Anthony Volpe’s clutch homer not enough as Yankees fall to Tigers on walk-off error – Boston Herald

The Yankees failed to finish a four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers, dropping Thursday afternoon’s series finale despite a game-tying, three-run home run by Anthony Volpe in the bottom of the ninth.

A Gleyber Torres throwing error on a double-play attempt in the 10th inning allowed the Tigers to score the walk-off run in a 4-3 victory in Detroit. The Yankees challenged the final play, contending a slide at second interfered with Torres, but the call was upheld.

The loss wasted the heroics by Volpe, who clubbed his clutch, opposite-field blast against Tigers closer Alex Lange with the Yankees down to their final out. Volpe made history in the process, becoming the first Yankee to record 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in his rookie season.

A scoreless bottom of the ninth pitched by closer Clay Holmes pushed the game into extra innings, and the Yankees ended an Aaron Judge off day early by sending the slugger up to lead off the 10th. But Judge grounded out, and the Yankees’ automatic runner remained stranded for the remainder of the frame.

After slugging eight home runs over the series’ first three games, the Yankees only mustered two hits over the first eight innings Thursday. Tigers starter Matt Manning dominated over six shutout frames, outdueling the Yankees’ Clarke Schmidt, who began with four scoreless innings before surrendering three runs in the fifth.

A win would have clinched the first four-game sweep of the season for the Yankees (65-69), who have swept a trio of three-game sets.

Taking three of four from Detroit (60-74) gave the Yankees their first series win since they swept the Kansas City Royals at home between July 21-23. The Yankees went 0-8-2 over their next 10 series, a dreadful stretch that included their first nine-game losing streak in more than four decades.

The Yankees hit two home runs Monday, three Tuesday and three Wednesday, with Torres providing solo shots in each of those games.

Up next for the Yankees is a three-game series in Houston, where they’re expected to call up top prospects Jasson Dominguez, 20, and Austin Wells, 24, for their MLB debuts.

Justin Verlander, whom the Astros reacquired from the Mets before the Aug. 1 trade deadline, is scheduled to pitch Friday night. He is 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts against the Yankees this season and is 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA since rejoining Houston, where he previously pitched from 2017-22.

The Yankees are set to counter with left-hander Carlos Rodon, who is 1-4 with a 5.97 ERA.

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