El Flunko In Florida

Last night, the Yankees began their 1st major test of the season. Result: El Flunko.

The Yankees went into the 1st game of a 3-game weekend series, away to the Tampa Bay Rays, at 17-15, 9 games behind the Rays. The Rays had won their 1st 13 games of the regular season. From then until last night, they'd gone 13-6, which is still exceptional.

Jhony Brito started the game, and so much of the promise he showed early on has faded. He only went 4 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and a walk.

DJ LeMahieu drew a walk in the 2nd inning. He singled in the 4th. Both times, he got to 2nd base. Both times, he was stranded. Jose Trevino drew a walk in the 5th inning, but was erased on a double play. And those were the only baserunners the Yankees had over the 1st 5 innings.

Then came the top of the 6th. With 1 out, Anthony Rizzo singled. Gleyber Torres doubled him home. LeMahieu drew another walk. Willie Calhoun struck out. But Harrison Bader, seemingly injured in the Cleveland series, was ready to play last night, and crushed a 436-foot home run to left-center, tying the game at 4-4.

Albert Abreu pitched a scoreless 5th and a perfect 6th. But Aaron Boone brought Jimmy Cordero in to pitch the bottom of the 7th. Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you, especially the leadoff variety. Cordero allowed walk, fielder's choice, RBI double.

The Yankees got men on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out in the 8th, and a man on 1st with 2 out in the 9th, to no avail. Rays 5, Yankees 4. WP: Kevin Kelly (3-0). SV: Jason Adam (3). LP: Cordero (1-1).

A dreadful loss, all on Brian Cashman. He tells Boone what players to use. And it was Cashman who caused the holes in the rotation that neither Brito nor Clarke Schmidt has been able to fill.

The series continues this afternoon. Domingo Germán starts against Drew Rasmussen.