Why?
The Yankees began a roadtrip last night, taking on the Chicago White Sox at the new Comisk-- I mean, U.S. Cellu-- I mean, Guaranteed Rate Field.
J.A. Happ started for the Yankees, and our old friend Ivan Nova for the South Siders. Didi Gregorius led off the top of the 2nd with a single, and Gleyber Torres added another. Brett Gardner moved the runners over on a fielder's choice. With Clint Frazier up, Nova threw a wild pitch, scoring Gregorius. Frazier then singled to score Gardner.
With 2 out in the top of the 4th, Torres singled, and Gardner hit a home run. For a guy who's supposedly washed up, he is hitting pretty well.
Happ took that 4-0 lead into the bottom of the 5th, and then fell apart. Cliche Alert: Walks can kill you, especially the leadoff variety. Happ walked Yolmer Sanchez. Ryan Cordell singled. Leury Garcia doubled Sanchez home. And then he served up a home run to Tim Anderson. Tie ballgame. As they would say in English soccer, "Four-nil, and we fucked it up!"
Tommy Kahnle pitched a scoreless 6th. The right thing to do would have been to leave him in for the 7th. Instead, Aaron Boone once again followed the orders of Brian Cashman -- who, clearly, is the real manager of the New York Yankees -- and took the pitcher who was pitching well out, and brought in another pitcher. This was Adam Ottavino. The 1st batter he faced was Leury Garcia. Home run.
That was ballgame: White Sox 5, Yankees 4. WP: Evan Marshall (2-0). SV: Aaron Bummer (1). LP: Ottavino (2-2).
The ChiSox reliever may have the name, but I think we all know who the "bummer" is: Cashman, whose pitching philosophy has cost the Yankees so much over the last 10 years.
The series continues tonight. CC Sabathia makes his 4th attempt at his 250th career win, while the Pale Hose start Lucas Giolito.