On heels of feel-good weekend, Yanks fall flat vs. Mets

NEW YORK -- It was about a half-hour before the first pitch for this installment of the Subway Series, and Andy Pettitte was leaning against concrete in the underbelly of the present-day Yankee Stadium, describing pitching across the street with the Mets as visitors. His most vivid memory was of a scowling George M. Steinbrenner, lurking and demanding excellence.

“You always wanted to win those,” said Pettitte, the Yanks' new advisor, “especially early on, when the Boss was around. He was definitely hanging around in the locker room, and if we weren’t winning, he was giving us a hard time about that. There’s great expectations here, and we expect to win every series. These series here against the Red Sox and Mets -- it’s just a little different atmosphere.”

Had this game been played in the late 1990s, one need not stretch the imagination to realize how Steinbrenner would have reacted. The good vibes of the Yankees’ winning weekend vanished with sloppy outfield play and a trio of homers off Domingo Germán in a 9-3 loss to the Mets on Tuesday evening in the Bronx.

Pete Alonso inflicted most of the damage, homering twice -- a three-run shot in the third inning and a solo blast in the sixth. Both of Alonso’s homers came off Germán, who -- despite his June 28 perfect game at Oakland -- has now permitted five or more runs in consecutive starts.

“His stuff seemed pretty good to me, but obviously the long ball got him tonight,” manager Aaron Boone said of Germán, whose 20 home runs allowed are tied for eighth in the American League.

The Yanks’ defense did Germán few favors; Alonso lofted a run-scoring single in the first inning that carried an expected batting average (xBA) of .050, yet fell between left fielder Billy McKinney and center fielder Harrison Bader.

In the third, Francisco Lindor popped a ball to shallow left field that fell next to a sliding McKinney for a double; that ball had an xBA of .030.

“Some of those balls kind of snuck in there, but that’s really just part of the game,” Bader said. “We’re going to continue to work, continue to be a unit out there and just kind of go from there, learn from tonight.”

Daniel Vogelbach also hit a sixth-inning homer off Germán, who showcased the swing-and-miss stuff to generate nine strikeouts, yet shook off catcher Kyle Higashioka frequently. Germán could be in danger of losing his spot in the rotation with Nestor Cortes’ pending return.

“That’s how the game can be sometimes,” Germán said through an interpreter. “You strike out hitters but yet you give up the runs. If you want to find something positive out of the outing, because they are not recognizing pitches and swinging, you’re getting strikeouts. Then it’s a matter of executing the pitches in key situations.”

There was optimism within the Yankees’ clubhouse that the offensive doldrums had been conquered with a three-game sweep of the Royals over the weekend, a series in which the Yanks scored five or more runs in each contest, but that may have been more of a reflection of Kansas City’s chances of equaling the 1962 Mets’ record for most losses in a single season.

Justin Verlander is no Alec Marsh, Brady Singer, or Jordan Lyles. Last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner, Verlander held the Yanks to two singles and four walks through six innings, striking out six in a 98-pitch effort. He improved to 5-0 with a 1.69 ERA in his last eight regular-season starts against the Yankees.

“He was sharp -- really short arm action, quick to the plate, especially with runners on,” Bader said. “He’s had a tremendous career.”

As general manager Brian Cashman and his baseball operations squad weigh their approach for the Trade Deadline, attempting to make heads or tails of the Yankees’ postseason chances, there are indications that the bullpen needs reinforcement.

The Mets scored three runs (two earned) off the Bombers’ relief corps; Ron Marinaccio was touched up in the ninth, permitting a Jeff McNeil two-run double. Marinaccio has allowed nine earned runs in 8 1/3 innings (9.72 ERA) across 10 July appearances.

“It starts with command; he’s walked too many guys,” Boone said. “I think it’s as simple as sharpness from a command standpoint. When you’re a little off like that … it’s another tough outing.”