The New York Yankees lost the final game of a 3-game set in Philadelphia on Wednesday, June 27th. The Yankees lost to the Phillies, 3-0.
The Yankees won each of the first two games rather handily, but the team was clearly not trying to win Wednesday’s game.
Luis Cessa started for the Yankees in an effort to give the rest of the team’s starters an extra day of rest. Cessa also intended to set CC Sabathia up to face the Boston Red Sox in the opening game of the series on Friday night.
Cessa has no business starting a game for the 2018 Yankees. It was made very clear that the Yankees did not care about winning Wednesday’s game when the lineup cards came out.
#Yankees lineup at #Phillies: Gardner lf Stanton rf Hicks cf Gregorius ss Torres 2b Andujar 3b Walker 1b Higashioka c Cessa p
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) June 27, 2018
All things considered, Cessa wasn’t the worst starter. If Aaron Boone or Brian Cashman had created a competitive lineup for Wednesday’s game, then Cessa’s numbers would absolutely have given them a chance to win.
Luis Cessa went 3.0 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, and struck out 2.
He struck out Aaron Altherr and Scott Kingery in the first inning with bases loaded. He did not fare as well in the second inning, however, as Rhys Hoskins took Cessa deep in the only scoring play of the night for either team.
#AllRhys#VoteHoskins: https://t.co/LNtBBqLAax pic.twitter.com/O1FcuOqXML
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 28, 2018
The three-run homer made it 3-0 Phillies, and that’s where the score stayed for the remainder of the game.
Cessa went one more inning and was aided by some great defense from his corner outfielders.
First, Brett Gardner:
WHAT. A. CATCH. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/PuXuIQqseL
— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) June 28, 2018
Then, Giancarlo Stanton:
That ain't no ordinary DH out there, that's Gold Glove finalist @giancarlo818. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/tyncg7EHun
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 28, 2018
Boone got three innings out of Cessa, and then he turned to the bullpen.
First, Giovanny Gallegos was out of the ‘pen for the Yanks. He did very well, tossing 3.0 shutout innings on just 2 hits while notching 6 strikeouts.
Boone let a couple of real major league pitchers, Jonathan Holder and Domingo German, air it out for an inning apiece. They each struck out one. With the extra rest, this performance counted as Domingo German’s throw day. It was nice to see him have a good outing, even for just an inning, to get over his stinker in Tampa.
The offense never really threatened. They combined for 4 hits, two of which were from Aaron Hicks. Didi Gregorius and Miguel Andujar each singled, too, while Gardner and Kyle Higashioka each tallied a walk. Not fun.
Featured Image via Flickr/Keith Allison