Yankees fail to go 6-0 as Diamondbacks end best start to a season since ’92
The New York Yankees have failed to extend their unbeaten five-game win streak, as the Arizona Diamondbacks have ended their best start to an MLB season since 1992, when they still finished with a losing record anyway.
After a four-game series sweep of the Houston Astros, earlies this week, and a 5-2 away win against the Diamondbacks on Monday, the Yankees are now 5-1 following Tuesday’s heavy 7-0 defeat in Arizona, although this season marked the first time in franchise history that the pinstripes won their five games of the season on the road.
What’s more is that this season is the fifth time overall in franchise history that the Yankees have started with a 5-0 record.
The last time the Yankees started a season with five consecutive wins was 32 years ago, when they started the season with a 6-0 record.
However, they would go onto fail to capitalize on their hot start in that campaign as they finished with a 76-88 record – or a 70-88 mark after their impressive first week of action.
Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes gave up three runs, eight hits and two walks over five innings
D’Backs first baseman Christian Walker runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run while up against Yankees relief pitcher Jake Cousins
Arizona – the defending NL champs – are now off to a 4-2 start after Tuesday night’s home win
In Tuesday night’s game, Christian Walker hit a three-run homer while Zac Gallen pitched six scoreless innings to help the D’Backs restrain the Yankees to just three hits all game. Defending NL champion Arizona is now off to a 4-2 start.
The D-backs took a 3-0 lead in the first after five of the first six batters reached base on Nestor Cortes. Blaze Alexander, Eugenio Suárez and Gabriel Moreno all had RBI singles.
That was plenty of support for Gallen (2-0), who gave up all three hits as well as three walks while striking out six. The right-hander finished third in the NL Cy Young Award voting last season after finishing 17-9 with a 3.47 ERA.
He’s off to another good start, giving up just one run over 11 innings.
Walker made it 6-0 in the seventh with a majestic blast off Jake Cousins, bringing home Ketel Marte and Alexander on a ball that traveled 424 feet, landing far beyond the left field wall.
The Yankees’ five-game win streak masked an uneven offense but they couldn’t hide it on Tuesday, as Aaron Judge was 0 for 3 with a walk, with his average now falling to .125.
Yankees’ star slugger Aaron Judge was 0 for 3 with a walk, with his average now falling to .125
Anthony Rizzo is hitting just .190, Giancarlo Stanton is at .150 while Alex Verdugo has a .143 average. Cortes (0-1) gave up three runs, eight hits and two walks over five innings.
For the D-backs, Walker, Alexander, Marte, Jake McCarthy and Geraldo Perdomo all had two hits.
Arizona held the Yankees scoreless for just the second time in franchise history. The other was in Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.
The Yankees traded left-hander Nick Ramirez to the Dodgers for cash. Ramirez was designated for assignment Saturday.
New York also agreed to a minor league contract with RHP Phil Bickford. The D-backs traded infielder Emmanuel Rivera to the Marlins. He was designated for assignment on opening day.
The Yankees and D-backs finish the three-game series on Wednesday. Arizona sends RHP Merrill Kelly (1-0, 1.35 ERA) to the mound while New York counters with LHP Carlos Rodon (0-0, 2.08)
