Will Warren just didn’t have it in his second big league start as the Yankees fell to the Angels, 8-2, in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader.
-It was rough sledding, especially early, for Warren in his home debut. After a scoreless first, Warren pitched into trouble after allowing three straight singles and a run before walking the bases loaded with no outs.
After a mound visit from pitching coach Matt Blake, Warren struck out the next two batters but walked in a run, giving the Angels a 2-0 lead. After Zach Neto worked the count full, Warren grooved a pitch over the plate, allowing the shortstop to launch a grand slam, his second home run of the day. Neto would knock Warren out in the fourth with a two-run double that put the Angels up 8-1.
Warren went just 4.1 innings (93 pitches/55 strikes) allowing eight runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out six batters.
-The Yankees bullpen in relief of Warren was great. The combination of Michael Tonkin (2.0 IP), Tim Hill (1.2 IP) and Mark Leiter Jr. (1.0 IP) pitched 4.2 innings, allowing just five hits.
-The Yankees offense just couldn’t get the big hit. They picked up nine hits but only scored two runs. The Angels drove in eight runs on 13 hits.
-DJ LeMahieu continued to put together good at-bats. The veteran infielder went 2-for-4 with an RBI single. Over his last seven games, LeMahieu is 5-for-15 (.333) with a home run and nine RBI.
The other Yankees run came on a Gleyber Torres sac fly. Torres finished 0-for-4. Both players did not start Game 1.
Alex Verdugo hit cleanup with Austin Wells taking the game off after starting in Game 1. The left-hander went 1-for-4 behind Aaron Judge. Judge and Juan Soto combined to go 2-for-7 with a walk — from Judge, of course.
The Angels shortstop went 3-for-5 and drove in six of LA’s eight runs.
The Yankees and Angels complete their three-game series on Thursday night.
Nestor Cortes (5-9, 4.16 ERA) will take the mound while the Angels will have Tyler Anderson (8-10, 3.05 ERA) on the bump.