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New York Yankees: Diamondbacks Spoil Rookie’s Debut

By Michael Papandrea

May 16, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi (28) pulls New York Yankees starting pitcher Chad Green (38) out of the game during the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi (28) pulls New York Yankees starting pitcher Chad Green (38) out of the game during the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Yankees were heading into the desert on a hot streak having won their two previous games and seven of their last ten. However, they would receive a lopsided loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks to begin their trip out on the West Coast.

The New York Yankees first visit back to Chase Field since 2010 was not a welcoming one as the Diamondbacks pummeled them en route to a 12-2 victory. The loss puts them back to five games under .500 and puts a stop to their mini two game win streak. The main story heading into the evening was starting pitcher Chad Green making his Major League debut.

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With C.C. Sabathia and Luis Severino both on the disabled list, Green would be called upon by manager Joe Girardi to start the first of a seven game road trip. The 24-year-old would not get to take in the moment for too long as he lasted just four innings while giving up four earned runs on eight hits, five strikeouts, and one walk.

Green would start his Major League career on a high note, striking out the leadoff batter Jean Segura. Michael Bourn would then fly out and quickly two men were retired on six pitches with Paul Goldschmidt coming to the plate. Despite his recent struggles, Goldschmidt was able to uppercut the first pitch fastball into the seats out in left. A couple more Diamondbacks would reach base before Green would collect the third out on his 23rd pitch of the inning.

After falling behind 2-0, Green’s teammates would help out by lending some run support in the fourth and fifth innings. A trio of switch hitters in the heart of the order, Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, and Chase Headley, would each collect hits to bring the first Yankee run across. In the fifth, Jacoby Ellsbury would hit a triple to the wall out in center and score on the play after the throw to third deflected off his helmet and into the stands. The game was tied up at two, but it would last long.

In the bottom half of the inning, after Bourn reached base on an error and Goldschmidt walked on four straight balls, left-hander Jake Lamb would come to the plate. Green, who boasts a 1.22 Triple-A ERA this season, has struggled a bit against lefties. They were batting .319 on him in the minors and they aren’t doing too bad so far in the majors as Lamb was able clear the bases with a three-run home run to open up the game at 5-2.

In an attempt the preserve some of the bullpen, Girardi left Green out there to see if he could manage to get through the inning. Yasmany Thomas was up next and would force Girardi to make the call to the pen with a double.

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“It was an awesome experience,” Green would later tell reporters after the game. “But I got some balls up in the zone and they did some damage with it.”

Right-hander Nick Goody was called upon to relieve Green, but two more runs would come across in the inning, including a two-out RBI single by Robbie Ray, the opposing pitcher. Closing out innings has been a problem for the Yankees this season. The team has given up 59 earned runs with two outs and runners in scoring position, good enough for second most, courtesy of ESPN. They would give up seven two-out RBI in this one alone.

Ray didn’t just come through at the plate but on the mound as well. The left-hander pitched seven innings of two run ball to help the team snap their five game skid.

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The lone bright spot for the Yankees was Mark Teixeira, who came up with three hits in the contest. Tex has been struggling early on in the season with a batting average around the Mendoza Line. All three hits came from the right side of the plate, where he has faired better over the course of his 13 year career.

The Yankees will send Michael Pineda to the mound to face Zack Greinke. Both pitchers have an ERA north of 5.00 on the season for their respective clubs. Pineda will look to bounce back from his last start where he gave up six earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched.

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