The New York Yankees got hammered on Saturday. Cincinnati rolled into the Bronx and came away with a 10-2 win that wasn’t really that close. It was the kind of afternoon where nothing went right for the home team, and by the time it was over, manager Aaron Boone had already made a roster move.
Reliever Jake Bird is headed to the minors, according to Gary Phillips. Bird, 30, has been shaky all season. Across 28 appearances, his ERA sits at 5.09 — not what you want from a guy eating innings out of the bullpen. The Yankees are hoping a stint in Triple-A will get him straightened out. He could be back later this year if he finds his groove, but for now, the team needs a fresh arm.
Two very different games against Cincinnati
Funny how baseball works. On Friday, Cam Schlittler was dealing. The Yankees shut out the Reds completely, and Schlittler looked like an ace in progress. Everything was crisp. Then Saturday happened and the pitching staff just didn’t have it. That’s the nature of a long season, but it had to sting a little more after the high of the night before.
Bird wasn’t the only guy who struggled, but he’s the one who paid the price. Elmer Rodriguez will get the ball on Sunday as the Yankees look to take the series. That’s the silver lining here — they still have a chance to win the weekend.
Despite Saturday’s mess, the Yankees are sitting pretty. They’re 46-29, good for first place in the AL East. Tampa Bay is 2.5 games back. That’s a comfortable lead, but not so comfortable that you want to give away games to a team like the Reds.
New York will host Cincinnati again Sunday at 1:35 PM EST at Yankee Stadium. After that, they head to Detroit for three games against the Tigers. A series win Sunday keeps the momentum positive. A loss, and suddenly that 10-2 beatdown lingers a little longer.
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