by The Yankees had a chance to finish off a sweep in Philadelphia.
Instead, they got knocked around 11-4 and spent most of Sunday night trying to dig out of a hole Will Warren created before the game was even halfway over.
Philadelphia scored in each of the first three innings, jumped ahead 6-0 and never allowed the Yankees to make this feel like a real baseball game.
Yes, the Yankees still won the series.
But when you have a team on a four-game losing streak and a chance to sweep them in their own building, this is not how you finish the job.
Will Warren Put the Yankees in an Immediate Hole
Warren simply did not have it.
Trea Turner opened the bottom of the first with a triple and scored on a Kyle Schwarber sacrifice fly. Bryson Stott made it 2-0 with a solo home run in the second.
Then the game broke open in the third.
After Warren walked Schwarber, Bryce Harper doubled and Brandon Marsh was intentionally walked to load the bases. Alec Bohm battled through a nine-pitch at-bat before drilling a three-run double to center.
Stott followed with an RBI single, giving Philadelphia a 6-0 lead.
Warren’s night ended after three innings. He allowed six runs on six hits and two walks, throwing only 39 of his 68 pitches for strikes.
His ERA climbed to 4.41.
You can survive a bad start once in a while. What you cannot do is give a lineup like Philadelphia six runs before your offense has even settled into the game.
The Yankees Wasted an Early Opportunity
The Yankees had a chance to get back into it during the fourth inning.
Amed Rosario reached on an error, Anthony Volpe doubled and Max Schuemann walked to load the bases.
Trent Grisham struck out, and José Caballero grounded out to end the inning.
Zero runs.
That was the opportunity.
The Phillies had already opened the door, and the Yankees walked right past it.
New York finally scored three times in the fifth, helped by a throwing error from Cristopher Sánchez. Jasson Domínguez brought home Ben Rice with a groundout, and Volpe followed with an RBI double.
Suddenly, it was 6-3.
For a few minutes, there was at least a reason to keep watching.
Ryan Yarbrough Gave It All Back
Whatever momentum the Yankees created disappeared in the bottom of the sixth.
Ryan Yarbrough entered and allowed five runs on five hits in the inning.
A Volpe throwing error helped start the trouble. Turner and Schwarber followed with singles, Bohm was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Stott delivered the final blow with a three-run double.
Just like that, 6-3 became 11-3.
Stott finished 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and five RBI. Bohm drove in four more.
Two Philadelphia hitters combined for nine RBI.
That tells you almost everything you need to know about how this game went.
Ben Rice Was the Only Real Bright Spot
Ben Rice continued putting together a monster season.
Rice went 2-for-5 with a double and his 31st home run. His seventh-inning shot gave him 72 RBI and raised his OPS to .945.
He was responsible for two of the Yankees’ eight hits and scored twice.
Volpe also had two doubles, a walk and an RBI, but the rest of the lineup did very little.
The Yankees struck out 13 times. Domínguez went 0-for-5. Grisham went 0-for-4. Caballero went 0-for-4 and left five runners on base.
The lineup was already missing Aaron Judge, and Cody Bellinger was placed on the injured list before the game with a left hamstring strain.
That does not excuse the performance, but it shows how quickly this lineup has become dependent on Rice carrying the offense.
Spencer Jones Gets His Opportunity
Spencer Jones was called up from Triple-A to replace Bellinger on the roster.
Jones pinch hit for Schuemann in the eighth inning and worked a walk before remaining in the game in left field.
It was only one plate appearance, but with Judge and Bellinger unavailable, the Yankees may need more than a quick look at Jones.
They need somebody to bring energy, power and some life into a lineup that looked extremely thin Sunday night.
The Yankees Won the Series, But Missed the Sweep
Taking two out of three in Philadelphia is not a bad result.
Still, the Yankees had an opportunity to sweep a struggling team and head into Chicago with momentum.
Instead, they allowed 11 runs, struck out 13 times and turned the final game of the series into a blowout.
The Yankees now open a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox, with Max Fried scheduled to face left-hander Noah Schultz.
They won the series in Philadelphia.
They also left the city with another reminder that when the starting pitching collapses and Rice does not carry the entire offense, this team can get ugly very quickly.
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