Montas Stinks Again. So Does Holmes. Milwaukee 7 NY 6

The Yankees gave Frankie Montas a 5-0 lead but it was 5-3 by the 2nd inning as Montas stunk again — getting yanked in the 4th inning after struggling throughout.

Josh Donaldson hit a homer off the foul pole in the top of the 9th to tie the score 6-6, but Clay Holmes loaded the bases in the 9th with a double and 2 walks, and allowed a 2-out, 2-strike single to Garrett Mitchell — a .170 hitter — for the walkoff loss.

It was a game that looked like an easy win early. “5-0 should’ve been a good enough lead my goodness,” wrote Yankee fan Madyson on Twitter, summing up the feeling of Yankee fans — some with more brutal words.

According to Katie Sharp, Frankie Montas became “the first Yankee since Sergio Mitre in 2009 to allow at least 28 runs and 46 hits in his first 8 starts with the franchise.”

The Yankees are now 87-57; their lead drops to 5.5 games over Toronto, and remains 7 over Tampa, and 11.5 over Baltimore.

1. Yanks Jump On Top 5-0

The Yanks jumped all over Milwaukee’s starter Adrian Houser in the top of the 1st:

NY 3 Milwaukee 0.

The Yanks kept up the heat in the 2nd:

Josh Donaldson hit a fielder’s choice grounder — scoring Hicks and also scoring Judge on an error by the 2nd baseman.

NY 5 Milwaukee 0.

The Yanks loaded the bases again on a walk to Oswaldo Cabrera but Isiah Kiner-Falefa flied out to end the inning.

And that was it for the Yankee offense until the 9th — Milwaukee brought in a raft of relievers to shut them out.

2. Montas Stunk Again

Given the 3-0 and then 5-0 lead, Montas struggled. He left the bases loaded in the 1st inning, and coughed up a 3-run homer to Willy Adames in the 2nd to make it 5-3.

He was behind on every batter, allowing 4 hits and 2 walks to the first 11 batters he faced.

When Montas walked a batter in the 4th with 1 out, manager Aaron Boone yanked him at 79 pitches.

Lucas Luetge came in and allowed a single, double, and sac fly for a 5-5 tie and was yanked himself after not getting an out.

Finally Greg Weissert came in to get the final out and end the 2nd.

3. Brewers Take Lead on Loaisiga

It was 5-5 in the 8th, when Jonathan Loaisiga allowed a leadoff walk, infield single, and with 2 outs, 2nd and 3rd — a sharp grounder in the hole between shortstop and 3rd that Isiah Kiner-Falefa could not field cleanly — the ball popping out of his glove — for an RBI single and Milwaukee 6-5 lead.

It was a tough play but a play you have to make in important late season games. Falefa had just made an excellent play on a pick of a throw to 2nd earlier in the inning.

4. Donaldson HR Ties It In 9th

All looked lost for the Yanks when Josh Donaldson saved the day in the top of the 9th with a leadoff homer off the foul pole in left for a tie game.

Oswaldo Cabrera then doubled with nobody out, and the Yanks advanced him to 3rd on a Kiner-Falefa bunt.

Miguel Andujar struck out on a 1-2 pitch that appeared to everyone to be a ball — John Sterling even calling it a ball on the radio — and then Kyle Higashioka flied out to end the threat.

5. Holmes Coughs Up Loss

Clay Holmes pitched the 9th had trouble with the strike zone again — a leadoff double, groundout, walk, strike out, walk loaded the bases with 2 outs.

Holmes went 1-2 on the .170 hitting Mitchell before he singled to center for the old ballgame.

Etcetera

    • Aaron Judge singled his first 2 times up and then was intentionally walked his 3rd time up. He went 2-4 on the evening and is at .311 (.415 OBP). Current leaders:
      1. Luis Arraez — .319.
      2. Xander Bogaerts — .315
      3. Jose Abreu — .312
      4. Aaron Judge — .311

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401356363

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