For openers, Yankees start 'second half' on the wrong foot

ATLANTA – Here was a Yankee exercise in how not to resume MLB’s so-called second half.

Right out of the All-Star break, the Yankees – a bit handcuffed due to rotation injuries – still chose to go with a bullpen game Friday, a concept that instantly backfired.

Throw in an ugly baserunning mistake by Jorbit Vivas, taking a key early at-bat away from Aaron Judge, and you quickly have the makings of a forgettable night at Truist Park.

A few hours after manager Aaron Boone spoke of “the opportunity’’ to “play our best baseball…come together as a team some more’’ and that “it all starts now,’’ the underachieving Atlanta Braves ran off with a 7-3 victory.

Without Max Fried (blister) or rookie Cam Schlittler (arm soreness) available to start Friday, the Yankees opted not to start Will Warren on regular rest and turned to “opener’’ Ian Hamilton.

Instantly, Hamilton put the Yankees in a 3-0 deficit, which became 6-0 on Ozzie Albies’ three-run homer off Rico Garcia, just picked up on waivers from the Mets.

Drawing a starting assignment was "a little bit different'' said Hamilton, who yielded hits to the Braves' first three batters and mostly regretted a slider All-Star Matt Olson laced for an RBI double.

Jorbit Vivas' baserunning mistake: "It can't happen''

An inexcusable baserunning blunder by Vivas ended the Yankees’ third inning, in stunning form.

Runners were at first and second with one out, Atlanta ahead 3-0, when Cody Bellinger sent a deep fly to right field.

Ronald Acuna Jr. made the catch and fired a bullet to third base, where Vivas – having tagged up at second base – was caught flat-footed and tagged out without a slide.

"Can't happen. Just can't happen,'' said Boone, while a contrite Vivas said "it's my fault'' through an interpreter.

That unpardonable bit of inattention cost Judge an at-bat as the tying run, and it threw another spotlight on the glaring need to solve third base before the July 31 MLB trade deadline.

Boone and Vivas credited Braves third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr. for his relaxed body language before the catch and tag, but apparently his "deke'' was unintentional, thinking Acuna's throw would go to second base.

Either way, "I slowed down. That's my mistake,'' said Vivas, who caught third base coach Luis Rojas signaling him to slide, but picked him up late. "It's on me there to make it to that base.''

“He’s a hard-nosed player, and he got caught up there,’’ Boone said of Vivas, who was aware of Acuna’s cannon arm. That said, “you can never let that happen again…especially in that situation’’ with Judge due up.

Reading into the Yankees' lineup decision

Spencer Strider started for Atlanta, so the .149 lefty hitting Vivas drew Friday’s start over the .149 righty-hitting Oswald Peraza.

Meanwhile, Paul Goldschmidt was on the bench against the tough right-hander, perhaps a sign of things to come for the lefty mashing veteran (1.182 OPS), with a .617 OPS versus righties this year.

So, Cody Bellinger made just his second start of the year at first base and Ben Rice served as the designated hitter, with Giancarlo Stanton as a reserve.

After Strider spun six shutout innings with eight strikeouts, the Yankees had a fairer fight against Atlanta’s bullpen.

In the seventh, Stanton’s pinch-hit, two-run double and Bellinger’s RBI single brought Judge to the plate with the tying run on deck, Jazz Chisholm Jr.

But lefty Dylan Lee got Judge (1-for-4, 3 Ks) swinging and the Yanks’ best hope had vanished.

With the Blue Jays' victory Friday, the Yankees are three games behind AL East leading Toronto, where the Yanks arrive Monday for a three-game set.

Carlos Rodon, Fried and Schlittler are due to start for the Yanks (53-44), but they first have to get past the Braves (43-53), who could be interesting sellers in the coming days.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: For openers, Yankees start 'second half' on the wrong foot