Last night, the Yankees closed a 4-game home series with the Baltimore Orioles. And it was ugly.
How ugly was it? It was so ugly, were he still alive, Muhammad Ali would have wanted to fight it, just for being ugly.
Luis Severino started. Let's not mince words: The guy had nothing. He didn't make it out of the 3rd inning, allowing 7 runs on 10 hits and a walk. He wasn't wild, he just kept putting the ball in the Birds' wheelhouse. Albert Abreu was worse, allowing 6 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks, in just 2/3rds of an inning. It was 13-0 Baltimore after just 4 innings. That's a football score!
The Orioles' linescore: 1 run in the 1st inning, none in the 2nd, 7 runs in the 3rd, t in the 4th, none in the 5th. 10750. That ZIP Code is not in use. If it were, it would be in Yonkers.
The rest of the way, the Yankees' bullpen was fine. (And other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?) Deivi Garcia finished the 4th inning, and pitched the 5th and the 6th, without allowing a run. Ron Marinaccio pitched the 7th, without allowing a run. Wandy Peralta pitched the 8th, and, no surprise, he did allow a run, although only 1. And Isiah Kiner-Falefa moved from left field to the mound, and pitched the 9th, allowing just 1 baserunner, a single.
The Yankees, again, did not hit. Anthony Rizzo singled in the 1st inning. Harrison Bader and Josh Donaldson drew walks in the 4th. Gleyber Torres and Bader singled in the 6th. DJ LeMahieu singled in the 7th. Jose Trevino singled to lead off the 8th, and was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. That's it: 8 innings, 7 baserunners.
Oswaldo Cabrera led off the bottom of the 9th with a double. Bader grounded out, and Cabrera could not advance. Donaldson flew out, and Cabrera did advance. Billy McKinney reached on an error that allowed Cabrera to score. Finally, a run. Yankee Fans, who had been booing hard all night, gave what Johnny Carson, after getting it following one joke that worked after several in a row that bombed, called "sympathy applause." And LeMahieu grounded out to put the Pinstripes out of their misery.
Orioles 14, Yankees 1. WP: Kyle Bradish (5-4). No save. LP: Severino (1-4).
Yankee ERAs this season, bold = has made at least 9 starts, red = not a pitcher:
Tommy Kahnle 0.00 (13 2/3rds innings)
Josh Donaldson 0.00 (1 inning)
Randy Vásquez 1.17 (15 1/3rd innings)
Deivi García 1.59 (5 2/3rds innings)
Ian Hamilton 2.08
Isiah Kiner-Falefa 2.25 (4 innings)
Clay Holmes 2.36
Wandy Peralta 2.62 (I was surprised, too)
Jonathan Loáisiga 2.70 (3 1/3rd innings, injured)
Gerrit Cole 2.79
Michael King 2.87
Nick Ramirez 2.91
Ron Marinaccio 3.00
Ryan Weber 3.14 (14 1/3rd innings)
Jimmy Cordero 3.86 (now suspended for the season)
Clarke Schmidt 4.43
Albert Abreu 4.46
Domingo Germán 4.52
Jhony Brito 4.70
Nestor Cortés 5.16
Luis Severino 7.38
Matt Krook 21.00 (3 innings)
The collective won-lost record of the Yankees' top 6 starters is 27-23. The overall record is 48-40. Not good enough.
Tonight, the Yankees start a 3-game home Interleague series with the Chicago Cubs. Carlos Rodón, who has been hurt all season until now, finally makes his Yankee debut. The Cubs will start former Yankee Jameson Taillon. Uh-oh, I see where this is going...