MELVIN UPTON WALKOFF! @MelvinUptonJr solo home run off Andrew Miller in the 9th, @Padres defeat the Yankees 2-1.https://t.co/W8RepL6CJT
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 3, 2016
The New York Yankees dropped their second straight game in San Diego in deflating fashion as Melvin Upton Jr. lifted a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth.
- New York Yankees: 1 (39-41)
- San Diego Padres: 2 (35-46)
- Interleague, FINAL, Box Score
- Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Either momentum does not exist in baseball or the 2016 New York Yankees are an incredibly confusing and mediocre team. Right now, it looks like the latter.
After taking the final two games of a four-game set with an outstanding Texas Rangers team, they have dropped the first two games of a three game set with the lowly San Diego Padres.
Tonight, it was a matter of the offense and its refusal to come alive combined with a late flare for the dramatic by an old AL East foe in Melvin Upton Jr.
The lone run for New York came in the sixth inning when Starlin Castro collected an RBI on a groundout.
What a ?!
Castro's groundout allows Ellsbury to score and the #Yankees take a 1-0 lead in the 6th!
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 3, 2016
That would be all for a lifeless offense which was shut down by Drew Pomeranz, who struck out seven and allowed only one run on five hits over seven strong frames. The strong performance would pave the way for the Padres, who immediately picked up their left-hander in the bottom half of the sixth.
Another solid outing for @DrewPomeranz ? pic.twitter.com/vK9gwnUC1z
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 3, 2016
Matt Kemp doubled down the right field line off Dellin Betances, who came on and inherited the runner Ivan Nova left on. The check-swing, well-placed two-bagger knotted the game at one.
TIE GAME! @TheRealMattKemp knocks in @wilmyers with an RBI double to right! pic.twitter.com/A1cr5FZxEX
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 3, 2016
The knock also closed the books on Nova, who showed substantial improvements in allowing only one run on four hits and striking out seven over five and a third stellar frames.
The line on Ivan Nova:
5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 WP (77 p, 51 s)
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) July 3, 2016
After Betances’ minor blip, he held the Padres in check for an inning and two-thirds to hand the ball over to Andrew Miller, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning. However, Joe Girardi extended him one batter too far.
Left out to start the ninth inning, Melvin Upton Jr. said hello to the Yankee southpaw by crushing the first pitch he saw out to left field for a walk-off solo blast.
All it took was one swing of the bat by @MelvinUptonJr #PadresWin pic.twitter.com/uaREV1l8Q6
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 3, 2016
The shot sent the Yanks out of Petco Park unsatisfied for a second straight night and secured a series win for San Diego. In addition, New York dropped two games below .500 once again in the losing effort. Perhaps it will not get much better than this.
#Walkoff. ?? #PadresWIN. ?? pic.twitter.com/AVrhGAorHx
— FOX Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) July 3, 2016
FINAL: Padres 2, #Yankees 1. pic.twitter.com/WLMMcycTU9
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 3, 2016
What’s Next?
The Yankees and Padres will wrap up this three game interleague set tomorrow afternoon.
Chad Green (6-6, 1.54 ERA – AAA) will get the ball in a spot start for the Yanks opposite Andrew Cashner (3-5, 4.75 ERA) in the series finale. A 25-year-old right-hander, Green got the call with the organization wary of running CC Sabathia and his questionable ankle out there in a National League park.
First pitch will commence at 4:40 pm ET on a getaway day for both teams. The game can be seen on YES and heard on WFAN 660/101.9 FM. Stay tuned to ESNY for an in-depth pregame with all you need to know as the Yankees look to avoid a sweep.
