UPDATE: In a shocking turn of events, the New York Yankees experienced a dramatic collapse on September 12, 2023, losing to the Detroit Tigers with a staggering score of 12-2. The Yankees’ relief pitching imploded during a devastating nine-run seventh inning that has left fans and analysts reeling.
For six innings, the game was tightly contested, hinting at a potential postseason showdown. However, the Yankees’ bullpen, particularly right-handers Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr., faltered spectacularly. Together, they allowed nine earned runs without recording a single out, marking the first time since 2003 that two major league teammates faced at least four batters without securing an out, according to ESPN Research.
Cruz expressed disappointment, stating, “Sometimes it doesn’t go your way… It’s just one of those nights that we just need to forget.”
This catastrophic inning has severe implications for the Yankees. With the loss and the Toronto Blue Jays‘ comeback win against the Houston Astros, the Yankees now find themselves three games behind Toronto in the American League East. Given that the Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker, the Yankees are effectively four games back with just 18 games remaining in the season.
The Tigers, on the other hand, improved to 83-62, remaining a half-game behind the Blue Jays for the top seed in the American League. They capitalized on the Yankees’ missteps, scoring their nine runs on five hits, five walks (including one intentional), and a hit by pitch. Cruz’s outing was particularly troubling, as he threw 13 of his 20 pitches for balls, while Leiter struggled with nine of his 16 pitches missing the strike zone.
The severity of this inning is underscored by the fact it marks the first time the Yankees have allowed at least six combined walks and hit batsmen in a single inning since September 2015. Starting pitcher Will Warren had previously held the Tigers to just two runs over six innings before the bullpen collapse, but his ERA rose from 2.66 to 3.76 due to the disastrous seventh.
Warren reflected on the chaos, saying, “It’s tough… I haven’t seen anything like that before.”
Despite the grim situation, Yankees manager Aaron Boone remains optimistic, asserting, “We have the guys down there to get it done. Tonight’s a tough night, but it doesn’t change a lot of the good things that have happened in some of these games we’ve been able to close out.”
As the Yankees prepare to face the Tigers again tomorrow, all eyes will be on their bullpen to see if they can bounce back from this unprecedented setback. Fans are left to wonder: can the Yankees recover in time to salvage their postseason hopes?
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
