by Derek McAdam
June 7, 2023
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The New York Yankees fell to the Chicago White Sox in the first of a three-game series by a score of 3-2 last night.
Quick Stats:
Clarke Schmidt: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 K
Bullpen: 3 IP, 1 H, 4 K
The Yankees did not record their first hit of the game until the 7th
The Big Story:
The Yankees returned to Yankee Stadium after a road trip in which they went 4-2 against the Mariners and Dodgers. Seby Zavala hit a solo home run in the top of the 3rd to give the White Sox a 1-0 lead. Later in the 5th, Zavala hit a two-run home run ti give the White Sox a 3-0 lead.
The Yankees were not able to record their first hit until the 7th, when Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled to center field to score Willie Calhoun (who had walked), and put the Yankees on the board. Josh Donaldson would score in the bottom of the 9th on a solo home run, but it wasn't enough for the Yankees to win the game, as they lost by a 3-2 score.
Player of the Game:
Seby Zavala ultimately won the game for White Sox, so he deserves the player of the game award.
Notable Performances:
Lucas Giolito did not give up a hit against the Yankees, and the Yankees’ bullpen did well enough to keep them in the game. Even Schmidt did not perform terribly. The Yankee offense just wasn’t active tonight.
Better to Forget:
The Yankee offense has to do better. Schmidt gave the Yankees a quality start, and the bullpen did well to keep the White Sox lead to a minimum. It just wasn’t the Yankee offense’s night.
My Take:
The White Sox are a hot team right now. They’ve won five in a row and are playing like a solid club. The Yankees had been playing well, but it seems as if this game was a bit different from the past several games. The offense hasn't been rolling by any means, but the pitching has done its job tremendously well. This is another example of when the offense lets the pitching staff down. It’s just one game, and they’re coming off a solid roadtrip, so I wouldn’t put too much stock into this game.
However, the Yankees also didn’t record a hit until the 7th, which is absolutely concerning. Hopefully, Aaron Judge’s injury isn’t as bad as it may seem, although it does seem to be a concern of some kind, potentially to the point where he may have to do an IL stint. Hopefully today, the Yankees and its fanbase will be able to find out more information about this injury. Regarding the loss, it’s best to just move on and attempt to force a rubber game on Thursday.
What’s Next?:
The Yankees will host the White Sox for the second game of three-game series tonight. Lance Lynn is projected to start for the White Sox, while Randy Vasquez is set to make his second start of his MLB career. The game is set for a 7:05 p.m. EST start from Yankee Stadium and will be broadcast on MLB Network.
I read earlier that Judge is on the IL. Right big toe contusion + strained ligament of the big toe.