NEW YORK — The Yankees had been stymied by Royals Cy Younger candidate Seth Lugo on Tuesday — and he is a pitcher they could have to resolve come October.
New York fell, 5-0, to Kansas Metropolis within the second sport of the matchup between American League postseason contenders at Yankee Stadium. A day after scoring 10 runs of their series-opening win, the Yankees had been held scoreless by Lugo on simply three hits over seven innings — two singles by Gleyber Torres and one by Austin Wells.
“That was in all probability pretty much as good a efficiency [as there’s been] towards us this 12 months,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “We had been silent.”
Behind Lugo, the Royals managed a feat that no crew had ever achieved towards the Yankees in New York’s franchise historical past — they shut out the Yankees, did not challenge a stroll and racked up 14 strikeouts.
And with the Orioles beating the Purple Sox, the Yankees’ lead within the American League East shrank again to a half-game with 17 video games to play within the common season. The Yankees are 83-62, the Orioles are 83-63 — and the Royals are simply behind within the AL Wild Card race at 80-66.
So Lugo is among the aces the Bronx Bombers may face within the postseason — both within the Division Collection or probably the Wild Card spherical if they cannot maintain off Baltimore and safe a bye.
“The playoffs are a distinct animal,” Torres mentioned. “If we face [Lugo] once more, we for positive should have a distinct plan.”
Torres, who continues to excel within the leadoff spot for New York, was the one Yankee to muster a lot offense towards Lugo. He flared one single to middle subject within the first inning, and one other simply over Bobby Witt Jr.’s head at shortstop within the sixth.
Because the Bronx Bombers moved Torres to the highest of the order practically a month in the past, Torres is batting .326 (30-for-92) with a .417 on-base proportion over 23 video games.
The Yankees did beat Lugo the primary time they confronted him this 12 months, scoring 4 runs on eight hits towards him in a 4-2 win in Kansas Metropolis on June 10. That offers New York some confidence that Lugo just isn’t a complete thriller.
“I do not suppose so,” Juan Soto mentioned. “I feel we had a extremely good plan once we confronted him in Kansas Metropolis. So I feel we have simply acquired to return to that sport and attempt to do the identical factor we did there.”
“I bear in mind once we confronted him in Kansas Metropolis earlier within the 12 months, we attacked him earlier,” Torres mentioned. “Tonight we tried to do the identical factor, however I feel his plan was slightly bit completely different. … He commanded very well. And we did not take the method from the start, and he acquired us.”
Torres, who completed 2-for-4, was the one Yankees starter to not strike out towards Lugo. The Royals’ right-hander struck out 10, together with Aaron Choose twice, because the Yankees’ MVP candidate noticed his season-long dwelling run drought attain 14 video games.
Lugo may be particularly robust to face as a result of he has probably the most numerous repertoires in baseball. Lugo throws 9 pitches — four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, slider, sweeper, curveball, slurve, changeup, splitter — and in the event you fall behind, you must one way or the other be prepared for all 9.
“It was simply onerous for everybody to get a bead on him,” Boone mentioned. “He isn’t making errors. It is onerous to actually search for one pitch as a result of he is throwing the kitchen sink at you, and he is altering speeds on you, and he is acquired a lead, and he is aware of the best way to assault with that. He beat us tonight.”
Soto, who confronted Lugo for years within the NL East when he was with the Nationals and Lugo was with the Mets — then briefly joined forces with him as teammates with the Padres final season — mentioned the enlargement of Lugo’s arsenal is what has allowed him to change into a Cy Younger-caliber pitcher.
“I really feel like because the first time I confronted him, he is added, like, 4 or 5 pitches,” Soto mentioned. “I feel that is what’s made him higher and higher all through the years. That is the most important distinction that I’ve seen.”
And that is what the Yankees might need to make some changes for within the postseason.
“I feel the plan is to choose no matter pitch you consider you are able to do injury on, and simply attempt to see it,” Torres mentioned. “He threw every thing effectively. I do not consider he walks many individuals, so the plan is simply assault, and attempt to see the pitch you’ll be able to hit.”
