- The Yanks started the season with six straight wins, 32 years ago today
- TThey would fail to capitalize on their good start that year with a 76-88 record
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The New York Yankees have failed to extend their five-game unbeaten winning streak as the Arizona Diamondbacks finished their best start to an MLB season since 1992, when they still finished with a losing record.
After a four-game sweep of the Houston Astros early this week and a 5-2 away win against the Diamondbacks on Monday, the Yankees are now 5-1 after Tuesday’s tough 7-0 loss in Arizona , although this season marked the first time in franchise history that the Pinstripes won their five games of the season on the road.
What’s more is that this season marks the fifth time in franchise history that the Yankees have started with a 5-0 record.
The last time the Yankees started a season with five straight wins was 32 years ago, when they started the season with a 6-0 record.
However, they would fail to capitalize on their good start in that campaign as they finished with a 76-88 record – or a 70-88 record after their impressive first week of action.
Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes gave up three runs, eight hits and two walks in five innings
D’Backs first baseman Christian Walker runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against Yankees relief pitcher Jake Cousins
Arizona – the defending NL champion – is now off to a 4-2 start after Tuesday night’s home win
In Tuesday night’s game, Christian Walker hit a three-run homer while Zac Gallen pitched six scoreless innings to help the D’Backs hold the Yankees to just three hits the entire game. Defending champion Arizona now starts 4-2.
The D-backs took a 3-0 lead in the first inning after five of the first six batters reached base off Nestor Cortes. Blaze Alexander, Eugenio Suárez and Gabriel Moreno all had RBI singles.
That was enough support for Gallen (2-0), who gave up all three hits and three walks while striking out six. The right-hander finished third in the NL Cy Young Award voting last season after finishing 17-9 with a 3.47 ERA.
He is off to a good start again and gives up only one run in eleven innings.
Walker made it 6-0 in the seventh with a majestic blast off Jake Cousins, bringing home Ketel Marte and Alexander on a ball that traveled 450 feet and landed well beyond the left field wall.
The Yankees’ five-game winning streak masked an uneven offense, but they couldn’t hide it Tuesday as Aaron Judge went 0 for 3 with a walk while his average now fell to .125.
Yankees’ star slugger Aaron Judge was 0 for 3 with a walk, with his average now down to .125
Anthony Rizzo is hitting just .190, Giancarlo Stanton is at .150 while Alex Verdugo has a .143 average. Cortes (0-1) gave up three runs, eight hits and two walks in five innings.
For the D-backs, Walker, Alexander, Marte, Jake McCarthy and Geraldo Perdomo all scored two goals.
Arizona held the Yankees scoreless for the second time in franchise history. The other was in Game 2 of the 2001 World Series.
The Yankees traded left-hander Nick Ramirez to the Dodgers for cash. Ramirez was designated for assignment on Saturday.
New York also agreed to a minor league contract with RHP Phil Bickford. The D-backs traded infielder Emmanuel Rivera to the Marlins. He was assigned to an assignment on opening day.
The Yankees and D-backs conclude the three-game series on Wednesday. Arizona sends RHP Merrill Kelly (1-0, 1.35 ERA) to the mound while New York counters with LHP Carlos Rodon (0-0, 2.08)