Chapman blows save, picks up loss in disappointing extra innings loss

This one was a typical Yankees-Red Sox game, each fighting to win the series in Sunday night’s ballgame. It was a pitcher’s duel throughout as rookie Jordan Montgomery went toe-to-toe with leading AL Cy Young candidate Chris Sale. Aroldis Chapman continued his disappointing season, earning both a blown save and loss in the 3-2 Red Sox win, moving the Sox to a 5.5 lead over the Yanks in the division.

Photo Credit: Jason Szenes/EPA

The Red Sox took advantage of the limited amount of scoring opportunities as they scored in the fifth giving them the 1-0 lead. Brock Holt got on base via walk against Montgomery and then took advantage of a ball in the dirt by some aggressive base stealing, getting to second on the play. Sandy Leon struck out before a two-out single to center from Jackie Bradley Jr. that knocked Holt in from second base. The Yanks then responded in the bottom half of the inning, but caught a break in the process. Austin Romine sent a ball to the wall in right field with two outs and arguably the best defensive outfielder in baseball, Mookie Betts, failed to make what looked like a routine catch. Instead, it bounced off his glove and Romine was rewarded with an RBI triple, knocking in Chase Headley who had a single earlier in the inning. After a few scoreless innings, Matt Barnes, who’s been experiencing a breakout season out of the bullpen for the Sox, allowed three straight baserunners in the bottom of the eighth before Todd Frazier knocked Aaron Hicks in on a sacrifice fly to deep center. Didi Gregorius ended the inning with a strikeout off of Robby Scott.

Chris Sale continued his incredible season by going seven innings, while allowing just four hits and one run and striking 12 Yankee hitters out. The lefty also gave up two walks before his exit. His counterpart Jordan Montgomery was also very good, but was given a short leash as he lasted just 5.1 innings. Montgomery had his second consecutive start of allowing just one run, as he also gave up just two hits and surrendered three walks.

Statistically the two best bullpens in the AL, Girardi wonderfully went to one of his better relievers David Robertson in the sixth and D Rob was excellent. He struck out three in 1.2 innings while not allowing a hit. Betances then pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning before closer Aroldis Chapman came on in the ninth for the save. Chapman came on feeling it consistently hitting 103 MPH. He struck out Hanley Ramirez on a trio of heaters and looked to have fantastic top prospect Rafael Devers on the ropes, until Devers hit his fourth homer of his young rookie season.

Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz/USA Today Sports

The Yanks had a chance in the bottom of the ninth after Headley led off with a walk. Torreyes then sacrificed moving Headley over to second. In a certainly questionable move that lost the Yanks their DH for the rest of the game, Joe Girardi used Jacoby Ellsbury as a pinch hitter, replacing Austin Romine. Ells grounded out against Addison Reed before Craig Kimbrel came on to strike Brett Gardner out. Not only did Chapman blow the save, but he also picked up the loss in the tenth inning. After striking out pinch hitter Mitch Moreland, he proceeded to hit Jackie Bradley Jr. and then walk former Yankee Eduardo Nunez. Tommy Kahnle came on for the Yanks, quickly walking Mookie Betts and then allowing an RBI single to Andrew Benintendi, his ninth RBI of the series. Kahnle ended the inning with a strikeout on Ramirez and then a fly out from Devers thanks to a phenomenal Brett Gardner catch. Kimbrel went on to pitch a 1-2-3 tenth to the heart of the Yankees order, picking up his fourth win of the season. There were just a combined nine hits in tonight’s extra inning game.

Tomorrow, the Yanks (61-55) have another crucial four game series against crosstown rival New York Mets (53-62), who have had their fair of struggles this season. It’s not official as to who the Yanks will send to the mound, but it’s very likely Luis Cessa will get the start, who is 0-3 with a 6.23 ERA in four starts this season. Rafael Montero (1-8, 6.06 ERA) will be on the bump for the Mets at a start time of 7:06 PM ET.

Winning pitcher: Craig Kimbrel (4-0, 1.44 ERA) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K

Losing pitcher: Aroldis Chapman (4-2, 3.48 ERA) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Notables:

Aaron Hicks: 1-4, R, BB, SB

Aaron Judge: 1-4, BB, SB

Austin Romine: 1-3, 3B, RBI

Jordan Montgomery: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

David Robertson: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K

Article by: Spencer Schultz

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