CHICAGO – Part of this frenzied MLB trade deadline period is the internal scouting report – a harsh evaluation of your own personnel.
For the Yankees, that might include a frank assessment of their young outfielders.
Spencer Jones smashed another homer off a lefty starter on Saturday night, this one a low opposite-field drive with the wind blowing in at Wrigley Field.
Switch-hitter Jasson Dominguez had another good at-bat from his historically weaker right side, lashing a double to left.
In right field, Dominguez also misplayed the carom on Pete Crow-Armstrong’s go-ahead triple during a three-run seventh, fueling the Cubs to a 5-2 victory.
Not enough support
Once more a challenged Yankees’ lineup failed to gain any traction against Cubs lefty starter David Peterson – with a 5.80 ERA over his first 101 innings this year – and three relievers not named Lee Smith, Bruce Sutter or Daniel Palencia.
Entering the seventh with a 2-1 lead, Yanks reliever Fernando Cruz instantly gave up a game-tying homer to Nico Hoerner and was charged with another run.
Over his last seven appearances, Cruz has given up five runs on six hits – including two homers – with eight walks, as he struggles with his signature splitter.
Rushing toward MLB’s 6 p.m. (EDT) Monday trade deadline, we’re about to see how the Yankees bolster a lineup impacted by key injuries and a bullpen in need of more swing-and-miss stuff.
Because the starting pitching remains a signature strength, and Max Fried – in his third start back from an elbow issue – handed off a one-run lead in the sixth.
“We don’t have a lot of margin for error when you’re not putting a lot of points on the board,’’ said Yanks manager Aaron Boone, in a familiar postgame take.
A two-out walk to pinch-hitter Pedro Ramirez ended Cruz’s night in the seventh and brought on lefty Brent Headrick, who’d given up one run during July.
But when Crow-Armstrong pulled a hit down the right field line, Dominguez got too close to Wrigley’s angled wall and was soon chasing down an RBI triple.
“This is a little akin to Fenway,’’ Boone said of where the wall juts out, with limited foul ground. “It’s a tough aspect to this ballpark.’’
Dominguez agreed it was “a tough play,’’ though “that’s not an excuse. You have to be able to make that play.
“I wasn’t expecting that kick from the wall.’’
MLB trade deadline closes in
Seiya Suzuki followed with an RBI single, and the Yankees – with Ben Rice rested from Saturday’s lineup – had no further offensive answers.
Pinch-hitting in the eighth, Rice grounded out as the tying run.
“We’ve been grinding, trying to find our way,’’ said Dominguez, as the Yanks had just four at-bats (one hit) with runners in scoring position.
Fried was left to lament “getting into some traffic again in the first (inning),’’ where a walk and two wild pitches led to Chicago’s first run.
“Just on me to be a little bit sharper on pitch one.’’
It’s Gerrit Cole on the mound Sunday as the Yanks try to end a 10-game road trip with a winning record, and maybe exit with some reinforcements on the way.
“We’re focused on trying to win. That’s really not our decision in this clubhouse,’’ Fried said of potential trades. “Whatever happens, happens.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees’ needs for lineup, bullpen boost underlined in loss to Cubs
