that inning after getting a lead, not trying to give them any life at all. If he doesn't catch that, all of sudden, they have a little bit of life. He caught it and changed the entire inning and maybe the entire game. That was huge.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/roberto-perez-homers-in-indians-win-over-yankees
With the loss, New York who is a member of the American League East drops to 39-24 on the regular season while Cleveland who is a member of the American League Central improves to 33-31 on the regular season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
New York and Cleveland will finish their series on Sunday at Progressive Field where New York will look to salvage a game out of the series while Cleveland will look to sweep New York.