Yesterday, in the New York Daily News, Mike Lupica said in his column that, for all their problems, the Yankees were still better off than the Mets.
This is true. However, that absolute minimum is not good enough. Because, now, the Yankees' inability to hit means they're losing to the worst team in baseball.
The Yankees started a series away to the Oakland Athletics last night. It will be their only trip out there this season, and, given the increasing likelihood that the A's will move to Oakland within the next few years, there will only be a few more, possibly as few as one.
Josh Donaldson, who hasn't hit a lick this season, hit a home run leading off the 5th inning. Other than that, the Yankees never seriously threatened over the 1st 7 innings.
Don't blame the pitching. Jhony Brito had a good start, going 5 2/3rds innings, allowing only 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks. The rest of the way, the bullpen allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk. That should have been good enough for the Yankee lineup to win the game.
They did try. In the top of the 8th, Aaron Boone sent Oswaldo Cabrera, who is batting .188, up to pinch-hit for Jose Trevino, who is batting .216. And Cabrera struck out. Brilliant move: Trevino could have done that. DJ LeMahieu drew a walk. Isiah Kiner-Falefa was sent in to pinch-run for him. Harrison Bader flew out. Anthony Rizzo drew a walk, and Giancarlo Stanton grounded out.
Gleyber Torres led off the 9th with a single. Donaldson struck out. Billy McKinney gave it a ride, but it was right at right fielder Seth Brown. And Kyle Higashioka, playing because the catcher, Trevino, had been pinch-hit for, struck out to end it.
A's 2, Yankees 1. WP: Paul Blackburn (1-0). SV: Sam Moll (1). LP: Brito (4-4).
The series continues tonight. Domingo Germán starts against former Yankee, and current eschewer of initial periods, JP Sears.