Yankees fall to Diamondbacks in walk-off loss as AL East hopes shrink
· New York PostPHOENIX — On a night that began with the Diamondbacks honoring the 25th anniversary of their 2001 team that won the World Series against the Yankees, they paid tribute again a few hours later to deliver some more nightmares back in New York.
It was by no means Luis Gonzalez versus Mariano Rivera, nor a bloop over a drawn-in infield.
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But it was a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth, with Pavin Smith belting a two-run shot off Michael Fulmer to sink the Yankees in a 5-3 loss to the Diamondbacks on Saturday night in front of 47,918 nostalgic fans at Chase Field.
This one did not end the Yankees’ season, but it did put another dent in their chances of winning the American League East, which are shrinking by the day — now trailing the Rays by five games with eight games to play.
“It’s going to be tough,” said Cam Schlittler, who looked human by his standards while giving up three runs (one earned) across six innings. “I think we’ve had opportunities all season to put ourselves ahead, and we haven’t done a great job of that. Still a chance, but we got to play our asses off a little bit.”
Even after Saturday’s loss, the Yankees (89-65) have won 25 of their last 39 games and yet, during that span, have dropped a half-game further behind the Rays.
Three hours before first pitch here, multiple Yankees sat in the visiting clubhouse tuned into the Rays and Red Sox game with vested interest in the two teams surrounding them in the standings.
The Rays eventually walked off with a 2-1 win, which at least allowed the Yankees to remain 5 ¹/₂ games clear of the Red Sox for the top AL wild card.
But even with a four-game showdown against the Rays looming when they get home, the Yankees may need a miracle to catch them for the division.
“If we sweep [the Rays], then it gets interesting,” manager Aaron Boone said. “But can’t sweep before [Sunday’s] game, so we got to get ready for [Sunday’s] game and hopefully go out and finish off what’s been a good trip out West. That’s all we can control right now.”
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In his penultimate start of the regular season, Schlittler gave up more than one run for the first time since Aug. 3.
Two bunts and a brief lack of command opened the door just enough for the Diamondbacks (81-74) to get to him, though Schlittler still finished the night with a 1.94 ERA across 190 ²/₃ innings, leaving him in the driver’s seat for the AL Cy Young Award.
The Yankees had a prime chance to break a scoreless game open in the top of the fifth inning, when they loaded the bases with one out against Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt.
But manager Torey Lovullo, in a sign of how desperate his club is in trying to stay alive in the National League wild-card race, went to the bullpen for hard-throwing righty Justin Martinez.
The move worked, as Martinez limited the damage to just a sacrifice fly from Ben Rice, which put the Yankees ahead 1-0 before Cody Bellinger flew out to end the threat.
The Diamondbacks’ first hit off Schlittler came on Nolan Arenado’s bloop broken-bat single with one out in the fifth. Tim Tawa then laid down a bunt to the left of the mound, which Schlittler tried to field himself but bobbled, never even getting a throw off to first base.
Then with two outs, Schlittler got ahead 1-2 on No. 9 hitter Jordan Lawlar before leaving a 99 mph fastball over too much of the plate, as Lawlar smoked it to the gap for a two-run triple that put the Diamondbacks ahead 2-1.
“I wouldn’t say I really gave [my team] a chance,” Schlittler said. “That one’s kind of on me. I’ll take the blame for that. Made an error, let up two runs.”
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Heliot Ramos and Austin Wells answered with solo home runs off righty reliever Kevin Ginkel to regain a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth before Schlittler opened the bottom of the frame with eight straight balls. Geraldo Perdomo followed with another bunt to the left of the mound, and this time Ryan McMahon could not get a clean handle on it, loading the bases with no outs.
Corbin Carroll then hit a sacrifice fly that tied the game 3-3.
After Brent Headrick and Paul Blackburn provided the bridge to the ninth, Boone called on Fulmer, not wanting to use closer David Bednar for two innings. But one out after a leadoff walk, he left a cutter over the plate to Smith, who clobbered it to walk it off.