Pen Meltdown Spells Sweep for Indians as Yankees Walk-Off Tops Tribe 7-4; Three Takeaways From the Loss

To say it was a weekend to forget for the Indians in New York is an understatement.

Sunday the awful weekend came to a close with a game that looked like it would be decided by the first run that crossed the plate. The Tribe put up four such runs, but yet another disaster by the pen was their undoing as the Yankees rallied for a 7-4 walk-off 9th inning win.

The loss puts the Indians at 17-17 on the season, and they have lost three of their last four games, including one of the two from their double header on Thursday.

Maybe a day off is just what this team needs, and they will get two of those this week, starting Monday before they head to Milwaukee for a short two-game set with the Brewers on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Here's three takeaways from this latest tough setback.

1. Another Pen Meltdown

This time the two failures from the bullpen would come from vets Cody Allen and Dan Otero, who combined to allow five runs on five hits with two walks in one inning of work.

Consider that Mike Clevinger gave up just two hits all day, and to see Allen and Otero blow it up with the awful efforts they had showed just how sad of a state this pen is in at the moment.

It goes without saying this team so badly needed some guys that can get outs right now, and that they are waiting with bated breath to get Andrew Miller back.

By the time that Yankees 9th hitter prospect Gleyber Torres homered to win the game, you pretty much knew already what was going to happen.

IT'S A WALK-OFF IN NEW YORK.

Gleyber Torres becomes the youngest player in Yankees history with a walk-off HR. (via @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/ChTUmQDF8b
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 6, 2018

2. So Much for Revenge

After last October's meltdown against the Yankees, the Indians were looking forward to exacting some revenge for the AL Divisional loss, but instead were smacked in the face with two tough to swallow losses to even out their mark at 17-17 on the year.

There's a reason why many feel the Yankees are better than the Tribe in 2017, they have a solid young team with enough vets that have not only a scary lineup but enough pitching to maybe again be the best team in the American League.

Three games in May won't truly determine which one of these teams is the best in the American League, but the fact the Indians really could have won both Friday and more so Sunday's game really puts a bad taste in their mouths about where they shape up right now playing the pinstripes.

1. Clevinger Deserved Better

If there was one big positive to Sunday's game it was the effort by Indians starter Mike Clevinger, who went 7.1 innings, stopping the Yankees cold for the most part.

He struck out 10 batters, walking four, and gave up two earned runs on just one hit in the effort.

He was able to throw strikes when he needed them, and didn't allow a hit until the 5th inning. While the three walks did hurt, they were not the reason the Indians lost the game, and he should be proud of the effort, throwing 116 pitches on the day.

Again Clevinger has proven he can go up against any lineup in the AL.