NEW YORK – It was a wild week for the Yankees after a pretty tough week of matchups last week. The Bombers were swept in Boston last week and then had to come home to meet the Mets. Thankfully, they capitalized on some lucky breaks and took 2 of 3 from their crosstown rivals. Unfortunately, that some luck was nowhere to be found in the Washington series this week, which of course, is quite surprising.
The Nationals entered their series with the Yankees with a 16-45 record (.262 win percentage), but still managed to top the Bombers in 2 of 3, taking Wednesday’s game 3-2 and yesterday’s series finale 3-0. They are the worst team to beat the Yankees in a series in which the Yankees were at home (minimum 50 games into the season). The previous worst, 1939 St. Louis Browns (38-99).
The Nationals are also the third-worst team to beat the Yankees in any series.
It’s funny, because so much of the Bomber turnaround can be pointed at Alex Rodriguez’ return. However, A-Rod has now gone into a terrible slump, so much so that New York is benching him for two games to give him some rest.
After waiting out a 5 ½-hour rain delay Thursday afternoon, Craig Stammen earned his first major league win. Julian Tavarez provided some key relief and the last-place Nationals collected their 18th win of the season in the first game without a homer at the new Yankee Stadium.
Joba Chamberlain took the loss for the Bombers. He didn’t pitch all that bad, but the offense stalled against Stammen and the Washington bullpen.
As they say, every dog gets their day. This series was one for the Nationals.
Perhaps the rainy day played into their favor. Scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m., the game did not begin until 6:31 p.m. A postponement seemed unlikely because the teams shared only one mutual off-day the rest of the season for a possible makeup.
I was out at the game Wednesday night, wrapping up another edition of Yankees Insider for our morning show, which came great – might I add. I can’t believe it ended the way it did.
After fouling off four two-strike pitches, the hot-swinging Robinson Cano grounded into a game-ending double play with runners at the corners. Johnny Damon hit a solo shot to start the ninth that put the Yankees within one, but Cano failed to come through, sealing a 3-2 Nationals win.
The Yankees rested Derek Jeter Wednesday. He’s dealing with some ankle issues, but said he would play. Manager Joe Girardi held firm that Jeter needed the time off. He was sorely missed, especially late.
The Nats and Yanks scored just five runs total, but they hit three homers.
The story of the night was New York native John Lannan. The lefty allowed two runs and four hits in 8 1/3 innings, hurting one of his hometown teams for the second time in two weeks. He beat the New York Mets 7-1 on June 6, tossing a four-hitter for his first career complete game.
Lannan is the best Washington pitcher on the staff. He was quality, but the Yankees seem to always struggle when facing a pitcher for the first time. It happened in the Met series Saturday against Fernando Nieve and it happened again against Lannan and the Nats this week.
It’s an issue that Girardi addressed with the media and it shows a lack of scouting and preparation, in my opinion, even though Jeter said it doesn’t matter, because you have to see pitchers live. He noted all the preparation in the world doesn’t change how good their stuff could be when you step into the box.
New York won the series opener Tuesday 5-3 following the off day. Robinson Cano knocked in the tying run with an RBI double in the seventh, sparking a late rally for the Yankees in another comeback win.
The Bombers were lucky against the Mets over the weekend and got some good breaks against the lowly Nats Tuesday, but the rest of the series provided how the Yankees have to make their own breaks, especially against teams as awful – yes, I said it – as Washington.
Just when you think the Yankees are cruising, they get sloppy. A-Rod has struggled and now Mark Teixeira is cooling off, too. Jeter being hurt doesn’t help the situation either. Guys like Nick Swisher are also showing signs of fatigue.
The Yankees will try and bounce back tonight against the Marlins when they open a weekend series in Florida.
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