NEW YORK – Dating back to last week at Cleveland, Jazz Chisholm Jr. had a few tough at-bats, fouling pitches off his foot and lower body.
Then came Thursday night’s unlucky swing.
During the home fourth inning at Yankee Stadium, Chisholm fouled off a pitch that bounced up and struck him in a sensitive area, forcing him from the game after a lengthy delay.
“I’m hoping he is OK’’ for Friday’s game. “I haven’t heard anything yet,’’ said Yankees manager Aaron Boone, after the Chicago White Sox’s 5-1 victory.
Camilo Doval has already had his share of tough moments in close-and-late situations, and against lefty hitters, and the Yankees’ enigmatic righty reliever added to that pile.
In the eighth inning, Doval gave up a tie-breaking, pinch-hit grand slam to old friend Andrew Benintendi, which helped to snap the Yanks’ four-game winning streak.
Now, the Yanks will wait to see if Chisholm might be available for Friday night’s interleague series opener against the Bronx against the Cincinnati Reds.
Jazz exits, Yankees stumble
On a 2-and-2 count, Chisholm was replaced during his at-bat by Anthony Volpe, who walked but was erased trying to steal second base.
In the seventh inning of a 1-1 game, Volpe lashed a one-out double to the left-center field wall but was out attempting to stretch it to a triple – an aggressive play that Boone felt was the right decision.
“Force them to make a play,’’ Boone said of the one-out scenario, in a close game, with a rookie left fielder in Junior Perez making his MLB debut.
Earlier, in the fifth inning, Jose Caballero was picked off second base with one out by Sean Burke, who followed opener Bryan Hudson and delivered 7.1 sharp innings.
All the Yanks could muster offensively was Ryan McMahon’s solo homer in the third, once again continuing a trend in Ryan Weathers’ starts.
In nine of Weathers’ 14 starts this year, the Yankees have provided him two or fewer runs of support – this after combining to score 22 runs in the first two series wins vs. Chicago.
Overall, Weathers came away more encouraged by his 6.1 innings against Chicago, yielding only a Colson Montgomery solo shot, his third homer against the Yanks in two games.
Weathers improves; possible ‘pen changes on the horizon
During the week, Weathers said he worked on the command and feel of his curveball.
“That’s a big pitch in my arsenal,’’ said Weathers, who yielded seven home runs in his previous three starts (17 innings) before Thursday.
“Feels nice to keep the team in the game, for sure,’’ said Weathers. “Felt like my old self again.’’
Fernando Cruz helped Weathers finish the seventh, but a leadoff eighth-inning double by Sam Anontucci ended Cruz’s night.
Tim Hill entered and hit the first two batters he faced, leading to Doval watching Benintendi jump on a first-pitch, 100-mph sinker.
“Some mistakes have certainly hurt him in some spots, and tonight Benintendi got him,’’ said Boone, who feels the former San Francisco Giants closer is “not overwhelmed’’ in the Bronx.
Through an interpreter, Doval praised Benintendi’s aggressiveness and cited his need to get ahead with the bases loaded.
“In my head, the game is tied regardless,’’ Doval said of his view of any appearance. “The focus is the same.’’
But things could rapidly change regarding the Yanks’ bullpen makeup.
Starter Max Fried (elbow bone bruise) could be back, possibly forcing Weathers or Will Warren to the bullpen.
Minor league starter and top pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange is moving to the bullpen, and he could be ready to help the Yankees in a month – close to the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline, when they’ll be seeking more relief help for the drive toward October.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Jazz exits game, Doval serves up grand slam in Yankees’ loss
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