New York Gets Shutout, Swept By Tampa Bay
After using an opener in the opening game of the two game series and losing New York then used the same strategy in the finale against Tampa Bay and came out with the same result. Only this time they were shutout.
The offense was unable to gain traction against Charlie Morton and four relievers as the Yankees absorbed a 4-0 defeat on Wednesday evening at Tropicana Field, completing a sweep of the two-game series.
Morton held the Yankees hitless until DJ LeMahieu's opposite-field single with two outs in the sixth inning. It was the only hit New York managed against the righty, who walked three and struck out nine, and the Yanks were held hitless the rest of the game. Tampa Bay has won each of Morton’s five starts this month. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays
He was hitting his spots,” LeMahieu said. “He had good velo as always, and that curveball is a good pitch. He was tough today. I feel like we battled and had the same mindset we had all season. It's just kind of a weird couple of days for us offensively.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays
Joey Wendle hit a leadoff homer and Brandon Lowe punched a run-scoring single off Loaisiga in a two-run first inning. Loaisiga is auditioning to make the playoff roster as a reliever. Matt Duffy’s sixth-inning RBI double accounted for the run off Happ, who walked one and struck out six. It was Happ’s first relief appearance since July 27, 2015. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays
“It’s another building block for him,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s doing it under different circumstances for a guy who has had a long stretch of starts. Hopefully he continues to build momentum down the stretch.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays
Avisaíl García hit an eighth-inning homer on the only pitch that Luis Cessa threw, and the Yanks fell to 12-4 in games where they have used an opener. They are 11-3 with Chad Green, who would likely get the call if they were to try an opener in a potential Game 4 of the American League Division Series, and 1-0 with Stephen Tarpley. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays
Nothing doing
The Yankees have been held scoreless for 18 consecutive innings, marking their longest streak since they were blanked in 33 consecutive innings from Sept. 22-25, 2016, according to STATS. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays
Wednesday marked the Yanks’ second shutout loss of the season, following a Sept. 2 game against the Rangers. They have been blanked twice in their last 21 games after going 220 games without being shut out, the second-longest streak since 1900. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays
“This is a big reason why they are in this position and fighting for a playoff spot, because they can really pitch and their run prevention is really good,” Boone said. “If you’re not really on top of your game up and down the lineup, they can have nights like this -- especially when they turn to Charlie, who really has been their ace.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays
While New York was swept by Tampa Bay Tampa Bay meanwhile swept the American League Division Champions in the quick two game series.
Morton has been worth every penny this season, but the 35-year-old put a stamp on a successful first regular season with Tampa Bay on Wednesday. In his 33rd start of the year, which extended a career high, Morton delivered six shutout innings to help the Rays sweep the two-game series against the Yankees with a 4-0 win at Tropicana Field, as four relievers finished off the one-hitter. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-rays-shut-out-yanks-on-one-hit
The win gave the Rays a 1 1/2-game lead over the Indians, who lost to the White Sox, for the second American League Wild Card spot. Tampa Bay remained a half-game behind the A’s, who defeated the Angels, for the top AL Wild Card spot. With just three regular-season games left for the Rays, their magic number is down to three, which means Tampa Bay controls its own destiny this weekend in Toronto. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-rays-shut-out-yanks-on-one-hit
“I like our chances against any team,” said Rays infielder Joey Wendle. “Any pitcher we throw out there, I like our chances. We’re playing good baseball.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-rays-shut-out-yanks-on-one-hit
Through five innings, Morton held a dangerous Yankees lineup without a hit. In fact, the Yankees didn’t record a hard-hit ball -- 95 mph or higher -- off Morton until Luke Voit hit a 101.4 mph groundout to Willy Adames to end the fifth inning. The Yankees didn’t record a hit until DJ LeMahieu laced a two-out single to right in the sixth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-rays-shut-out-yanks-on-one-hit
Morton allowed just one hit through six innings and was able to keep the Yankees’ hitters off-balance all night, recording nine strikeouts. The right-hander recorded 16 swings and misses, 11 of them coming on his signature curveball. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-rays-shut-out-yanks-on-one-hit
Behind Morton, the Rays’ offense was able to do enough against Yankees opener Jonathan Loaisiga. Wendle immediately gave the Rays the lead with a leadoff home run, and Brandon Lowe tacked on a second run in the first with an RBI single to give Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead. In the sixth, Matt Duffy added on with an RBI double to make it 3-0, and Avisaíl García capped it off in the eighth with a solo home run that struck the C-ring catwalk at Tropicana Field to give the Rays a 4-0 lead.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-rays-shut-out-yanks-on-one-hit
With the Rays holding on to a three-run lead in the eighth, Nick Anderson recorded one of the biggest outs of the game, striking out Aaron Judge swinging on a 2-2 fastball with two on to end the inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/charlie-morton-rays-shut-out-yanks-on-one-hit
New York has a day off on Thursday before they open up a three game series in Arlington against Texas where James Paxton will start and look to get his eleventh straight win.