If You’re Going to Lose, Lose. The Yankees LOST. Minnesota 11 NY 2

April 14, 2023 paperbacklou 2023 0

“If you’re going to shoot, shoot,” the old saying goes — and if you’re going to lose, lose. The Yankees LOST this one — Jhony Brito was run over by a train in the top of the 1st inning as Minnesota put 9 runs on the board — the first 7 charged to Brito who could only get 2 outs. Colten Brewer came in with gasoline, and by the 3rd it was 11-0 Minnesota.

The Yankee batters meanwhile were perfect-gamed into the 4th by Twins starter Joe Ryan, until Anthony Rizzo hit the first of two solo homers. As Amanda V put it, it was Minnesota 11 Anthony Rizzo 2.

Ryan pitched 7 innings of 3-hit ball, so it is doubtful MLB threw a batch of lively balls into the game.

It could have been worse — for example the Yankees holding the lead throughout the evening then to blow a save at the end. In this one, Yankee fans were freed up to go do other things — flip to the Rangers game, walk the dogs at the beach, clean the garage. They could enjoy the loss; commiserate in each other’s misery on Twitter.

Except for those at the game.

“It just looked like a lot of pitches up and out over the plate,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards about Brito’s performance. “And just struggling a little bit of ball-1 too much too; behind in the count, and leaving his sinker elevated too much.”

“It’s back to work,” answered Boone when asked about what’s next for Brito. “He’s got a great head on his shoulders. This is unfortunately part of the game. You get punched in the mouth in this game. He’s equipped to handle that. We’ll support, dive in, evaluate, look at it, where can you make improvements, and get back to work. That’s all you can do and he’ll be ready to do that.”

When asked if Brito was tipping pitches, Boone said he didn’t think so but they’d look at that too.

1. Burrito Evening Toasted

The Minnesota onslaught brought an unexpected ending to the feel-good vibe before the game, on a Beautiful, warm Spring evening — with Yankee fans toasting Brito BumpDay Thursday — there was even a fan at Yankee Stadium walking around in a Burrito outfit.

Rookie Jhony Brito had been the pleasant surprise of the season so far — pitching 2 great starts; showing Moxie. Brito was the #37 Yankee prospect coming into the year, after an 11-4 2.96 season in AAA last year.

But all the feel good vibes where obliterated like a train crash in slow motion as the first inning started: single, infield single, walk, sac fly, double, double, groundout, double, homer.

Brito was gone. Minnesota 7 NY 0. Still only 2 outs in the top of the 1st inning.

And then things got surreal as Colten Brewer came in with gasoline: Homer, homer.

The three straight homers — to Michael Taylor, Edouard Julien, and Carlos Correa — had the reeling fans confused. A snippet of our timeline at the time:

Brewer allowed another homer — a 2-run job — in the 3rd to Michael Taylor — his 2nd homer of the evening, and it was 11-0 Minnesota.

2. Minnesota 11 Rizzo 2

Meanwhile Joe Ryan was setting down the Yankees with ease and in order, until Anthony Rizzo got to him with a solo homer in the bottom of the 4th.

3. Brewer Settled Down; Hamilton Brought Order

Brewer settled down to pitch through the 4th — helping eat some innings to save the Yankee bullpen. His final line: 3.1 innings, 4 runs — not so bad.

And then Ian Hamilton brought order by pitching 3 shutout innings — the 5th thru the 7th — allowing only 1 hit.

Jimmy Cordero pitched a shutout 8th.

4. Falefa Pitches the 9th

The Yanks brought Isiah Kiner-Falefa in for the 9th to provide some entertainment for the poor fans who attended the game in person, and help save the bullpen a little bit — and he pitched a shutout inning using a 65-MPH fastball and the old Eephus pitch.

5. Rizzo Again

Anthony Rizzo ended the evening on a bright note with a homer in the 9th — his second HR of the game.

Etcetera

  • Aaron Judge went 0-4 — his consecutive on-base streak ended at 45.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401471206

 

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