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Alex Rodriguez is hit by a pitch in the third inning of the Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the White Sox in Chicago on Tuesday night.
CHICAGO – Alex Rodriguez said Monday he hoped his story would have a happy ending. So far, it’s certainly had a nightmarish beginning.
A-Rod failed to spark the Yankees’ ailing offense for a second straight night, wasting another solid outing by Hiroki Kuroda in a 3-2 loss to the last-place White Sox.
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Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News
A frustrated Rodriguez pulls of his helmet.
The loss dropped the Yankees to 2-5 on the road trip, leaving them with little more than the hope that CC Sabathia can send them home with something besides an ignominious sweep in Chicago.
The Yankees actually gave Kuroda a one-run lead in the first inning, but Chris Sale shut them down over the next six-plus innings before the bullpen closed it out.
Kuroda gave up a run in the fourth on Conor Gillaspie’s game-tying single, then Paul Konerko’s RBI fielder’s choice put Chicago in the lead in the sixth. Kuroda, who had given up two runs during his past five starts combined, allowed a third run in the seventh.
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Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News
White Sox fans at U.S. Cellular Field let Alex Rodriguez know how they feel.
A-Rod went 1-for-2, reaching base three times in four trips to the plate. He drew a walk in the first, getting hit by a pitch in the third and singled in the eighth. But the Yankees managed only a pair of runs, extending their streak to seven consecutive games in which they have scored three runs or fewer.
This season has been filled with bad losses, though Tuesday’s defeat comes on the heels of concerning words from both the team’s general manager and manager.
“We’re digging ourselves a hole, no doubt about it,” Brian Cashman said before the game. “It’s not something that we want, and hopefully tonight we can start climbing right back out of that hole. It’s a pretty obvious circumstance right now. We have to win games, simple as that. We have to play better baseball with what we have, and this has been a terrible road trip.”
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All-Star Chris Sale baffles the Bombers and plunks A-Rod.
The Yankees entered Tuesday’s game 9 ½ games behind the Red Sox in the American League East and five games behind the Rangers for the second wild card spot, though the Indians, Orioles and Royals were also ahead of them in the wild card chase.
The Yankees are 9-15 since July 7, failing to win a single series during that stretch. They’re 27-37 dating back to Memorial Day weekend, making their improbable 30-18 start feel like a distant memory.
“We have not played well maybe the last six or eight weeks,” Joe Girardi said. “It’s been kind of up and down; it’s been .500 ball, now it’s been a little bit below. We need to start wining games or we’re not going to be playing in October. There is some concern.”
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Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News
Hiroki Kuroda pitches well, but is outdueled and left with little run support.
Alfonso Soriano accounted for the Yankees’ lone run, reaching base on a fielder’s choice in the first, then stealing second and scoring on Sale’s wild pitch.
The Yankees almost made it 2-0 on a third-inning single by Robinson Cano, as Brett Gardner rounded third and headed home on the play. Left fielder Alejandro De Aza fired home and nailed Gardner, who didn’t slide and was tagged on the back of his leg by catcher Josh Phegley on a very close play at the plate.
Sale (7-11) held the Yankees to one run on five hits and four walks over 7 1/3 innings for the win. Addison Reed picked up his 27th save despite giving up a run as Soriano struck out to end the game with the tying run at first base.
The road trip began with a two-game split with the Dodgers, but the Yankees dropped two of three to the lowly Padres before losing the first two games to a White Sox team that had lost 10 straight games entering the series.
Asked if he was concerned about the state of the team, Cashman said that’s standard operating procedure for him regardless of the team’s record.
“Am I worried? My job is always to worry,” Cashman said. “Ever since I have been given this job I worry.
“It’s been one for the ages. It’s been one of the most difficult years I have been around in a long time – and I have been doing this a long time.”
