BRONX, NY — Go figure. Through the game of baseball and trends of an up and down season, the Yankees continue their attempt in searching for a solution regarding inconsistencies with their offense. Pitching, though, is not an issue.
On Wednesday night in the Bronx, the Yankees banged out 13 hits in their 10-5 win over the Mariners, clinching a series win and 31st come-from-behind victory of 2026. Then on Thursday afternoon, while compiling just four hits as the Mariners managed to salvage the series finale, 1-0, the loss marked the seventh time this season where the Yankees were shutout.
The Yankees were shutout for the seventh time this season with their latest scoreless affair coming Thursday afternoon in a 1-0 loss to the Mariners – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
A struggling Mariners team, making their own attempt to remain viable in a mediocre American League, Seattle snapped a six-game losing streak and avoided dropping seven consecutive games for the first time since August 11-18, 2020. They stand 57-65 on the year—five games behind the AL West division leading Astros with 3-½ games separating them from the third and final AL Wild Card spot.
It is the Dog Days of August. On one end, the Mariners have plenty of time for opportunity to narrow the gap this month and in that September stretch. On the other, the Yankees failed to get the sweep as starter Max Fried recorded the loss despite allowing just one run over five innings. The sole run came in the second inning from Weston Wilson getting a hold of a cutter that went into the left field seats.
Weston Wilson, homering off Max Fried in the second inning of Thursday’s series finale between Seattle and New York, was responsible for the only run scored by both teams – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Regardless, it isn’t the Yankees pitching that’s seen as the issue. In between some extended time on the injured list, Fried had not allowed a home run in ten starts since April 16, and has posted a 1.82 ERA in five starts since his July 22nd return.
Furthermore, Yankees pitchers have allowed two runs or fewer in 12 of their last 15 games, including one run or fewer in 11 of those starts. Pitching will win them ballgames to a degree, but the at-bats and scoring runs with consistency need to also excel. The Yankees (68-53) are not doing that and catching the AL East leading Rays (74-46) is getting more and more difficult. After play on Thursday, 6/1/2 games separate them from Tampa Bay.
Across his last five outings since returning from the injured list on July 22nd, Max Fried has posted a 1.82 ERA with 29 strikeouts – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
And it’s difficult to understand this version of the Yankees’ haves and have nots. But it’s also easy to understand that the consistency has not been there and as August winds down, the Yankees will have that stretch in September where it must come together.
With a loyal fan base doing their part, making it seemed like October baseball from a crowd of 41,842 Thursday, the Yankees had opportunities on a hot and humid afternoon. Manager Aaron Boone alluded to October in the postgame, though it wasn’t about the Yankees resembling a postseason team with their eight game lead as the top AL Wild Card.
“It’s been playoffs every day it feels like,” Boone said. “Honestly, I don’t even go there. We’re doing a lot of really good things. We’re obviously wanting to get the offense jump started and we’re seeing little crumbs and little signs of that hopefully.”
Aaron Boone has a faith in the Yankees’ offense turning it around as the final stretch is approaching with 40 or so games left to be played before the postseason – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Referring to their next stops in Toronto vs. the Blue Jays and Camden Yards after vs. the Orioles:
“Now it’s just on to Toronto and not getting ahead of myself like, ‘oh let’s win eight or ten in a row. No, you gotta go play well.’ Hopefully that stuff takes care of itself.”
Though it is frustrating. Boone has that etched on his face and in his tone of voice while still backing his team and hoping there eventually will be a turn for the best. This Yankees offense has the potential to compile hits and runs from one-to-nine and remain MLB’s home run leader this season.
Without Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup, Ben Rice has had to step up for the Yankees as the team’s big bat – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
They will eventually see the return of Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger. Perhaps Aaron Judge at some point in September too. In the meantime, Boone presents a lineup and hopes this anemic offense and their inconsistencies will turn around for the best.
“We’re just trying to find a way to win games,” said rookie George Lombard Jr., who arrived to the Show last week, with dazzling defense at shortstop and struggles against big league pitching.
“Games like this are battles, and that’s how games are in October.”
Randy Arozarena and George Lombard Jr. chatting at second base during a pitching change in Thursday afternoon’s series finale at Yankee Stadium – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
But the Yankees have not reached October as of yet, all expectations are they will be there as it is their trend. The offense as Lombard and the entire team is aware has to get going. If not, it could be a brief October like 2025.
On the visiting side, the Mariners are trying to turn around a season that has been disappointing. Pitching is also a strength of theirs with Logan Gilbert (6.0 IP, 4H, 0R, 7Ks) recording his fifth scoreless start of the season to earn his ninth win of the year. His curveball and changeup had Lombard and the Yankees lineup looking for answers. The Yankees recorded eight extra base hits Wednesday night and just one double in Thursday’s finale as Gilbert continued his dominance on the road with a 2.25 ERA.
“On the road for whatever reason it’s like a big game,” Gilbert said. “The crowd is against you. Maybe that gets the juices going a little bit.”
Logan Gilbert, a road warrior, dominated the Yankees Thursday afternoon, pitching six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and lowered his road ERA to 2.25 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Gilbert praised catcher Jhonny Pereda for winning four ABS challenges that helped stall the Yankees from getting on base.
Multiple-time LatinoMVP Julio Rodríguez reached base safely, extending his on base streak to 12 consecutive games, but that lone run stood as a strong Mariners bullpen prevented the Yankees from achieving a sweep at home.
In the month of August over 11 games, multiple-time LatinoMVP Julio Rodríguez is slashing .316/.447/.553 with three home runs and six RBI – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Eduard Bazardo and José A. Ferrer were both scoreless in relief as was Seattle’s elite closer Andrés Muñoz, recording his 21st save of 2026 after tossing a scoreless ninth inning, which marked his 98th with the team. After a rough patch and making a series of adjustments, the Mexican All-Star right-hander has been dominant.
With the Mariners needing wins down the stretch, they believe a strong relief core can be the spark towards more momentum.
Andrés Muñoz 99 career saves is the third most for a Mexican-born MLB pitcher all-time and with the Mariners, his 98 saves ties Mike Schooler for the fourth-most in franchise history – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
“We have confidence back there,” Muñoz said of Seattle’s bullpen. “I’m making the right pitches after some adjustments.”
“Just gotta pass the page and go on to the next one,” Luis García Jr. said after his double in the second inning, the Yankees’ lone extra-base hit Thursday. And that page needs to turn starting Friday night up in Toronto.
Since joining the Yankees ahead of MLB’s August 3rd trade deadline, Luis García Jr. is slashing .258/.303/.452 with one HR and two RBI – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
If not, the Yankees with a majority of remaining games at home, will head to October with continued questions and seeking answers about their inconsistencies.
There’s still a long haul remaining to that conclusion in late September, the Yankees though could be running out of time with their inconsistency in scoring runs.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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