The Bronx, NY — The Yankees lost the first game of today’s twin bill 8-2 against the Dodgers. It was another game where the offense was lifeless and the starting pitching was good, but not good enough to overcome the power of the Dodgers lineup.
The Yankees gave the game up late when Jake Bird and Camilo Doval combined to give up five runs in the eighth inning.
The Yankees really need to flush this game from their minds, with a second game coming tonight against the Dodgers.
HITTING HIGHLIGHT: The early RBI hit for the Yankees against Yamamoto was a Trent Grisham solo home run in the fourth inning. It broke up what was to that point a perfect game. It was one of only two hits for the Yankees against the Dodgers’ right-hander. The Yankees did not strike the ball well at all against Yamamoto at all and really struggled offensively in the game.
PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: Cam Schlittler struck out the first four batters of the game, which set his pitch count high for the game. He was never able to recover for the rest of the outing. He surrendered two runs in the game, both coming in the third inning, off a Shohei Ohtani double and a Freddie Freeman single. Schlittler was at 88 pitches at the end of the fourth, striking out eight batters on the day, and his stuff was good, but he could not find a solid put-away pitch. Finding that will be the next big step in his development.
NOTABLE: The Yankees had to use a lot of their bullpen starting a rookie tonight. The Dodgers, who are pitching a bullpen game in the nightcap, did not. That is going to factor into bullpen choices later today. The Yankees might need length out of ERC, and I don’t know if they will get it.
UP NEXT: The series concludes with the second game of the doubleheader tonight at 7:20pm. For the Dodgers, it will be a bullpen game. For the Yankees, Elmer Rodriguez will get the start. TV: NBC/Peacock RADIO: WFAN
