The Yankees decided to employ an opener against the Rays on Friday night, just as they did in their loss in Game 2 of the ALDS last October. But unlike that playoff loss, the Yankees’ defeat Friday mostly gets pinned on their feeble offense and some shoddy defense in an all-around disastrous night in The Bronx.
Yes, reliever Nick Nelson coughed up two runs in the first inning, but the Yankees’ surprisingly low-octane lineup was throttled again in a deservedly boo-filled 8-2 loss to Tampa Bay at the Stadium for a rough start to a five-game home stand.
Manager Aaron Boone admitted afterward that he “already addressed” his Yankees following the latest loss dropped their record to 5-8, worst in the American League. As to his message, he said, “That’s for in there.”
“Obviously him addressing us means we have to play better, and I think everyone took it as we have to come to the ballpark tomorrow ready to go,” outfielder Clint Frazier said. “I’m not going to get into everything he said, but that was the message I took from it.
“If you weren’t aware then you are after the meeting. … I think hearing it from him is a little different than hearing it from players. Boonie is usually so chill that when he does address us, everyone should listen.”
The ugly game also was punctuated by a delay of several minutes in the home eighth inning when a few fans among the angry announced crowd of 10,202 threw baseballs and other objects onto the field.
“You hate to see it, is what I would say to that. Unfortunately, a handful of people end up doing it and it looks bad for everyone and it’s unfortunate that it happened,” Boone said. “Sure, I understand we have as passionate a fan base with understandable high expectation, as does every guy in that room. “
A pitch from reliever Michael King resulted in the 31st hit-by-pitch of a Tampa Bay player by a Yankees hurler since 2018, but the Rays only retaliated with their 14th win in 19 games (playoffs included) against the Bombers since the start of 2020. That includes Game 2 of last year’s ALDS, in which the Yankees pitched rookie Deivi Garcia as a one-inning opener before turning to veteran J.A Happ in what became a 7-5 defeat.
Former Mets righty Michael Wacha limited the Yankees to one hit over six scoreless innings, before Giancarlo Stanton’s two-run homer off of Trevor Richards in the seventh prevented the their second shutout loss of the season.
Boone’s team also committed three errors, two of them leading to three unearned runs in the Rays’ four-run fifth inning that extended Tampa Bay’s lead to 6-0.
The Yankees are batting just .222 for the season with 14 homers through their first 13 games. Boone benched slumping first baseman Jay Bruce (1-for-19) Friday and dropped regular No. 3 hitter Aaron Hicks (.167) to the sixth spot for the first time this season.
The Yankees also opted to start Nelson as an opener with King, brought back from the alternate site, to work behind him. Nelson, who previously had pitched to a 9.00 ERA over three relief appearances this season, was down 2-0 three batters into the game after Austin Meadows walked, Randy Arozarena doubled and Brandon Lowe hit a two-run double.
King hadn’t pitched since tossing six scoreless innings of relief, giving up just one hit, April 4 against the Blue Jays.
He worked in and out of trouble in two of his three scoreless innings Friday night until Luis Cessa relieved him in the fifth. The Rays quickly extended their lead to three on Mike Brosseau’s RBI double, before errors by Gio Urshela and Rougned Odor later in the inning put the Yankees in a 6-0 hole.
“It’s gotta be better,” Boone said. “We certainly expect better.”
The Rays added two more runs on Mike Zunino’s double against Lucas Luetge in the sixth, before Stanton finally provided a positive moment with a two-run homer in the seventh.
“Adversity is gonna hit us at some point, and it certainly is at our doorstep right now,” Boone said. “We’ve got to answer it and find out what kind of club we are when we’re going through a tough time.
“We’re gonna be successful. There’s nothing changed there. I have the utmost confidence in this roster, in this team. We’ve just got to start playing better. Period. … Put your nose down, stick your nose in there, and get to work.”
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