Warren stumbles as Yanks drop rain-soaked nightcap

August 8th, 2024

NEW YORK -- It turned out to be a mixed bag for the Yankees during their straight doubleheader on Wednesday against the Angels at Yankee Stadium.

After right-hander Luis Gil pitched five scoreless innings to help the Yankees win the first game, 5-2, teammate Will Warren -- the No. 7 prospect in the Yankees' farm system, according to MLB Pipeline -- was hit hard in his first game at Yankee Stadium in an 8-2 loss.

This was a game in which Warren had to take one for the team. New York used four relievers in the Game 1 victory, so Warren had to absorb some innings, allowing eight runs over 4 1/3 innings.

Warren got off to a great start, retiring the Angels in order in the first inning. But the Halos opened the floodgates with a six-run frame in the second. Zach Neto capped the scoring with a two-out grand slam. Neto did more damage against Warren two innings later when he doubled to right field, scoring Charles Leblanc and Michael Stefanic.

“The first inning looked really good. The sinker, slider, four-seam [fastball] all looked good,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Then … not finishing off a couple of at-bats, a couple of walks that hurt him down toward the bottom of the order and then a mistake to Neto, who obviously had a really good day. A lot of good in there, but in the end, not enough execution in spots that Warren needed it.”

Neto became just the second shortstop in AL/NL history to have a six-RBI game against the Yankees. Alex Rodriguez -- as a member of the Rangers -- was the first shortstop to have six RBIs against New York when he did so on April 27, 2003. The six RBIs were also the most by an Angels shortstop since Freddie Patek had seven against the Red Sox on June 20, 1980.

The game turned out to be special for Neto because he grew up loving Derek Jeter, who played his entire 20-year career with the Yankees.

“I got a little taste of [Yankee Stadium] last year,” Neto said. “But to finally be able to have this year under my belt and be able to come in here and be able to look around and with a clear mind, I think it was pretty cool to be here.

“I definitely had a couple of angels out there looking over me, and I was able to have a pretty good day. It was pretty memorable and an honor to do that. But I didn’t even know how many [RBIs] I had. I was just trying to do everything I can to drive in runs and help us win the game.”

Warren acknowledged he was behind in the count and he was nervous pitching at Yankee Stadium.

“I’m going to learn from it. It’s executing when you need to execute, limiting damage because with a lineup like [the Angels] -- you give up two or three [runs], they are going to come bang," Warren said. " … Going forward, I will just find my way to get out of it.”