The Orioles topped the Yankees in extras on Sunday (BAL 7, NYY 4 in 11 innings), and as a result the two teams will exit April in a tie atop the AL East standings. The series finale in the Bronx had its share of late-inning drama, and playing a central role was a very unconventional decision by New York skipper Joe Girardi.
Yanks righty reliever Bryan Mitchell pitched a scoreless ninth, which allowed his team to tie the score and force extras on a Didi Gregorius two-RBI single. To start the 10th, Girardi's wheels began spinning. Instead of letting Mitchell keep going on the mound, he installed him at first base. By doing so, the Yankees by rule lost their DH, so new hurler Aroldis Chapman was slotted in the lineup at the three hole in place of DH Matt Holliday, who had homered earlier in the game.
Bryan Mitchell (P/1B/P today) is the first Yankees pitcher to play a position other than pitcher since Ron Guidry (CF) on 7/24/83 vs. KC.
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) April 30, 2017
As for Mitchell's defensive efforts at first base, he dropped a Wellington Castillo pop foul in the top of the 10th and was charged with an error. Castillo eventually singled on the 10th pitch of the at-bat. Chapman was able to escape without allowing any runs, and Mitchell even retired Jonathan Schoop on a pop-up.
He's a natural. pic.twitter.com/EvmS22EtNk
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 30, 2017
In the bottom of the 10th, the Austin Romine and Brett Gardner each reached for the Yankees, and Aaron Hicks struck out. That brought Chapman's spot -- what had been the DH -- so Girardi summoned Greg Bird to pinch-hit. Bird reached via HBP, but Starlin Castro and Aaron Judge were unable to bring any runs home.
So in the bottom of the 11th, Girardi was able to go back to Mitchell -- which was the whole point of installing him at first base anyway. Contrary to plans, though, this is how Mitchell's frame went ...
- J.J. Hardy pops out.
- Joey Ricard singles.
- Adam Jones lines out.
- Ricard steals second.
- Manny Machado is intentionally walked.
- Mark Trumbo singles, plating Rickard.
- Castillo singles, plating Machado and Trumbo.
- Trey Mancini flies out.
So Mitchell allowed three earned in the frame and wound up taking the loss when the Yanks were unable to respond in kind in the bottom of the 11th. To be sure, the Yankees should've been able to end it in the bottom of the 10th when they had two on and no out at one point, but Girardi's tactical contortions didn't wind up looking very smart in retrospect. Mitchell took the loss, yes, but it's also highly unusual to see a pitcher at first base. Typically, a manager who tries to hide a pitcher in the field so as to use him again sticks him in an outfielder corner. Perhaps, though, Girardi feared the Baltimore power bats sending one Mitchell's way.
In any event, file this one in the ever-expanding folder titled "too clever by half."
