Uncharacteristic Betances takes first career loss
Yankees dominant reliever charged with four runs, hits first two batters of season
NEW YORK -- For the first time in his career, Dellin Betances didn't get it done. And he knows exactly why.
"I [stunk] today," he said after being charged with four runs in the Yankees' 11-6 loss to the Phillies. He took his first career defeat and saw his ERA jump from 0.26 to 1.25 on Tuesday.
In the eighth inning, Betances was the late-game stopper the Yankees have seen all season, striking out the first two batters he faced to end the inning. But when he came out of the dugout in the ninth, his command didn't come with him.
"I just fell behind," he said. "I couldn't locate my fastball or breaking ball."
Betances fell behind in the first four at-bats of the inning, allowing the Phillies' offense more time to work. He allowed a leadoff double to Ben Revere, then hit a bunting Cesar Hernandez in the thigh. Maikel Franco doubled to drive them both in for the go-ahead runs.
That seemed to take Betances by surprise. He'd only allowed one earned run all season, and hitters haven't hit many balls hard against him.
"I've gotten in situations where I've gotten a couple of guys on and I've been able to get out of it," Betances said. "I thought that was going to be the case today, but Franco, he's done really good."
Betances recovered to force a groundout before he hit Jeff Francoeur -- his second hit batter of both the inning and season -- which prompted his exit.
Reliever Nick Rumbelow then walked Domonic Brown to load the bases with just one out, and Andres Blanco swatted a sharp ground ball down the third-base line that squirted by third baseman Chase Headley and into the left-field corner. It ended in a triple for Blanco and three runs for the Phillies.
Video: PHI@NYY: Blanco clears the bases with a triple
Betances said the Phillies just took advantage when he lost control. That's not something the Yankees are used to seeing, though: in 35 innings entering Tuesday, the right-hander had tallied 57 strikeouts against 16 walks and had yet to hit a batter.
"It's surprising because he's been so dominant, but he's not going to be perfect," Headley said. "He's been incredible, he is incredible and he's going to continue to be incredible."