Yankees embarrass themselves against the Royals, drop game one 10-5

Bad pitching and an inability to get the big hit continue to haunt the Yankees. Those problems loomed large as New York fell to Kansas City by a score of 10-5 in the first game of the day-night doubleheader.

Luis Severino got tagged for six runs on eight hits, lasting only 4.1 innings. This marked the first time in his career that Severino allowed six earned runs in consecutive starts. It was also his fourth straight sub-par outing, a stretch that has seen the righty’s ERA balloon from a league-leading 1.98 to 2.94.

Whit Merrifield singled off Severino on the first pitch of the game, and it was all downhill from there. Although Severino got out of the first without allowing a run, and retired the side in order in the second, the Royals took a 2-0 lead in the third. Double, walk, double, hit-by-pitch — Sevy threw 26 pitches to escape the frame.

Severino gave up another leadoff single in the fifth, but this time wasn’t able to wiggle out of the jam. A one-out double and single made it 4-0 Kansas City. Then came the big blow, a two-run homer from Lucas Duda to put the Royals up 6-0.

The Yankees chiseled away at the lead, but repeatedly failed to get the big hit when they needed it. The team created multiple scoring opportunities, pounding Kansas City pitching for 13 hits while also drawing four walks. But the Bombers were only 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

New York wasted a leadoff single in the first, bases loaded no-out situation in the second, leadoff walk in the third, and leadoff single in the fourth. Four straight frames with the leadoff man on, and the Yankees failed to score.

The Bombers finally got on the board in the fifth, when Aaron Hicks mustered a two-out single and Giancarlo Stanton belted his 24th home run of the year. They also plated a pair in the sixth. Gleyber Torres singled, Greg Bird got a bunt hit, and Neil Walker came through with a RBI-single. The fourth run scored on an Austin Romine double-play groundout. The rally continued, but the Yankees were unable to capitalize further. Tyler Wade walked, Shane Robinson singled, Hicks walked to load the bases, but Stanton lined out, ending a great chance to tie the game.

Didi Gregorius led off the seventh with a single and scored on a Torres double, but Gleyber was gunned out easily at third trying to stretch. This baserunning blunder proved costly, as Bird followed with a long fly out which surely would have allowed Torres to advance. Romine and Walker then followed with singles, but pinch-hitter Miguel Andujar struck out swinging to kill the rally.

Adam Warren did a tremendous job in relief of Severino, retiring all eight batters he faced. The Royals put the game away against David Robertson in the eighth, though. D-Rob coughed up a one-out walk, single, and three-run dinger. Kansas City plated their 10th run against Chasen Shreve in the ninth.

The Yankees will try to get back on track against the worst hitting team in the league in the nightcap. Stopper CC Sabathia (6-4, 3.51 ERA) squares off against Heath Fillmyer (0-1, 2.82 ERA). Stick around, first pitch is 7:05 PM EDT.