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There were other lowlights: Cleanup hitter Aaron Hicks struck out looking three times, and Giancarlo Stanton struck out with the bases loaded to end the second, with the Yankees trailing 5-0. With the bases again loaded, in the eighth, pinch-hitter Neil Walker swung at the first pitch he saw from reliever Paul Fry and hit into an inning-ending double play. Orioles starter Alex Cobb, who entered the game at 2-14 with a 6.08 E.R.A., held the Yankees to just seven hits and one run over six innings.
But the Yankees problems began with Gray, who, after pitching a clean first inning, quickly unraveled in the second, allowing four hits, a walk and four runs before getting his first out.
It was a drastic regression from Gray’s previous three starts, all of which he won, allowing just two earned runs in 16 ⅓ innings, with 19 strikeouts. That such a setback came against the Orioles was surprising: Three of his eight wins this season had come against Baltimore.
“A few balls out there had eyes but for the most part it was getting behind in the count,” Boone said. “He wasn’t able to finish off hitters as well today, and when he gets hit around, he needs to trust that he can attack the strike zone.
“After he gives up a hard-hit ball, I feel like sometimes that’s where he’ll start to nibble a little bit, and all of a sudden he finds himself behind. Today it just spiraled and got away from him.”
Of more immediate concern, however, was Gray’s status in the Yankees’ rotation.
“At the end of the day I want them to do whatever is necessary to help us win, whatever that may be,” Gray said. “If I get the ball in five days, I’m going to take it and do my best to help us win the game. If not, I’ll be right there to do whatever I’m called upon.”
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