Yankees, Marcus Stroman
Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Marcus Stroman, a Long Island native and New York Yankees biggest fan, joined the franchise this off-season on a two-year $37 million contract, with an option for third year. Stroman was pumped to turn the negative narrative around him and impress in front of his home crowd in the Bronx.

Turns out, Marcus Stroman happened to start the season on a high before witnessing a rare off-day at the office in an away series. Regardless, in the most recent game against the Seattle Mariners, Stroman pitched his best and longest start of his Yankee career to earn a moving standing ovation from the home crowd.

   

Marcus Stroman Walks Back To A Standing Ovation After 7 Innings Start

Marcus Stroman, Yankees
NYY Instagram

In an emotional moment during the New York Yankees versus Seattle Mariners series opener on Monday, starting pitcher Marcus Stroman received a standing ovation from the Yankees home crowd following his best Yankee career start. Stroman pitched 7.1 innings while allowing just one run, one walk, and three hits. He made a rare mistake in the eighth inning when he allowed a home run to Dominic Canzone, which reduced the Yank’s lead to 3-1. However, it proved to be not enough as Bomber’s reliable closer, Clay Holmes, had a horror experience. Holmes ended his 20-game scoreless streak by allowing four runs in the final innings and blew up the save as the Yanks went down 5-4 to trail by 1-0 in the four-game series.

Regardless, Marcus Stroman has a memorable outing. As he walked back after pitching his best start of the season, the Yankee crowd greeted him with a standing ovation as an emotional Stroman roared in delight on his way back. In a post-game interview, Marcus expressed his emotions, saying having grown up in New York, coming to the Yankee Stadium, and witnessing a standing ovation means the world to him. The pitcher added that as a Yankee, he tried to reciprocate the love by performing on the mound and giving enough reasons to smile to the fans. “They don’t know how much that means to me and how much that picks me up,” said Stroman on Monday. While the end results didn’t necessarily do justice to Stroman’s heroics, the memories he made will stick with him for the entirety of his life.

Clay Holmes Takes The Blame For Yankees Humiliating Loss To Mariners

Yankees, Clay Holmes
Robert Sabo for NY Post

One of the best closers of MLB this season, Clay Holmes, witnessed a rare failure on the mound on Monday. He was summoned to defend a 3-1 lead. And from a relief pitching riding on a 20-game scoreless streak, the Yankees expected better. But Holmes ended up blowing the save completely. 

Despite getting an early out, Clay Holmes allowed four runs in four hits as his sinker-slider combo was all over the place. The Mariners simply belted Holmes to put an end to his remarkable scoreless streak. And the relief pitcher rightly claimed responsibility, saying his stuff wasn’t good and that the loss was completely a result of his failure.

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