The Yankees got walked off 5-3 by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night, a loss that had to sting like crazy for anyone rooting for New York. After four innings of absolutely nothing happening on either side, this one exploded, then just as quickly faded for the Yanks. What a rollercoaster, only to end in heartbreak.
Yankees Grab the Lead, Then Give it Right Back
Things finally got going in the fifth inning. Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe kicked it off with back-to-back singles, then Jose Caballero loaded the bases with another hit. Ben Rice came through with a sacrifice fly, bringing home the game’s first run and putting New York up 1-0. You’d think that would settle things, right?
Nope. The lead lasted about five minutes. The Diamondbacks answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth when Jordan Lawler ripped a two-run triple. Those runs were unearned against Cam Schlittler, who messed up big time with a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt earlier in the inning. Just like that, D-backs took the lead 2-1. Schlittler didn’t do himself any favors there.
Bombs Away, Then Another Tie
New York wasn’t ready to quit, though. In the sixth, Heliot Ramos launched a solo home run, tying the game up, and then Wells absolutely CRUSHED his 13th dinger of the season to grab the lead back for the Yankees! Both those long balls came off reliever Kevin Ginkel, after starter Brandon Pfaadt was done after 4.1 innings. You had to be feeling good at that point, 3-2 Yanks!
But Schlittler just couldn’t hold it down. He immediately loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning with two walks and a single, all with no outs. Corbin Carroll hit a sacrifice fly, tying the game again at 3-3. Schlittler did manage to strike out the next two batters to end his night, finishing with 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, but only 1 ER, with 3 BB and 6 K on 98 pitches. He even lowered his season ERA to a solid 1.94, but man, those walks in the sixth were killers.
The Final Punch: Pavin Smith Walks It Off
It stayed knotted at 3 apiece until the bottom of the ninth. And then, boom! Pavin Smith stepped up and absolutely clobbered a two-run homer off reliever Michael Fulmer, walking it off for the D-backs! Game over, 5-3. Smith was rightfully named MVP for that clutch shot. Talk about a tough way to lose, huh?
The Yankees gotta shake this one off fast. They close out their series with the Diamondbacks on Sunday with a 4:10 p.m. first pitch. Will Warren (10-6, 3.89 ERA) is set to go for New York against Corbin Burnes (0-0, 5.87 ERA) for Arizona. You know the Yankees are gonna want to get some revenge after that one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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