It’s awfully difficult to win when your ace is knocked out of the ballgame in the second with the early lead on the line already.
It’s awfully difficult to win when your struggling offense is gifted said lead thanks to terrible opposing defense and fails to build on it despite numerous opportunities.
However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone can thank his lucky stars that the vast majority of his pitching staff continues to carry this ballclub. Clarke Schmidt threw 3.1 brilliant innings of long relief after Gerrit Cole exited early, the four-reliever parade that followed him limited the Tigers to just a single hit and no runs in the final four frames.