The Yankees’ season is going so poorly that they can’t even enter skirmishes without tripping over themselves.
Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle tripped while running onto the field for the first of two bench-clearing scuffles between the Yankees and Rays on Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Kahnle had pitched a scoreless seventh inning – his first outing not allowing a run in more than a week – and apparently had gone into the clubhouse, which is ordinary for a pitcher following the conclusion of his outing.
The benches then cleared in the bottom of the eighth when Yankees pitcher Albert Abreu hit Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena.
Kahnle, not wanting to miss out on the action and join his teammates, rushed out toward the field but seemingly tripped over the steps leading onto the field.
The 34-year-old at least redeemed himself slightly by using his momentum to do a forward roll and continue running toward the action.
There’s no video of Kahnle tripping during the second brawl, so it seems he had his entrance perfected in time for the second fracas.
Fans had plenty to say on social media about Kahnle’s trip and roll, which at least offered a fun moment in yet another disappointing Yankees loss.
“Highlight of the season,” one fan quipped while another posted, “He is beauty, he is grace.”
Kahnle’s stumbling pretty much sums up the state of affairs for the last-place Yankees, who are all but eliminated in the playoff race.
The team has become such a laughing stock that the Rays have no qualms about taking shots at the Yankees.
“We got hit a lot,’’ Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe said after the game. “You never want your guys to get hit. If you can’t throw inside, don’t throw inside. But looking at it from a different view, it’s a last-place team. We don’t need to worry about it. We need to focus on what we need to do down the stretch.’’
The Bronx Bombers (62-68) are 11 games back in the wild card, 19 games back in the division and ahead of only five teams in the American League.
The Yankees actually showed some life Friday by battering the Rays but were blanked a day later on Saturday and blew a lead on Sunday.
They are 2-12 in their last 14 games and 1-12-3 in their last 16 series, while also losing their last eight rubber games.
Kahnle, in the first year of a two-year contract, has not helped the situation much in the second half.
The righty did not allow an earned run spanning his first 16 outings but has posted a 6.14 ERA in his 17 outings since.
Kahnle suffered the losses in both Yankees’ defeats against the Nationals at Yankee Stadium last week, surrendering three homers and four runs spanning 1 ⅔ innings.