The Yankees, through 10 games, are hitting just .190 this season with runners in scoring position.
After opening the season with a 4-3 homestand, the Yankees hit the road beginning with a weekend series in Baltimore.
The offense, however, came up missing in action.
It was a rough weekend for the Yankees, rough enough where manager Aaron Boone emphasized a familiar sense of urgency.
“We gotta start getting it rolling…”
It’s becoming a familiar battle cry for Boone when having to give his thoughts on the offense. Their lack of production to start the season is alarming and troubling.
Sunday’s 5-0 loss to the Orioles was about as bad as it gets. In this game, starting pitcher Nestor Cortes sparkled with a career-high 12 strikeouts over just five-plus innings. “Nasty Nestor” was as advertised for the Yankees, especially in the fourth inning.
Cortes struck out the side on nine pitches in the fourth inning for an immaculate inning. The impressive showing from Cortes came amid a stretch of six straight strikeouts.
The bullpen for the Yankees came into Sunday’s action with Major-League best 1.21 earned run average. The unit, however, couldn’t hold down the fort this time.
Former Yankee Rougned Odor picked up some sweet revenge with a two-run single in the 8th inning. Odor, released by the Yankees in the offseason, broke a scoreless tie with his hit against Jonathan Loaisiga.
The bullpen took their lumps in this game, however, they’ve mostly answered the bell this season. The issue is the offense and their inability to pick up their pitching staff.
Through 10 games this season, the Yankees are hitting just .190 with runners in scoring position. They’ve scored just 30 runs in 10 games, the second fewest since 1973 (per the team’s YES network). Sunday’s loss was the team’s third game scoring one run or fewer.
This team’s better than what they’ve shown us. The lineup has too much talent to not produce. And it’s a familiar tune we’ve been hearing.
Next stop for the Yankees, after a much-needed day off, is Detroit for a three-game series.
Anthony Rushing is on Twitter @TonyRushingNY
Main Image: Aaron Judge | Gail Burton/AP
