The Yankees’ five-game successful streak got here to a crashing finish Saturday — and it got here with concern about ace Max Fried.
Whereas the lineup was being utterly shut down by the Cubs’ Matthew Boyd in a 5-2 loss on the Stadium, Fried was pressured from the sport after three subpar innings with what the Yankees introduced was a blister on his left index finger.
Fried, named an All-Star however changed on the roster by teammate Carlos Rodón Friday as a consequence of what Aaron Boone known as a mess of things, gave up 4 runs — three earned — and wanted 73 pitches to get by way of three innings.
And for as ineffective as Fried was, Boyd was particularly sharp.
The Cubs lefty was dominant for eight scoreless innings in opposition to a Yankee lineup that was second within the majors, having scored 88 runs of their earlier dozen video games.
Jason Szenes / New York Put up
Boyd was changed by Brad Keller, who gave up a two-run homer to Aaron Choose with one out within the backside of the ninth so as to add some drama.
After drilling Giancarlo Stanton with a pitch, Keller was pulled for Daniel Palencia, who received the final two outs.
As for Fried, he had his worst begin since signing with the Yankees on a seven-year, $218 million deal within the offseason.
The Yankees could catch a break with the All-Star break arising, however Fried has hung out on the IL as a consequence of blisters on his pitching hand in 4 completely different seasons with Atlanta previous to this one, the newest being in 2023.
With the Yankees’ rotation already coping with the season-long losses of Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt as a consequence of Tommy John surgical procedures, in addition to Luis Gil being out because the spring with a lat pressure and Ryan Yarbrough — an harm substitute — on the IL with an indirect pressure, an prolonged absence for Fried could be notably damaging.
On Saturday, Fried struggled together with his command from the outset, strolling three batters.
This was additionally a 3rd straight begin through which Fried seemed human after getting off to an outstanding begin in The Bronx.
He’s now allowed 10 earned runs in 14 innings in these three outings and his ERA has jumped from 1.89 to 2.43 in 5 begins.
Nico Hoerner led off the sport in opposition to Fried with a booming triple to left-center that was ultimately chased down by Trent Grisham.
Kyle Tucker’s gradual curler to first knocked in Hoerner for the sport’s first run in a primary inning that took Fried 28 pitches to get by way of.
The lefty discovered himself in hassle once more within the third with a leadoff single by Tucker and a double down the left line from Seiya Suzuki. With runners on second and third, Carson Kelly reached on an infield single that was deflected by Oswald Peraza at third to attain Tucker and make it 2-0.
After a popout by Pete Crow-Armstrong, Fried received a grounder to 3rd from Dansby Swanson, however the Yankees weren’t in a position to full the double play and Suzuki scored for a 3-0 lead.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s throw to first on the play sailed over Paul Goldschmidt at first and the error allowed Swanson to get to second, which proved pricey when Ian Happ singled to middle to place the Yankees in a 4-0 gap.
Fried managed to complete the inning earlier than being changed by Ian Hamilton to begin the fourth.
Boyd, in the meantime, barely broke a sweat.
He had a 2.52 ERA heading into the sport — in addition to a 1.49 ERA in his earlier eight begins.
Boyd restricted the Yankees to 4 hits over his eight innings.
