The New York Yankees lost to the Cleveland Indians, 1-0, Monday night -- a loss that hurt because of several missed scoring opportunities early in the game. Watching shortstop Derek Jeter leave the game in the fifth inning with a strained right calf made the loss hurt even more.
Jeter singled in the first inning for the 2,994th hit of his career, six away from becoming the first Yankee to amass 3,000 hits. He left the game after hobbling to first base after hitting a fly ball in the fifth inning. Early reports indicated uncertainty as to whether or not Jeter would be able to play Tuesday night when the Yankees host the Texas Rangers. The hope has been that the Yankee Captain would reach the 3,000-hit plateau during the current homestand, which has just three games remaining. Missing even one game will, obviously, make that much more difficult.
As for the game, Yankee starter A.J. Burnett (6-5) was as good as he has been all season. He allowed just one run in 7.2 innings, striking out eight. Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco (6-3) was better, however, shutting out the Yankees for seven innings as the Indians avoided being swept in the four-game series.
Cleveland's only run came when Michael Brantley tripled, a ball a diving Nick Swisher nearly caught, and scored on an Asdrubal Cabrera single.
The Yankees had several opportunities early in the game, but after scoring 24 runs in the first three games of the series could not take advantage. They loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning. But Alex Rodriguez flied out, Robinson Cano struck out and Nick Swisher grounded out to short to end the threat. The Yankees put their first two runners on in the second inning, but again failed to score. In the third inning, two more base runners reached, only to be stranded.