The New York Yankees faced a tough challenge on Friday night, losing to the San Francisco Giants in a game that ended 9-1 after just six innings due to rain. This defeat marked their fourth loss in five games, raising concerns about their recent performance.
The Yankees started the season strong, scoring 72 runs in their first eight games. However, their offense has struggled significantly since then. After a promising opening series in Pittsburgh where they scored 19 runs, the team managed only 10 runs in the following four games.
Returning to Yankee Stadium didn’t provide the boost they needed. The cold and wet weather likely played a role in their lack of offensive power, as even Austin Wells’ hit in the second inning barely stayed in the park. The Yankees failed to capitalize on their opportunities against Giants pitcher Robbie Ray, who effectively shut them down.
Several key players continued to struggle at the plate. Jazz Chisholm Jr. entered the game with a 0-for-16 slump and looked uncomfortable throughout the night. Cody Bellinger, who had been in a rough stretch, went hitless again, extending his streak to 3-for-18. Paul Goldschmidt also struggled, adding to the team’s woes.
Despite the disappointing results, there were some bright spots. Anthony Volpe reached base twice, and Wells had a solid hit. However, the Yankees’ power seemed to vanish, with only one home run in their last five games compared to 24 in the first eight. Their team OPS plummeted from 1.011 to just .541 over the previous four games.
The Yankees’ recent struggles were somewhat overshadowed by a disastrous outing from pitcher Marcus Stroman, who failed to get out of the first inning. His poor performance left the team in a deep hole early on, which they couldn’t recover from.
As the season progresses, the Yankees will need to address their offensive issues quickly. The excitement surrounding their early-season success has faded, and fans are left wondering what happened to the powerful lineup that started the year with such promise.