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Schmidt suffers setbacks in Yankees' defeat against Guardians, as their comeback attempt fails to materialize
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The Yankees' Return to Cleveland: A Night to Remember... Almost
CLEVELAND - The last time the Yankees set foot in Cleveland, they clinched the American League pennant on a legendary home run by Juan Soto. But on Monday, Soto was nowhere to be found, along with the high-stakes atmosphere of the ALCS.
In an almost-dramatic comeback, the Yankees nearly recovered from a six-run deficit before succumbing to the Guardians 6-4 at Progressive Field.
Following a thrilling and somewhat controversial win against the Rays, the Yankees (14-9) opted for a simpler approach against the Guardians, though simplicity didn't quite work in their favor.
Clarke Schmidt's Mixed Night
Starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt faced some turbulence in his second outing of the season, giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks over four innings, while striking out seven. Schmidt, who showed promise in his debut after a delayed start due to a shoulder issue in camp, was not at his best on Monday.
"I'm trying to refine myself, sharpen up, and get better each time I go out there," said Schmidt, who worked up to 80 pitches. "Velocity was good, but the walks are frustrating."
The Damage Done
Most of the damage came in the third inning, as Schmidt surrendered a three-run homer to José Ramírez and a solo shot to Kyle Manzardo, putting the Yankees in a 4-0 hole. Schmidt acknowledged that, although the down-and-in sweeper to Ramírez was where he wanted it, he tipped his hat to the Guardians standout for making him pay.
Additional Runs and Close Calls
The Guardians added another run in the fourth on an RBI single from Brayan Rocchio. Schmidt then loaded the bases, but managed to retire Ramírez and Manzardo to finish his outing on a positive note.
The game stayed at 6-0 until the seventh inning, when Jasson Domínguez crushed a two-run blast off Gavin Williams, bringing the Yankees within four runs. Jazz Chisholm followed suit in the eighth with a two-run homer against Paul Sewald, tying Aaron Judge for the team lead with seven home runs.
The Final Stretch
In a nail-biting moment, Austin Wells and Judge stood as the potential tying run in the ninth inning, but Cade Smith put an end to the game, striking out both opponents to claim the save.
Despite the close calls, "We couldn't quite finish it off tonight," Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged.
Exclusive Insights:
- Clarke Schmidt has shown an impressive ability to strike out opposing batters, with a strikeout total of 7 in the game.
- Schmidt allowed a pair of critical back-to-back home runs in the third inning, which proved pivotal in the game's outcome.
- Jasson Domínguez and Jazz Chisholm demonstrated impressive power with their home runs in the seventh and eighth innings, giving the Yankees a fighting chance.
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- On Monday, while the Yankees nearly recovered from a six-run deficit against the Guardians, they ultimately lost 6-4, with starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt showing some turbulence in his second outing of the season.
- In an exclusive premium experience, subscribers to Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce can engage in real-time chats about the Yankees' latest games, such as Clarke Schmidt's performance against the Guardians.
- Fans who missed the high-stakes atmosphere of the ALCS last time the Yankees were in Cleveland will have to wait, as on Monday, the Yankees returned to Cleveland but found a different, simpler tone in their game against the Guardians.
- In his second outing of the season, Clarke Schmidt tipped his hat to the Guardians' José Ramírez for making him pay after Ramírez hit a three-run homer on a down-and-in sweeper that Schmidt intended to be in a desirable location.
