Yankees faithful were left in disbelief as the team recorded their ninth consecutive loss on Tuesday night, marking their longest losing streak in over four decades.
Unable to secure a win since triumphing over the Marlins on August 11 in Miami, this becomes the Yankees’ first nine-game drought since the stretch between September 13 and 21, 1982. That year is historically remembered for the team’s multiple managerial shifts between Bob Lemon, Gene Michael, and Clyde King, culminating in a mere 79-win season.
I am simply amazed by how pathetic the 2023 @Yankees are! This is unbelievable. #yankees
— Kyle D'Amour (@KD_15_12) August 23, 2023
On a historic roll…of being terrible.
— Bryan (@B_reezy32) August 23, 2023
This doesn’t even hurt me anymore, it’s what I expect everyday :/
— Envy 🇩🇴 (@DarthEnvy) August 23, 2023
The downward spiral persisted with a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Washington Nationals. A critical moment arrived when Tommy Kahnle conceded a pivotal homer to CJ Abrams in the closing moments of the eighth inning, swinging the momentum in favor of the Nationals.
In a game-changing moment, Abrams shattered the 1-1 equilibrium, targeting Kahnle’s initial pitch changeup, which sailed right off the foul pole in right field. This marked Abrams’ 13th homer, and notably, his sixth which placed Washington in the lead during this season.
Further highlights included Carter Kieboom’s triumphant homer in the third, shortly after his return from a Tommy John surgery layoff. As for the Yankees, Ben Rortvedt’s singular homerun and twin hits stood out on a night where the team’s offense was restricted to just two hits, a pattern eerily becoming common for the fifth occasion this year. The Yankees’ performance has seen a significant dip, with a 12-27 record since they were 10 games above .500 on July 4. The offensive struggles continued as they were restricted to one or no runs for the fourth time in their last six matches.
Carlos Rodón’s stellar six innings, conceding just one run and six hits, marked one of his finest performances in the Yankee jersey. Despite returning post a two-week injury layoff, his outfield backup was commendable, preventing three Nationals from turning singles into doubles.
In memorable defensive plays, Aaron Judge’s timely throw caught Keibert Ruiz out as he overslid second in the fourth. Meanwhile, in a spectacular team play, rookie left fielder Everson Pereira’s relay to shortstop Anthony Volpe, followed by a sharp throw to second baseman Gleyber Torres, thwarted Ildemaro Vargas.
Playing in front of an audience filled with close family and friends from New Rochelle, New York, Josiah Gray’s six innings on the mound were a testament to his resilience despite giving away five walks.