Yankees’ offense falls flat again in loss to Tigers

The Yankees, who are struggling mightily offensively, have now lost four of five to the Blue Jays and Tigers with the latest defeat an ugly 6-1 loss to last-place Detroit Saturday at Comerica Park.

DETROIT — That winning streak that got the Yankees back in the conversation for first place in the AL East is now a distant memory.

Since winning six straight against the Rangers and White Sox through last Sunday, they’ve lost four of five to the Blue Jays and Tigers, with the latest defeat a sleepy 6-1 loss to Detroit, the last-place team in the AL Central, on Saturday at Comerica Park.

They were held to two runs or fewer in each of those losses and young right-hander Deivi Garcia’s return to the rotation Saturday wasn’t able to provide a spark — though he was given little chance.

The 22-year-old, who had been expected to make a spot start to give the other starters an extra day of rest but instead was needed to fill in for the injured Corey Kluber, gave up five runs in 4 ¹/₃ innings.

After dealing with command issues for much of the season, Garcia walked just one, but he was hurt by a throwing error from Rougned Odor that led to an unearned run in the second inning and a pair of doubles in the fifth that ended his outing.

Clint Frazier walks back to the dugout after striking out in the fifth inning of the Yankees’ 6-1 loss to the Tigers.

In addition, the Yankees’ offense, which went hitless with runners in scoring position in Friday’s loss and has had difficulty producing in the clutch all year, again provided little.

It didn’t take long for those woes to surface Saturday.

The Yankees threatened to have a big inning in the top of the second against right-hander Spencer Turnbull when a walk to Gleyber Torres, a single by Gary Sanchez and a Mike Ford walk loaded the bases with no one out.

But Miguel Andujar grounded into a double play. That scored Torres from third for the game’s first run, but killed the Yankees’ momentum.

Clint Frazier walked to extend the inning before Brett Gardner popped out to end it.

Garcia then hit Jonathan Schoop with a pitch to start the bottom of the second. Schoop moved to second base on a flared single to center by Nomar Mazara.

Garcia got the next two batters before a walk to Akil Baddoo was followed by a ground ball to the right of Odor at second base. Odor probably didn’t have a chance to force Baddoo at second, so instead he made a wild throw to Ford at first. Two runs scored on the play, which was ruled a single and an error.

Gardner misplayed Eric Haase’s booming rip to center, allowing Haase to get to third for a triple. Haase came home on Niko Goodrum’s sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.

Garcia’s outing ended after a run-scoring double by Jeimer Candelario, who went to third on a wild pitch by Albert Abreu. Candelario scored on a Miguel Cabrera sacrifice play before Schoop homered.

The Yankees’ offense, meanwhile, was largely silent.

They had another chance to get back in the game in the sixth inning after DJ LeMahieu led off with a single — just their second hit of the day.

Odor struck out and Aaron Judge lined to third before Gleyber Torres singled through the right side of the infield left vacant by the shift.

Turnbull was then pulled for Jose Cisnero, who fanned Gary Sanchez to end the threat, as the Yankees went to 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Dan Martin