CLEVELAND — The last time the Yankees were here before Monday, they were clinching the American League pennant on the back of an epic home run from Juan Soto.
Of course, Soto was nowhere to be found in the rematch Monday, nor were the high stakes of the ALCS.
The Yankees did try to add some late drama to this one, nearly coming all the way back from a six-run deficit before falling to the Guardians 6-4 at Progressive Field.
Coming off a win filled with drama and a dash of controversy on Sunday against the Rays, the Yankees (14-9) kept things fairly simple on Monday by getting beat straight up.
Clarke Schmidt reacts during the Yankees’ loss to the Guardians on April 21.IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Jose Ramirez (r.) reacts after hitting a home run during the Guardians’ win against the Yankees on April 21.IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Clarke Schmidt got knocked around in his second start of the season, giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks across four innings while striking out seven.
The right-hander, who was solid in his debut last week after a delayed start to the season because of a shoulder issue in camp, was not as sharp on Monday.
“Obviously it’s game situations and we’re out there trying to win ballgames, but I’m also trying to refine myself and sharpen up and just get better each time I go out there,” said Schmidt, who built up to 80 pitches. “I felt healthy. Thought the stuff was really good, velocity was good. Got a lot of swing and miss, a lot of strikeouts. That’s obviously a positive, but the walks are frustrating.”
Most of the damage came on back-to-back pitches in the third inning, when he gave up a three-run homer to José Ramírez and a solo shot to Kyle Manzardo, putting the Yankees in a 4-0 hole.
Schmidt said the down-and-in sweeper to Ramírez was about where he wanted it, but tipped his cap to the Guardians star for punishing it.
“Just struggled a little bit with having that next level of command where he’s putting it where he wants it,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Jasson Dominguez reacts after homering during the Yankees’
loss to the Guardians on April 21.AP
The Guardians tacked on a run in the fourth on an RBI single from Brayan Rocchio, who hit a chopper to second base that Jazz Chisholm Jr. did not make an attempt on because he saw a shattered bat also flying in his direction.
“I want to make every play out there for my guy, but at the same time, you don’t want to die,” said Chisholm, who got hit in the calf with a broken bat when he was playing shortstop in High-A. “You got a sharp object coming your way. I’ve seen guys get stabbed with broken bats in person, so I know how bad the injury can be.”
Schmidt went on to load the bases before retiring Ramírez and Manzardo to finish his outing on a high note and keep the game from blowing open.
It was 6-0 in the seventh inning when Jasson Domínguez clobbered a 445-foot, two-run blast off Gavin Williams, who had otherwise been dominant with his big fastball that averaged 97 mph.
Chisholm then crushed a two-run shot of his own in the eighth inning off former Mets reliever Paul Sewald to make it 6-4.
In the process, Chisholm tied Aaron Judge for the team lead with seven home runs.
Austin Wells and Judge then came to the plate as the potential tying run in the ninth inning, but Cade Smith — filling in for Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who had pitched on three straight days — struck out both of them to nail down the save.
“[Domínguez’s home run] gave us a little bit of life and obviously Jazz hits one and we give ourselves a chance there in the end,” Boone said. “Like the way the guys hung in there and hung with it. Just couldn’t finish it off tonight.”
