This yr has largely been a wrestle for Austin Wells, who started to reside as much as his promise final season earlier than falling within the latter a part of the yr.
And even on an evening when the catcher had maybe his best evening of the yr, it resulted in disappointment in a 10-7 loss to Boston.
After Wells stored the Yankees within the sport with a three-run homer and an RBI double off robust left-hander Garrett Crochet earlier within the sport, the lefty-swinging Wells got here up quick with an opportunity to tie it within the backside of the eighth, when he struck out in opposition to former Yankee southpaw Justin Wilson, stranding pinch runner Anthony Volpe at second base to finish the inning.
Nonetheless, perhaps his success in opposition to Crochet will spark the lefty-swinging catcher.
“I expect so much of him offensively and think so much of him offensively,” Aaron Boone mentioned. “He’s capable of that right there against the very best left-on-left.”
Wells gave the Yankees their lone lead of the evening with a three-run blast off Crochet — who had allowed only one homer to a left-handed hitter all season previous to Saturday evening.
However Wells couldn’t coerce one other strong begin from Ryan Yarbrough, who has been a surprisingly sturdy revelation since arriving in spring coaching after opting out of his cope with the Blue Jays in March.
After Yarbrough was knocked round for 5 runs within the high of the third and two extra within the fourth, Wells tried to get the Yankees again within the sport within the backside of the fourth, this time with a booming double the opposite strategy to left-center.
It got here once more off Crochet, who had additionally given up just one double to lefties all yr.
“I received two pitches to deal with,’’ mentioned Wells, who’s hitting the ball tougher than he has beforehand in his profession, however doesn’t have lots to indicate for it.
Though he has 10 homers, his common has hovered barely above .200 for a lot of the season.
With Carlos Narváez on the town with the Purple Sox after being traded by the Yankees within the offseason and off to a begin that has put him within the dialog for the American League All-Star workforce, Wells’ shaky offensive output has been highlighted extra of late.
The Yankees are steadfast of their perception that Wells will reside as much as his potential on offense, as he has continued to impress behind the plate.
“Hopefully it’s these little issues that form of get him rolling to the place he will get sizzling,’’ Boone mentioned of Wells’ at-bats on Saturday.
