Yankees stage comeback attempt, fall to Dodgers 2-1

Things started off well for CC Sabathia the first time through the order, striking out four and allowing just two hits. Unfortunately for Sabathia, the second hit came against pitcher Tony Gonsolin, an infield single off the veteran pitcher’s leg. Two batters later Justin Turner put an inside cutter over the left-field wall to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

Things almost got worse after a lined shot from Cody Bellinger went right through the glove of Gleyber Torres, putting Will Smith on third. Sabathia produced a pop fly off the bat of Chris Taylor, one easy for Aaron Judge to catch. He then struck out Max Muncy for a second time to end all further threats.

Hits where at a premium against Tony Gonsolin during his five innings of work, but Judge was able to put one over the wall to cut the Dodgers’ lead in half. The rookie kept the Yankees off balance with a looping curveball. Overall he allowed one run on two hits over the five frames, complete with two strikeouts and two walks. It was an impressive outing for Gonsolin.

Cory Gearrin, recently acquired from the Seattle Mariners, made his Yankees debut during the bottom of the fifth. He retired A.J. Pollock with a grounder and Justin Turner with a fly ball. After two quick outs, Chad Green entered the game to end the frame.

The bullpen battle started in earnest in the sixth inning. Familiar face Joe Kelly came on for Los Angeles. He made quick work of the top of the Yankees’ order for a 1-2-3 inning. Green, meanwhile, continued the trend of 1-2-3 innings in the bottom half, eventually finishing the day throwing a total of two hitless innings with four strikeouts.

After Kelly and Green finished their solid performances, it was Zack Britton and Perdo Baez’s turn. Baez struck out the side, retiring Cameron Maybin, DJ LeMahieu, and Judge. Britton, on the other hand, worked in a fly out and grounder for his own 1-2-3 frame.

Things finally got interesting during the top of the ninth against Kenley Jansen. After a confusing full-count bunt by Didi Gregorius went foul for the first out of the inning, Torres singled up the middle to put the tying run on base. A mishandled liner to first base allowed a hustling Gardner to reach safely, putting two on with one out.

Gio Urshela then hit another grounder, one that Justin Turner threw to second base in an attempt to get Gardner out. Gardner flattened Muncy with a hard—but legal—slide, and he actually beat the throw. It would take a replay review, however, to get the call correct. Furthermore, Torres reached home on the play, but was returned to third base because the umpire called for him mid-dash.

Jansen, who has blown three of his last six save opportunities, struck Mike Tauchman out on three pitches. Sanchez put up a better fight reaching a least reaching a 1-2 count, but Jansen once again won the battle on a cutter to strike out the catcher.

In the end, the game came down to two home runs by the two-hole hitters of their respective teams. Sabathia continues to allow home runs this season, but this start was more encouraging then his last considering he was able to punch out seven hitters. He also walked just one batter. Home runs make a dent on a performance, but that was just about the only mistake he allowed the whole game. The rookie Gonsolin was truly impressive shutting down a Yankees lineup that knocked potential Cy Young winner Hyun-Jin Ryu around last night.

Box Score.