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Yankees' Heartbreak in Seattle: Missed Chances Cost Them 11-Inning Loss
The New York Yankees suffered a tough 2-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners in 11 innings on Tuesday night, a game defined not by spectacular plays, but by a frustrating inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
A Tight, Tense Duel
From the start, this felt less like a typical baseball game and more like a chess match. Both starting pitchers, Max Fried for the Yankees and Bryan Woo for the Mariners, were masterful. Fried, despite not having his sharpest command, delivered five strong innings, allowing just one run. Woo was even better, holding the Yankees' potent lineup scoreless for 6 1/3 innings, baffling them with his precise fastball and masterful control. He retired 15 batters in a row at one point!
- Fried's Performance: While Fried's outing was impressive (one run, four hits, two walks, five strikeouts), the Mariners made him work hard, forcing him into lengthy at-bats that pushed his pitch count high.
- Woo's Dominance: Woo's performance was the stuff of legends: 6 1/3 scoreless innings, four hits allowed, six strikeouts, and zero walks. He completely shut down the Yankees' bats for much of the game.
The Yankees' offense sputtered against Woo and the Mariners' bullpen, finishing 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position – their worst showing since 1990! They left 11 runners on base, highlighting their struggles to get timely hits when it mattered most.
A Ninth-Inning Rally, and a Controversial Ejection
Hope flickered in the ninth inning. Paul Goldschmidt, after being hit by a pitch, stole second, and a throwing error allowed the Yankees to tie the game at 1-1 without even getting a hit. However, the rally stalled when Jasson Dominguez struck out looking on a pitch many felt was low, leading to a heated exchange and Aaron Boone's ejection for arguing the call with the umpire.
- Goldschmidt's hustle: Goldschmidt's stolen base was a key moment, showing his aggressive base running.
- Boone's ejection: Manager Aaron Boone's ejection added another layer of drama to the already tense game.
Extra Innings Heartbreak
Despite their late-game rally, the Yankees couldn't build on the momentum. In extra innings, with the ghost runner on second, the Mariners capitalized on their opportunity. A single by Ben Williamson moved the runner to third, setting the stage for J.P. Crawford's walk-off single, ending the game and sending the Yankees home with a bitter taste in their mouths.
- Bullpen performance: The Yankees' bullpen performed admirably, keeping the game close and giving the offense repeated chances to win.
- Crawford's game-winner: Crawford’s single ended the Mariners’ four-game losing streak.
Conclusion: A Game of Missed Opportunities
This wasn't a game of blowouts or spectacular home runs. It was a nail-biter, a pitchers’ duel that ended with a crushing defeat for the Yankees. Their 0-for-14 performance with runners in scoring position tells the story: a missed opportunity after missed opportunity. While Max Fried and the bullpen battled valiantly, the Yankees’ bats ultimately failed to deliver when it mattered, leading to another gut-wrenching loss in a season filled with close games.
