SEATTLE — The Yankees had hoped to bring a four-game winning streak with them Friday when they arrive in Houston for the first time since losing the 2019 ALCS.
Instead, they were shut down by Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert in a 4-0 loss Thursday afternoon at T-Mobile Park.
In a pivotal week for a team that many people — including the owner — believe has underperformed so far this season, the Yankees took the first two games from Seattle before their offense was overmatched by the rookie Gilbert, who retired the final 18 batters he faced on Thursday, as the Yankees finished with a season-low one hit.
If they want to go into the All-Star break with any kind of positive vibes, they’ll need to at least win the next series — in a place where they don’t have good memories.
“It was the ultimate heartbreak the last time we were there,’’ manager Aaron Boone said of the walk-off homer by the Astros’ Jose Altuve off Aroldis Chapman that ended the Yankees’ season two years ago.
Aaron Judge and the Yankees were shut out by the Mariners on Thursday. Getty ImagesThis will be the Yankees’ first trip to Houston since the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scandal became public.
The Yankees took two of three from the Astros in The Bronx in May and Dusty Baker’s team is in first place in the AL West.
Asked if there would be any added tension for the series, Gary Sanchez said through an interpreter: “I don’t know. Right now for us, our concentration is on winning series. It doesn’t matter who we’re facing: Houston or anybody else.”
That’s because the Yankees have more pressing concerns than enacting revenge for past playoff losses.
For one thing, they remain in fourth place in the AL East, with another postseason appearance certainly in jeopardy.
And Boone noted that’s where the focus would be.
“We need to go play well and win some ballgames going into the break to put ourselves in a position to make a run,’’ Boone said.
On Thursday, Jordan Montgomery struggled in the first two innings and the Yankees couldn’t get out of the hole. They failed to complete a series sweep for the seventh time in nine tries this season.
Montgomery allowed a two-out solo homer to center to Kyle Seager in the first.
The Yankees had a chance to tie the game in the second, when Giancarlo Stanton led off with a rocket double to left. Luke Voit was hit by a pitch before Stanton moved to third on Gleyber Torres’ fly ball to center.
But Gio Urshela struck out and Brett Gardner grounded out on a nice play by shortstop J.P. Crawford to end the threat — the lone one of the day against Gilbert.
After drilling Voit in the second, he didn’t allow another base runner, while Montgomery’s home run trouble continued.
In the second inning, he got the first two batters before Luis Torrens singled to left and Dylan Moore homered to center to make it 3-0.
Montgomery settled down after that and didn’t permit another run before leaving with two outs in the seventh following a season-high 105 pitches.
