Paul Goldschmidt drove in all four New York runs, but the New York Yankees could not overcome Cam Schlittler’s roughest start of the season in a 9-4 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. The defeat dropped the Yankees to 36-24, while Cleveland improved to 35-27.
With Aaron Judge unavailable due to rib and shoulder soreness, Goldschmidt carried the Yankees’ offense. The veteran went 3-for-4 with a double, a two-run homer in the third inning and a two-run single in the fourth, accounting for every run New York scored.
The Yankees briefly held leads of 2-1 and 4-3, but Cleveland answered each time. Schlittler struggled to keep the Guardians in check, allowing a career-high five runs, four earned, on five hits over 4.1 innings. After an error and a hit batter helped load the bases in the fifth, Travis Bazzana tied the game with a sacrifice fly before José RamÃrez delivered an RBI double that put Cleveland ahead for good.
While Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger combined for five hits, the rest of the Yankees lineup managed just three. New York finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight baserunners.
The bullpen did little to slow Cleveland’s momentum. Tim Hill surrendered another run in the sixth, and the Guardians broke the game open in the eighth when Bazzana lined a bases-clearing double down the right-field line against Camilo Doval. RamÃrez finished with three doubles and two RBIs as Cleveland went 7-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
The Yankees continue their three-game series against the Guardians on Wednesday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Gerrit Cole (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is expected to start for New York against Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams (8-3, 3.07 ERA).
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].