The New York Yankees missed an opportunity to complete a three-game sweep, as a late bullpen collapse turned a tight game into a 5-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium. New York fell to 45-28 despite another strong outing from Ryan Weathers, while Chicago improved to 39-34 after breaking a seventh-inning tie with four runs in the eighth.
Weathers delivered his best start in nearly a month, allowing just one run over 6.1 innings while striking out six. The left-hander retired 14 of 16 batters after surrendering a solo home run to Colson Montgomery in the second inning, but once again received little offensive support after the Yankees scored 22 runs during the first two games of the series.
The Yankees answered in the third when Ryan McMahon launched a game-tying solo homer to left-center field. It was New York’s only run of the night as White Sox starter Sean Burke and Chicago’s bullpen kept the Yankees’ lineup quiet the rest of the way.
The game unraveled in the eighth. Fernando Cruz allowed a pinch-hit double before Tim Hill hit two batters to load the bases. Camilo Doval entered looking to escape the jam, but Andrew Benintendi crushed the first pitch he saw for a grand slam into the right-field seats, turning a 1-1 game into a 5-1 White Sox lead.
The Yankees also lost Jazz Chisholm Jr. during the game after he exited following a foul ball off his lower body in the fourth inning.
The Yankees open a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday at Yankee Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.