The New York Yankees fell to the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 on Thursday, allowing them to win the first series of the season. The game took place against a backdrop of mistakes and regrets that underscore the team’s descent into a horror show.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone highlighted a troubling pattern of pitching errors resulting in home runs, contributing to the once-formidable rotation’s overall woes.
“A lot of our mistakes end up in the seats,” Aaron Boone said. “It’s ruining some games.”
The biggest mistake, however, came in the ninth inning, when a defensive error by Trent Grisham led to boos and a sordid tale of a horrible defeat for the team that once held the best record in MLB.
It started with Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman
Marcus Stroman struggled again as the New York Yankees fell to the Cincinnati Reds, 8-4, at Yankee Stadium, marking his fourth shaky performance in six starts. A pivotal moment came in the fifth inning when his slider led to a three-run homer by Spencer Steer, which ultimately tilted the game in the Reds’ favor.
Earlier, the Yankees pitcher had allowed two solo homers, tying a career high by allowing three homers in a single game. Reflecting on the outing, Stroman admitted his mistake in failing to keep the game close, acknowledging his role in the team’s loss.
“I have to improve in that fifth and give ourselves a chance,” the Yankees starting pitcher acknowledged. “I was one pitch away from keeping the count at two runs. I didn’t do my job.”
Stroman’s ERA has risen from an impressive 2.73 six starts ago to 3.58.
He also noted the challenge of dealing with Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz, whose ability to steal bases required extra attention and potentially distracted him from focusing on the hitter.
“It definitely requires a lot of concentration,” Stroman laments. “He seems to steal bases very easily, so you have to prioritize timing and sliding steps, so you end up losing a bit of focus on the hitter.”
Grisham consolidates Yankees’ downfall with an error
In the New York Yankees’ last game, Grisham’s defensive error in the ninth inning has become a point of attention. He acknowledged his mistake in calculating a hit by Jeimer Candelario and expressed his frustration with the error.
“I just threw it back instead of going after it,” the Yankees center fielder said. “I just made a mistake. It’s frustrating in that situation.”
Even though the error came at an inopportune time amid the team’s struggles, Yankees manager Aaron Boone defended Grisham’s overall style of play. Boone highlighted Grisham’s credentials as a Gold Glove winner and described his style in center field as relaxed and composed.
While Boone admitted the error allowed Candelario to advance to second base, he highlighted Grisham’s consistent excellence. The Yankees manager described Grisham’s defensive style as “slow-paced” and “high-motor.”
“It’s one of those things that looks bad right now, especially with what we’re going through as a team right now,” he said. “It’s also the way Gold Glove winner Trent Grisham plays center field, with a laid-back, calm demeanor. He has a track record of outstanding play and that’s just the way he does it,” Boone said. “With a slow heart rate (and) motor.”
The incident recalled the recent defensive struggles of second baseman Gleyber Torres, both players known for their seemingly relaxed demeanor on the field.
On the offensive side, Austin Wells hit his fourth home run of the season and Alex Verdugo snapped a slump with three hits, including two doubles.
But the loss underscores the Yankees’ ongoing pitching struggles, particularly with home runs, as they struggle to regain their early-season form.
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