The Yankees' Weak Hitting Is Getting Ridiculous

In 2023, when the Yankees score at least 3 runs, they are 40-11. When they don't, they're 1-24. That's not a typographical error: One and twenty-four when they score 2 runs or fewer.

Guess how many runs they scored last night. This is getting ridiculous.

The Yankees were so weak last night. (How weak were they?) They were so weak, they only scored 2 runs, and neither of them scored as a result of a hit. Anthony Rizzo began the bottom of the 2nd inning by getting hit with a pitch. DJ LeMahieu doubled, but Rizzo couldn't score. Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounded out, which couldn't score Rizzo. Then Billy McKinney grounded out, and that got Rizzo home.

The Yankees just didn't hit. Twice, they hit singles that were erased in double plays. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th, IKF led off with a single, and was followed by a single by McKinney, which got IKF to 3rd. Kyle Higashioka flew to center, a sacrifice fly that got IKF home. But that was it.

Clarke Schmidt's pitching was not the problem. He went 5 1/3rd innings, allowing 1 run, which was unearned, on 6 hits and a walk. Jimmy Cordero finished the 6th, and Wandy Peralta pitched the 7th, in each case without allowing a run. Clay Holmes allowed a run in the 8th, Tommy Kahnle did not in the 9th.

Rizzo singled with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th, but they couldn't get him home. That meant extra innings, and the stupid ghost runner rule. Adolis Garcia led off with a home run off Michael King. And a 2-run deficit was just too much for these Yankees to overcome in the bottom of the 10th. IKF lined out to center. Aaron Boone sent Josh Donaldson up to pinch-hit for McKinney, which was a stupid thing to do. Donaldson struck out. And Higashioka popped to short.

Rangers 4, Yankees 2. WP: Joe Barlow (1-0). SV: Will Smith (no, not that one -- and not the other ballplayer with that name, either; 14). LP: King (1-4).

The series continues this afternoon. Luis Severino starts against Jon Gray. Given how Severino has come back from injuries, I don't know how many runs are going to be enough, but it will definitely be more than 2.