NEW YORK – Each fifth day, the Yankees have developed an enjoyable habit: hand the ball to Will Warren, then shake hands to celebrate a victory.
The Yankees entered Saturday with 12 wins across Warren’s 14 outings, which represented the best record among Major Leaguers to make at least 10 starts. That formula didn’t translate to success in their 10-2 loss to the Reds at Yankee Stadium.
Rookie third baseman Sal Stewart stole the show with a six-RBI performance, tying his career high, as Warren was saddled with his second loss of the year and first since May 6 vs. Texas.
Spencer Steer’s three-run homer was the biggest blow off Warren, who wasn’t helped by his defense, surrendering four unearned runs.
Right fielder Jasson Domínguez threw to the wrong base after snaring a JJ Bleday fly ball in the third inning, missing an opportunity to double Edwin Arroyo off at second base. Stewart followed with a two-run double.
Ben Rice couldn’t cleanly pick a throw in the fifth inning that opened the floodgates, setting up a Stewart sac fly and – eventually – Steer’s Statcast-projected 407-foot blast to left-center field. Warren allowed eight hits over 5 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out eight.
Reds starter Andrew Abbott held the Yankees to one run over five innings, with Paul Goldschmidt connecting for a first-inning blast. It was Goldschmidt’s 12th homer of the season, and his sixth facing left-handed pitching.
Stewart added a bases-clearing double in the eighth facing Ryan Yarbrough.