Left-hander J.A. Happ simply couldn’t throw strikes on Wednesday afternoon and it proved costly as the Yankees were pounded by the Phillies, 11-7, in the first game of a seven-inning doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park. The loss broke the Yankees’ seven-game win streak.
It was a game that saw the Yankees serve as the “home” team, as it was a makeup game from Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. The game was postponed due to the forecast of severe inclement weather from Tropical Storm Isaias. (According to the rulebook, if a game is played at one team’s home grounds, then that team is in fact the home team whether it bats first or second.) The Phillies will be the home team for the second game.
In the first game, Happ was given a 3-0 lead, thanks to a two-run homer by Brett Gardner in the second inning off Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler. But then, in the top of the third inning, the Phillies scored four runs led by a two-run homer from Bryce Harper to start the rally.
Gardner jack!!@Yankees rolling to a 3-0 lead in Game 1 of today's double header. pic.twitter.com/u4ptWts37n
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 5, 2020
Suddenly, Happ kept missing the plate. Three of the next four hitters he faced drew walks, forcing in a run. Jean Segura then scored the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice by Roman Quinn.
Things would get worse for the Yankees in the sixth inning. The Phillies batted around and scored six runs off right-hander Nick Nelson. It took Luis Cessa to stop the bleeding when he got Jay Bruce to ground out to end the inning.
The Yankees staged a comeback in the 7th, with Aaron Judge clearing the bases on a three-run home run to narrow the gap to a four-run deficit.
10 games, 7 home runs in 2020 for Aaron Judge.
This guy is on absolute FIRE. pic.twitter.com/oN7zuvEiSa
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 5, 2020
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].