Tanaka pitches well but offense fails to provide run support as Yankees drop series finale 2-0

The Yankees entered Wednesday afternoon's contest with the Tigers with a good shot at winning the rubber match of a three game set. Scheduled to start at 1:05 PM ET, the play did not begin until about 2:30 due to a rain delay. When play finally began, the Yankees were opposed by a struggling Jordan Zimmermann, the Yankees sent Masahiro Tanaka to the hill, who has been much better of late, but has struggled mightily during day games this year. After getting roughed up early, Tanaka settled into a groove holding the Tigers to just two runs, only one earned. Unfortunately, the offense was non-existent in a game resulting in a 2-0 Yankee loss.

Photo Credit: Julie Jacobson | AP

The game had another lengthy delay before the eighth inning from about 4:50 to 8:00 forcing Zimmermann out of the game, who stifled the Yankees over seven shutout innings.

The Tigers got on the board very quickly in the first inning with three straight hits off Tanaka, including an RBI double from Justin Upton. Tanaka settled down from there, striking out two of the next three batters to limit the damage to just one run.

The Tigers would get their second run thanks to a pitiful error by Jacoby Ellsbury in centerfield in the fourth inning. Ellsbury bobbled a single by James McCann, then couldn't pick it up, allowing Mikie Mahtook al the way from first base to make it a 2-0 game.

The Yankees threatened in the bottom of the sixth after a leadoff single by Aaron Judge followed by a double by Gary Sanchez, putting runners on second and third with nobody out. From there, Didi Gregorius flied out in the infield, and Matt Holliday flied out to shallow centerfield. Then, Chase Headley went down on strikes to prevent any runs from coming home as the Yankees were unable to capitalize.

One notable thing that occurred in this game happened in the top of the eighth when Dellin Betances entered the game following the rain delay. Betances struck out all three batters he faced on nine pitches, becoming the sixth pitcher in Yankees' history to throw an immaculate inning, and the first reliever in the club's history.

With this loss, the Yankees have dropped two of three against the Tigers. After going 3-for-3 with RISP in game one, the Yankees managed a 2-for-17 clip in games two and three, which factored into them scoring just three runs in the final two games.

The Yankees will look to get back on track against the Indians in a four-game set this weekend. The Tribe just lost Andrew Miller to the DL, but they still lead the AL Central. This next series should be interesting as the Yankees will send newly acquired starters Sonny Gray to the hill in game one on Thursday, and Jaime Garcia for game two on Friday.

Winning Pitcher: Jordan Zimmermann (7-8, 5.35 ERA): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR

Losing Pitcher: Masahiro Tanaka (8-10, 4.93 ERA): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 7 K
Save: Shane Greene (2)

Notables:

Dellin Betances: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (9 pitches)

Aaron Judge: 1-4, 2 K

Chase Headley: 1-4, 2B, 3 K

Gary Sanchez: 1-3, 2B

Article by: Chad Raines

Follow @chad_rain Follow @BronxBomberBall