MIAMI – There’s a well-worn idiom about how you “never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Often attributed to Will Rogers, its place in the public consciousness was cemented by its inclusion in a 1980s shampoo commercial. Whatever its origin, the Yankees hope it isn’t true, because their newcomers surely would like a do-over.
All four players acquired ahead of Thursday’s Trade Deadline had a hand in one of the most staggering losses of the season. Jake Bird allowed a grand slam, David Bednar coughed up a lead, Camilo Doval blew a save and José Caballero committed a costly error as the Yankees were walked off by the Marlins, 13-12, on Friday evening at loanDepot park.
“I feel sad,” Caballero said through an interpreter, “because it’s definitely a game that we could have won.”
Bird, Bednar and Doval combined to allow nine runs (seven earned) and nine hits over 2 1/3 innings in a loss that carried decades-old echoes.
The Yankees hadn’t scored 12 runs or more and lost a nine-inning game since Aug. 12, 1973, vs. the Athletics. To find a game where they’d scored a dozen runs in a road loss, you’d have to flip back to July 24, 1940, against the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman’s Park.
This team, of course, isn’t concerned with history lessons. Its focus is on the present, and vibes were high early Friday as this group assembled for the stretch drive. Manager Aaron Boone called a brief meeting after batting practice to announce: “This is us now.”
The acquisitions of Bird (Rockies), Bednar (Pirates) and Doval (Giants) on Thursday were intended to reinforce a beleaguered bullpen, while Caballero (Rays) adds flexibility and speed to the bench. An early lead seemed like an ample runway to ease in.
Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run homer and Cody Bellinger drove in two runs with a single as the Yanks built a 6-0 lead in the fifth inning, which is when the unraveling began.
Carlos Rodón’s command vanished as Miami chipped away for four runs, chasing the left-hander after 4 2/3 innings and 107 pitches (61 strikes). Rodón called the early exit “pretty unacceptable,” especially given the sizable cushion.
Boone intended to stay away from Tim Hill, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, citing heavy workloads. When Trent Grisham clanged a three-run homer off the right-field foul pole in the seventh, the Yankees looked to be back in control – but the Marlins mounted a furious and improbable comeback.
“It’s not how you draw it up,” Boone said. “Those guys are really good at what they do. It’s not the first time they’ve had a rough one. I fully expect them to bounce back.”
Bird surrendered two hits and one walk before Kyle Stowers launched a grand slam over the left-field wall, just over the glove of a leaping Jasson Domínguez.
“Just not executing the pitches to my ability,” Bird said. “I need to be better there. I will be better.”
Bird yielded to Bednar; the hurlers had commuted to Miami together just hours earlier, sitting two rows apart on a commercial flight from Denver International Airport.
Bednar couldn’t slam the door, either. Javier Sanoja tied the game with a homer on Bednar’s third pitch, and after two more hits, Agustín Ramírez’s sharp single put Miami on top.
“It was definitely not an ideal start, by any means,” Bednar said.
The deficit didn’t last long. Anthony Volpe says he’s feeling more like himself at the plate lately, crediting a “simple and aggressive” approach. He answered in the eighth with his 17th homer of the season, a blast to left field off Lake Bachar that he admired with the slowest trot of his career, repeatedly dropping his palms toward the dugout as if to say: “Calm down.”
“We fought,” Volpe said. “Overall, I’m proud of the fight everyone showed.”
Though Volpe’s game-tying solo shot felt like a statement swing, it wasn’t to be. Ryan McMahon delivered a go-ahead hit, but Doval blew the save. A one-out single and a walk preceded Xavier Edwards’ clean single to right field, which Caballero whiffed on, allowing the tying run to score.
“I took my eyes away from the ball for a split second,” Caballero said.
On a night built around tape-measure drives, the final pitch saw Ramírez softly tap a Doval sinker in front of the plate, just far enough to allow the winning run to race across.
“Unfortunately, you can execute and things just don’t work out,” Doval said.
