OJTB: Bronx Bummer-Orioles blank Yankees on old timers’ day

A recap of Sunday’s Yankees-Orioles rubber game is followed by notes highlighting the Old Timers’ Day festivities.

After past Yankees took the field for the team’s annual Old Timers’ Day on Sunday afternoon, the current squad laid a proverbial egg in its rubber game against the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees (39-35) lost, 8-0, for the fourth time in six home games against the Orioles (39-35) this season. Both clubs trail the slumping Toronto Blue Jays (42-35) by 1.5 games for first place in the American League East.

New York’s batters failed to score against RHP Chris Tillman despite possessing multiple solid opportunities. Tillman (6-4; 4.45 ERA) threw seven shutout innings. Tillman was aided by alert defense and instant replay in the bottom of the first inning. LF Brett Gardner lined what was initially ruled a leadoff triple, but he was deemed out upon replay as 3B Manny Machado contacted Gardner after the base runner over slid the bag.

Baltimore’s starter worked around several jams. Tillman induced a 6-4-3 double play from SS Derek Jeter with runners at first and second to escape the third inning, and he held New York scoreless in the fourth frame despite a leadoff double from CF Jacoby Ellsbury. Tillman’s afternoon concluded when he got Gardner to ground into a 4-6 force with runners at the corners to end the seventh inning.

RHP Masahiro Tanaka took the loss despite surrendering only three runs over seven innings, his 15th quality start in as many opportunities this season. The Yankees have lost only three games started by Tanaka (11-2; 2.11 ERA), but two of these setbacks have come against the Orioles.

The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a two-out homerun to left field by 2B Jonathan Schoop.

Neither team scored again until the seventh inning, when Baltimore tacked on a pair of runs for a 3-0 edge. With runners at second and third and nobody out, Schoop managed a RBI groundout, and C Caleb Joseph hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

Jonathan Schoop

Baltimore upped its lead to 7-0 amidst controversy in the eighth inning. A long delay ensued when Manager Joe Girardi argued that a throwing error committed by 3B Kelly Johnson should have been nullified as DH Steve Pearce slid out of the baseline in an attempt to break up a potential 5-5-3 double play. The call was upheld upon umpire discussion, and the Orioles promptly scored four runs against RHP Adam Warren to blow the game open. Joseph homered against LHP David Huff in the ninth inning to close scoring.

Notes:

1) The Yankees fell to 6-6 on Old Timers’ Day since 2002; the 2006 game was rained out.

2) The Yankees went 0-5 with runners in scoring position, and they’re hitless in their last 14 such at bats since the start of Saturday’s 6-1 setback.

Old Timers’ Day Notes:

1) Jesse Barfield, who was an outfielder for the Yankees from 1989-92, hit a homerun off RHP David Cone.

2) LHP David Wells tried his skills at first base and made a few nice picks.

3) In his first old-timers appearance, Johnny Damon hit a two-run double off the right field wall. Damon had previously been plunked in the back by a breaking ball from LHP Graeme Lloyd, who was a key member of New York’s bullpen from 1996-98.

Goose Gossage

4) Hall-of-Fame RHP Goose Gossage (pictured) was honored with a plaque to be placed in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park.

The Yankees will now travel north of the border for a crucial three-game set against the Blue Jays.