Yankees' Robertson hits a rough patch
David Robertson appeared to have turned a corner in August, posting nine consecutive scoreless outings to provide some much-needed stability in the eighth inning for the New York Yankees.
But the reliever, who exploded with a career year in 2011, has taken a step backwards now that the calendar has turned to September.
Robertson allowed three runs on three hits Thursday, failing to record an out as the Yankees lost 10-6 to the Baltimore Orioles. Robertson entered the game in the bottom of the eighth after New York had scored five times in the top of the inning to tie the game.
Adam Jones launched a 1-2 pitch into the left field seats to put Baltimore back on top. Matt Wieters followed with a single, setting up Mark Reynolds' second homer of the night, a line-drive blast that pushed the Orioles' lead to three runs and ended Robertson's night before it ever really got started.
"Just made mistakes with his fastball," manager Joe Girardi said. "Trying to go up with Jones and threw it thigh-high down the middle, and almost basically the same pitch to Reynolds where he was trying to go away. He just made some mistakes."
Robertson has taken a loss in two of his last three outings, dropping him to 1-5 this season. He had allowed only three homers all season before Thursday, making his outing against the Orioles that much more frustrating.
"The team fought really hard the whole game," Robertson said. "We finally scratched something together in the eighth, put five runs up. I'm supposed to be able to come in and hold the lead and wasn't able to do it."
