by The Yankees tried to steal this one late, but the hole was too deep.
Let’s be real. The Yankees made this one interesting in the ninth inning, but this was not one of those games where you walk away saying they deserved to steal it.
The Athletics beat the Yankees 6-4 on Saturday night at Sutter Health Park, snapping New York’s 5-game winning streak and handing the Yankees one of those annoying losses where the comeback tease almost makes it worse.
The final score says 6-4. The game felt like the Yankees were chasing the whole night — because they were.
Ryan Weathers got punched early. Shea Langeliers got the Athletics started in the first inning with a 2-run homer to center after Nick Kurtz singled, and just like that, the Yankees were down 2-0 before the offense even got settled.
And honestly, that was the theme. Oakland did damage with power. The Yankees did a lot of waiting around.
Weathers Had Strikeouts, But The Long Ball Beat Him
Weathers’ final line is a weird one. He struck out 10 hitters over 6.2 innings, which tells you the stuff was clearly there. But he also allowed 6 hits, 5 earned runs, 3 walks, and 3 home runs. That is the part you cannot ignore.
Langeliers got him in the first. Tyler Soderstrom took him deep in the sixth. Then Kurtz hit a 2-run shot in the seventh to stretch Oakland’s lead to 5-1.
That was the swing that really felt like it put the game in a bad place for the Yankees. Not impossible, but bad.
Weathers battled. He missed bats. He gave them length. But when you give up 3 homers, especially with the offense doing very little for most of the night, you put your team in a tough spot.
The Yankees Offense Waited Too Long
The Yankees had chances, but they did not cash in enough. They finished with 6 hits, left 19 runners on base as a team total in the box score, and went through too many empty innings against J.T. Ginn.
Ginn gave Oakland exactly what they needed. Six innings, 4 hits, 1 unearned run, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Nothing flashy, but effective. He kept the Yankees quiet and made them play uphill all night.
The Yankees’ only run off Ginn came in the fourth inning after Cody Bellinger walked, Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled, and an Oakland defensive mistake allowed Bellinger to score. That made it 2-1, and for a minute, it felt like the Yankees might start building something.
They didn’t.
Ben Rice struck out with traffic on. Ryan McMahon struck out twice. Anthony Volpe went 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts and left 4 men on. Aaron Judge finished 0-for-4, though he did draw a walk and picked up an RBI late.
That is not enough from the top and middle of the order.
The Ninth Inning Got Wild
Now, the ninth inning is where the Yankees made everybody wake back up.
Down 6-1, McMahon singled, J.C. Escarra walked, Volpe struck out, and Trent Grisham walked to load the bases. Then things got messy for Oakland.
Ben Rice walked to force in a run. Judge walked to force in another. Bellinger walked to force in another. All of a sudden, it was 6-4, bases still loaded, and Jazz Chisholm at the plate.
That is the moment. That is where you say, alright, go steal the game.
But Chisholm grounded out to first, and that was it. Rally over. Game over.
And listen, give the Yankees credit for not rolling over. They made Oakland sweat. Scott Barlow came in and walked 3 straight hitters before escaping. That inning was sitting right there for the Yankees to take.
But again, you cannot sleepwalk for 8 innings and expect one chaotic rally to save you every time.
Bottom Line
The Athletics earned this one with the long ball. Langeliers, Soderstrom, and Kurtz did the damage. Oakland had 8 hits, 3 homers, and enough pitching to survive that ninth-inning scare.
The Yankees fall to 35-23, and the winning streak ends at 5. Not the end of the world. But it is one of those losses where the offense waited too long, the starter gave up too much power, and the late rally became more frustrating than encouraging.
Because the chance was there.
They loaded the bases. They forced in 3 runs. They had the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run on base.
Then they left it sitting right there.
That is the part that stings.
-
Men’s Stitches Navy New York Yankees Polo
$54.99 Buy Now -
Women’s Fanatics Oatmeal New York Yankees Up For It Fleece Pullover Hoodie
$69.99 Buy Now -
Preschool Navy New York Yankees Field Ball T-Shirt & Shorts Set
$49.99 Buy Now -
Men’s Antigua Navy New York Yankees Victory Pullover Sweatshirt
$87.99 Buy Now -
MLB NEW YORK YANKEES WINGSPAN MEN’S DROP SHOULDER FLC CREWNECK (UNIVERSITY BLUE)
$110.00 Buy Now -
Infant Tiny Turnip White New York Yankees Cherries Bodysuit
$36.99 Buy Now -
Men’s ’47 Navy New York Yankees Garner Trucker Adjustable Hat
$34.99 Buy Now -
New York Yankees Synthetic Leather Embroidered Bifold Wallet
$29.99 Buy Now
