Yankees Highlights: Tyler Wade goes deep, rest of offense sputters

If you were able to pry yourself away from the churn of the trade rumor mill, you surely noticed that there was a full slate of MLB games tonight. These midseason contests can occasionally get lost in the hubbub of the deadline, but the action carries on even attention is being paid elsewhere.

The Yankees managed a better performance in terms in run prevention than they had in a while, but it wasn’t enough in the series opener with the Diamondbacks, as they fell 4-2. Their lead in AL East will still stand at least 7.5 games by the end of the night.

Winner of the Game

The Yankees offense was quiet tonight, recording just five hits in a game started by Taylor Clarke, a rookie who entered the game with a 6.10 ERA. The biggest hit was a home run by Tyler Wade, who entered the game after Luke Voit exited with a core injury:

Hopefully this dinger was a sign of better things to come for Wade, who hit just .204/.316/.204 in 20 games earlier this season.

Also, Luis Cessa tossed three innings of one-run ball. This is less notable for Cessa’s performance, which was fine, than it was for how it ensured the rest of the Yankees’ uber bullpen received two straight full days of rest after a brutal stretch.

Honorable mention: Like Cessa, J.A. Happ was merely fine, turning in six innings and allowing three runs. After last week, though, the Yankees will take that.

Loser of the Game

As mentioned, this game fell on the offense. No one member deserves particular blame; seven starters went hitless, with Edwin Encarnacion and Gio Urshela the only members of the starting lineup to record hits. Not exactly what you want from a high-powered offense on a hot July night.

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