Yankees unable to overcome heartbreaking Dustin Fowler injury in 4-3 loss

After a promising win last night in which included an incredible MLB debut from phenom Miguel Andujar, the Yankees reversed back to their losing ways in a 4-3 loss Thursday night.

 

Photo Credit: Nam Y. Huh | AP

Things started very promising for the Yankees, as Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge reached to start the game via a single and walk. Didi Gregorius came up and hit a grounder to first, where Jose Abreu tried getting the force out at second. Instead, he hit Judge on the shoulder and a run scored giving the Yanks a 1-0 lead. With runners on first and second and still nobody out, Gary Sanchez grounded into a double play and Jacoby Ellsbury flew out to put what was once a promising inning to a screeching halt.

As you may have heard, Dustin Fowler, one of the heralded prospects for the Yankees, was called up today and was batting sixth just behind Jacoby Ellsbury. Thanks to Sanchez and Ellsbury’s failures, Fowler was left in the on deck circle to end the top of the first, awaiting his first career AB for the second inning. Unfortunately, he didn't get the chance to get that AB, as he took a hard run into the stands in right field and was carted off with Yankee and White Sox fans applauding in the background for his hard effort. You can read more about Fowler's injury here.

On the mound for the Yanks tonight was Luis Cessa, and he would then get out of the first after Fowler’s injury, who was replaced by Rob Refsnyder. Cessa was unimpressive on the mound tonight other than the first inning, which was his only 1-2-3 inning. The White Sox scored two in both the second and fourth innings, giving them a 4-2 lead. 

The Yankees second run came in the fourth also on an RBI single from Ronald Torreyes. They then tacked on a third run in the sixth on an RBI groundout from Austin Romine, as Ellsbury scored after leading off the inning with a triple. Cessa then exited the fifth inning with two outs, allowing a double, walk, and single to load the bases before Chasen Shreve got out of the jam. His pitching line was a bit erratic, going 4.2 innings and giving up five hits and four runs, but just two were earned to his name. He also walked three and struck out just one.

On the mound for the White Sox was veteran right-hander James Shields, who has seen plenty of the Yankees in his career as he was with the Rays for much of his career. Shields gave the White Sox a very solid outing for being at the back end of the rotation, giving them 6.1 innings with five hits, three runs, just two of which were earned, three walks, and two strikeouts. The difference maker was in the fifth on a towering shot from Aaron Judge in which former Yankee Melky Cabrera leaped for a fantastic robbery, preventing Judge from getting his 28th homer of the year. Two more former Yankee players in Anthony Swarzak and David Robertson were a part of the White Sox bullpen that shut down the Yankees offense in 2.2 innings of not allowing a run.

The Yankees will now head to Houston for a three-game series. As we all know, the Yanks have been scuffling mightily lately and this Astros team is not one you want to face when you're in the midst of a skid. The 42-35 Yankees, a game back of the Red Sox, will face off against the 54-26 Astros, who has blown away AL West competition with a 13.5 game lead and the best record in baseball. The Yankees will need the good Michael Pineda (7-4, 4.12 ERA) who will face off against rising ace Lance McCullers (7-1, 2.53 ERA). McCullers shut down the Yankees in six innings of four-hit ball earlier this season.

Winning Pitcher: James Shields (2-1, 3.98 ERA): 6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Losing Pitcher: Luis Cessa (0-3, 5.82 ERA): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

Save: David Robertson (12)

Notables:

Jacoby Ellsbury: 1-3, 2 R, 3B, BB, SB

Austin Romine: 1-4, RBI

Ronald Torreyes: 1-4, RBI

Tyler Clippard: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Jose Abreu: 2-4, 2 2B

Willy García: 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI

Article by: Spencer Schultz

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