A's bats too much as Bombers fall 10-5

The Yankees’ bats failed them in crunch time, as the A’s offense exploded for 10 runs in a 10-5 win over the Bombers to open this three-game set.

AP

For those of you hoping for another quality outing from Sonny Gray, today was not that day. Gray went only five innings, allowed 9 hits, five earned runs, and his already high ERA went up to 6.39.

The action started early, as Khris Davis mashed a solo home run into the Yankees bullpen in the top of the second, and after a Matt Olson single, Matt Chapman sent another baseball into the seats to extend Oakland’s lead to three. In the next inning, Jed Lowrie laced an RBI single into left, and then in the top of the fourth, Marcus Semien grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Mark Canha.

The grounder was fielded by Miguel Andújar, and it looked like he might have had a play at home, but the third baseman barely gave it a look before throwing to second for a force out.

Gray was relieved by David Hale, but the hits kept coming. Lowrie smoked a solo homer into the right field corner to re-establish a two-run lead in the top of the 6th.

In the middle of all that, Dustin Fowler picked up his first major league hit. It was a great moment, as he has undergone quite the journey after rupturing his patellar tendon as a member of the Yankees last June.

Oakland started Kendall Graveman, who came into this game with unimpressive numbers, finished with six innings, only three hits and one earned run.

The Bombers’ bats did show life, as Gleyber Torres hit the third home run of his young career, and Aaron Judge put his 10th of the year, a three-run shot, into the right field seats in the fifth. 

AP

However, one bat in particular did not show any life whatsoever, as Didi Gregorius continued his 0 for 28 streak. He may be in line for a day off soon.

The Yankees threatened in the bottom of the 7th, as the bases were loaded for Aaron Judge with only one out, who walked in a run to bring the score to 6-5 and brought up Gregorius. However, the A’s brought Yusmeiro Petit in, who forced Didi and Giancarlo Stanton to pop out, and Oakland escaped the inning with the lead.

In the top of the 8th, Aaron Boone sent Hale out for a third inning of work, and Matt Joyce greeted him with a booming solo home run to extend Oakland’s lead back to two, at 7-5. Hale settled down and got out of the inning only allowing one run.

In the bottom of the frame, Neil “Late Inning Rally Starter” Walker singled, then with two outs, Boone sent Gary Sanchez to the plate as a pinch hitter, and Oakland went to their closer, Blake Treinen. Sanchez struck out on three pitches.

David Robertson entered for the top of the 9th, and failed to work his way out of a bases-loaded one-out jam, as Marcus Semien doubled to left field, and the A’s pushed their lead to 5.

Treinen sat down Torres, then Judge grounded into a double play to seal the Yankees’ second loss in a row.

The Good:

Judge and Gleyber with home runs, Hale solid if not great for three innings. Not too many positives tonight.

The Bad:

Sonny, Robertson, and the defense all had nights to forget, as well as Didi, who continues to be ice cold.

Winning Pitcher: Kendall Graveman (1-5 7.60 ERA) 6 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 SO

Losing Pitcher: Sonny Gray (2-3 6.39 ERA) 5 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO

Notables:

Athletics

Marcus Semien, 2-6, 4 RBI 

Jed Lowrie 3-6, HR (8), 2 RBI

Yankees

Judge 1-4 HR (10) 

Torres 1-3 HR (3)

What’s next?

The Yankees look to get back to their winning ways as they face Oakland once more in the second game of this three-game series, as Domingo German takes the ball coming off his first start, a brilliant 6-inning no-hit performance. The A’s counter with Andrew Triggs, who one-hit the Orioles through seven in his last start. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM EST.