As a substitute of a sweep, the Yankees bought a Royal flush — and never the great type.
Clay Holmes blew a two-run lead within the ninth inning, giving up a three-run homer to Salvador Perez that sank the Yankees in an 8-6 loss to the Royals on Sunday afternoon in The Bronx.
It was the primary residence run Holmes has allowed this season in his forty fifth look. Making an attempt to guard a 6-5 lead, the Yankees nearer retired the primary batter of the ninth earlier than dropping his command with a stroll, a hit-batter and Perez’s two-strike, go-ahead blast to middle discipline.
“Each win is essential,” Holmes stated. “It’s not a very good feeling, particularly once you blow the sport there on the finish. … I’m going to verify it doesn’t occur once more, particularly the identical means.”
Earlier than Sunday, the Yankees have been 55-1 when main after eight innings and the Royals have been 1-55 when trailing after eight.
The Yankees bullpen entered Sunday having pitched 10 shutout innings by means of the primary three video games of the collection towards the Royals (40-62). However that got here tumbling down in a rush when Ron Marinaccio gave up a solo residence run within the eighth inning earlier than Holmes’ implosion within the ninth.
Holmes was betrayed by his sinker command, persevering with a latest development after his dominant begin to the season. By means of his first 30 video games (32 innings), Holmes posted a 0.28 ERA with three walks, 33 strikeouts and three hit batters whereas going 11-for-11 in save alternatives. Over his final 14 video games (13 ²/₃ innings), although, Holmes has recorded a 5.27 ERA with 10 walks, 15 strikeouts and three hit batters whereas going 6-for-9 in saves.
“Particularly the sinker, it’s positively a really feel pitch and one thing that may come and go through the season,” Holmes stated. “Particularly early in counts, I haven’t been throwing it for strikes like I used to be early. It’s positively an space of focus and one thing I do know if I do, I’m often fairly good. Simply discovering that constant really feel and launch level and ensuring the physique is transferring constantly and prefer it’s alleged to [is key].”
It wiped away what would have been one other comeback win by the Yankees (69-34). They trailed 4-0 earlier than a two-run residence run by DJ LeMahieu within the fifth inning and a three-run homer by Anthony Rizzo within the seventh gave them a 6-4 lead.
Within the eighth, Marinaccio had his scoreless streak snapped at 15 video games and 19 innings when he gave up a leadoff residence run to Hunter Dozier. It was the primary homer he gave up all season and the primary hit he allowed since June 7. It lower the Yankees’ result in 6-5, however the rookie reliever later stranded a pair handy the sport to Holmes.
Coming off his shortest begin of the season — when he gave up 5 runs (4 earned) throughout 2 ¹/₃ innings towards the Mets — Jordan Montgomery was in management early on Sunday. After permitting a one-out single within the first inning, the lefty retired the following 11 batters till issuing back-to-back walks to start out the fifth inning.
These free passes got here again to harm him because the Royals went on to knock Montgomery out of the sport with a four-run inning by which they discovered holes for hits.
“I simply can’t stroll two guys in a row,” stated Montgomery, who had struck out six and walked none earlier than the fifth inning.
The Yankees offense picked up Montgomery, turning a 4-0 deficit right into a 6-4 lead. However they have been unable to finish the sweep as their bullpen, two days earlier than the commerce deadline, confirmed some cracks.
“I’m inspired by a whole lot of issues I’m seeing,” supervisor Aaron Boone stated when requested in regards to the state of his bullpen. “Clearly immediately was a troublesome day for us. However Clay Holmes has been top-of-the-line closers within the sport. Immediately however, we really feel nice about him. … We simply gotta hold refining, hold getting higher and put ourselves in a very good place transferring ahead.”
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