Sonny Doesn't Share In Winning

Here is how I sum up the Yankees' Friday night game against the Toronto Blue Jays: They used 4 pitchers, and the best of them on the night was Chasen Shreve.

It's not that they didn't hit. Tyler Austin hit a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning, his 3rd dinger of the young season. Giancarlo Stanton showed he's ready and willing -- "able" remains to be seen -- to break out of his rotten start by hitting a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning, his 4th tater. And Miguel Andujar hit a solo shot in the 4th, his 2nd blast. Ronald Torreyes had 3 hits; Austin and Aaron Hicks, 2 each.

Given that kind of attack, the Yankees should have won. All they needed was good pitching. But they didn't get it. Handed a 2-0 lead after 2 innings, Sonny Gray fell apart, allowing 2 runs in the 3rd, and 3 runs in the 4th, and was pulled. This Sonny did not "share" in winning.

Domingo German was no better, allowing runs in the 5th, and he turned out to be the losing pitcher (0-1). Adam Warren also allowed a run.

This made a winning pitcher out of Marco Estrada (2-1), who pitched little better than Gray, 5 runs in 5 innings. But, on the night, "little better" was good enough. The Jays' bullpen sent out 4 relievers who allowed just 4 baserunners over the last 4 innings, culminating in Roberto Osuna's 6th save. Final score: Blue Jays 8, Yankees 5.

Now, what I am about to say is not a mark against Gray's character. And he wasn't bad at all after we got him last season. But, this season, he has not gotten the job done. And, given that Justin Verlander was available, it makes Brian Cashman look like an idiot. It was like trading for The Bay City Rollers when The Eagles were available.

The series continues this afternoon. Jordan Montgomery starts against Marcus Stroman.