Aaron Boone won't commit to Aroldis Chapman as Yankees closer after he, Gerrit Cole get booed off the mound
Game 1 of their July 4 doubleheader against the New York Mets did not go as planned for the Yankees.
On the same day that Gerrit Cole and Aroldis Chapman were named AL All-Stars, the Yankees pitchers imploded against the New York Mets, giving up a combined seven earned runs in a 10-5 loss to their Subway Series rivals.
After the game, manager Aaron Boone wouldn't commit to longtime closer Chapman keeping the job. Here's what he had to say when asked if he'd reevaluate Chapman's role as Yankees closer:
Aaron Boone speaks on the 7th inning and the performance of Gerrit Cole and Aroldis Chapman during game one of today's doubleheader vs. the Mets. pic.twitter.com/nrrystSgW1
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 4, 2021
"Yeah, we'll continue to talk through that," Boone said. "Obviously we've got another important one right now. That'll be something that we talk, you know, after these games."
When asked about a Chapman slider that Mets slugger Pete Alonso hit for a solo home run to tie the game at 5-5 in the decisive seventh inning, Boone said this:
Pete Alonso vs Aroldis Chapman = Alonso win 🔥🔥🔥🔥#PensarNoCuesta 🧠
📽️ @SNYtv pic.twitter.com/cotPzC1aUY— Héctor José Torres Donato (@deplaymaker) July 4, 2021
"I don't think that was the right spot for that," Boone continued.
The home run was the first of three earned runs Chapman allowed in the seventh and final inning of the doubleheader game. He followed up the home run pitch by hitting Michael Conforto with a pitch and walking Jeff McNeil. That was the end of Chapman's day. Both later scored on a Jose Peraza double off of Lucas Luetge as part of a six-run seventh inning for the Mets.
The meltdown was the latest disaster for Chapman, who now has a 22.24 ERA in his last nine appearances.
Close the book on Aroldis Chapman ...
Aroldis Chapman - last 9 appearances
BLSV 3
ERA 22.24 (14 ER/5.2 IP)
BB/K 9/6
BAA .483 (14/29)
HR 4— Seth Rothman (@SethDRothman) July 4, 2021
This, after Chapman allowed just one unearned run in his first 18 innings this season.
The day didn't go any better for Cole, who —like Chapman — was booed off the mound after allowing four earned runs in 3.1 innings. The Yankees ace allow six hits, walked three and gave up a home run to Dominic Smith. His only solace was the Chapman picked up the loss thanks to blowing the 5-4 seventh-inning lead.
Cole — also like Chapman — has struggled after a hot start with his ERA ballooning from 1.78 to 2.91 in six starts since June 3. MLB started its sticky-stuff crackdown on June 21, and both pitchers have struggled since.
Boone insisted last week that the crackdown and his team's pitching struggles are unrelated.
“I think that it affects us less than probably most teams,” Boone said, per the New York Post. “I don’t see it as an overwhelming issue for our team.”
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