After firing six shutout innings yesterday, Andy Pettitte surrendered back-to-back singles to start the seventh. He held a three-run lead, with Matt Wieters coming to the plate.
Pettitte had already struck out the Orioles catcher both times he faced him, and Pettitte's lifetime record against Wieters was dominant. Wieters was just 2-for-12 versus Pettitte, with a eight strikeouts.
But there was no 13th at-bat for Wieters against Pettitte, nor a ninth strikeout. Yankees manager Joe Girardi pulled his pitcher, a decision that — thanks to deplorable work by his previously stellar bullpen — backfired spectacularly.
Paul J. Bereswill
SHAWN OF THE DEAD: Shawn Kelley can only watch as J.J. Hardy rounds the bases after smacking a go-ahead three-run home run that just cleared Curtis Granderson's glove, and wasted another strong start from Andy Pettitte.
Paul J. Bereswill
Curtis Granderson can't make a play on J.J. Hardy's go-ahead home run yesterday in The Bronx.
Relievers Shawn Kelley, Boone Logan and Joba Chamberlain allowed seven runs in the inning, including a pair of three-run homers, as the Yankees flushed their lead and lost 7-3. It ranks as one of the season's worst and perhaps costliest losses. The Yankees went from sweeping the Orioles and potentially moving to within
2 1/2 games of the second wild-card spot to instead remaining 3 1/2 games back of the Rays.
The Yankees also again trail the Orioles in the wild-card race by a half-game and are tied with the Indians. And the Royals are only two games behind them.
"It's tough when you're up 3-0 in the [seventh]," Girardi said.
Girardi's regrettable decision and the bullpen's reprehensible performance were the primary reasons for the crushing defeat, although both the manager and the pen are largely responsible for the Yankees remaining in contention this season. This was the first home loss for the Yankees this season when they had at least a two-run lead, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. They had been 32-0.
"They've been so good for us all year long," Girardi said of his relievers. "Today they just didn't come through."
Girardi's quick hook of Pettitte was questionable. The left-hander had been in command all afternoon — no extra-base hits, no walks — and even after the two hard-hit singles to start the seventh, Pettitte had thrown just 93 pitches.
Girardi, though, explained Pettitte's pitch count was climbing, pointed out the two hard-hit singles and said he believed it was time for the pen.
"Andy's not a guy we really let go over 100 pitches," Girardi said.
Pettitte has hit the 100-pitch mark nine times this season, but has only exceeded 102 pitches twice (his high is 107). Pettitte, though, could have at least faced Wieters and probably not even reached 100 pitches. Girardi said he was aware of the Wieters versus Pettitte match-up, but also noted the switch-hitting Wieters entered the day with an OPS almost 200 points higher as a right-handed hitter.
Girardi also had a rested bullpen, which entered with a 1.05 ERA since Aug. 16.
"Anytime you turn it over to our bullpen, you feel good about it," Pettitte said. "You can't fault him for that. It just didn't work out today."
Pettitte also said it was a hot afternoon (a steamy 82 degrees at first pitch), and catcher Chris Stewart said he thought Pettitte "got a little tired" in the seventh.
Either way, Kelley surrendered Wieters' RBI single and J.J. Hardy's three-run homer to right, the shot just clearing Curtis Granderson's glove at the wall. Baltimore led 4-3, and plenty more was coming.
Logan entered, allowed a bunt single and a walk and was replaced by Chamberlain, who blew up the game further. He served up Adam Jones' three-run homer to dead center, making it 7-3.
"[The loss is] completely on me for [my] pitches right there," Kelley said.
It's on others besides Kelley, too. Girardi, Logan and Chamberlain can share the blame. This was a brutal loss, one that could have season-changing ramifications.
mark.hale@nypost.com
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