Sunday, July 13, 2014

Whitley's One Bad Innings Costs Yankees Big in Rain-Shortened Loss to Orioles

While Chase Whitley is undeniably a good pitcher, it seems obvious now that no, he isn't somebody the Yankees can rely on. 

The 25 year old prospect, 4-2 with a 4.94 ERA entering tonight, simply isn't one who can last deep into games, something the Yanks' could really use nowadays with their worn out bullpen. 

For example, in this evening's finale in Baltimore, Whitley lasted just 3 2/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs as the Orioles won pretty easily 3-1.

To start off the contest, Bombers Center Fielder Brett Gardner did take O's Starter Kevin Gausman (5 IP, 1 ER) deep to right, although from then on the Pinstripes struggled to do anything, collecting just three singles while never reaching second to put an unfair pressure on Whitley.

Now in his first three frames of work, #39 did look decently sharp, striking out four (three swinging) while allowing just two hits.

However, in the bottom of the fourth all of that effort was wasted, with Whitley walking Nelson Cruz to start the at-bat before giving up a two-run home run to the sub .200 hitting Chris Davis, followed shortly by another RBI Single from Johnathan Schoop to give Baltimore an advantage.

Immediately after that hit from Schoop, the Yanks' rookie was replaced by David Huff, who finally recorded the last out of the frame, an endeavor that wouldn't end up proving relevant due to New York going down 1-2-3 in their half of the fifth.

Unbeknownst to the Yankees at the time, that turn, which included routine putouts of Ichiro Suzuki, Kelly Johnson, and Yangervis Solarte, would be their last of the night, as rain during the Orioles' next frame ended things after the minimum five innings, with a 2-hour, 20-minute delay only pushing back the inevitable.  

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)