Yankees Lose Pitcher's Duel to Indians, 1-0

This one falls squarely on the offense. The Yankees had numerous chances to score in the early innings but squandered them all. Carlos Carrasco escaped a bases-loaded no-out jam in the very first inning. A-Rod flew out to shallow center (they should've sent Jeter from third*), Cano struck out and Swisher grounded out. The game remained scoreless. Who knew that would essentially be the turning point of the game?

The "Bombers" went 0-7 with RISP in the first three innings alone! They didn't get another runner into scoring position all night.

Then a liner that Nick Swisher just nearly caught - but didn't - allowed a lead-off triple in the fourth. A single later and Cleveland had an insurmountable 1-0 lead.

Carrasco settled down after the third, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters he faced.

To add injury to insult, Jeter pulled up lame on a fly-out, and it's being called a "sore right calf." He's being sent for an MRI. Any chances he had of reaching 3000 hits on this home-stand are probably gone.

On the bright side, Burnett was excellent and undeserving of the loss.

Play of the Game: Michael Brantley's fourth-inning triple that Swish almost caught (-10%).

Comment of the Game: long time listener

Notes -

- I respect GGBG trying to steal a single in the seventh-inning on a full count, but he's just not a good enough bunter, especially to attempt it with two strikes.

- This team needs Jesus. The catching situation is currently in shambles. As much as I love Frankie, he can't hit (55 OPS+), while Russ Martin is slumping (and injured) terribly: .610 OPS since April. Montero could easily get enough playing time to warrant his promotion as a BUC/DH/Pinch-hitter. (Ahem, he went 2-4 with a homer tonight in Scranton's 8-3 win. The homer was off a legitimate ML pitcher on a rehab stint to boot.)

* I thought that at the time too, not just in hindsight.