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Max Fried was unbeatable for nearly two months into his first season with the New York Yankees until running into the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Coming off his first defeat of the season, Fried aims to start another winning streak Thursday night when the Yankees host the Cleveland Guardians.

The Yankees are attempting to win a series for the eighth time in nine tries after being held to five hits in Wednesday’s 4-0 loss. Aaron Judge had two singles as the Yankees were blanked for the second time this season.

“We just didn’t have a great night,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “It happens.”

Fried (7-1, 1.92 ERA) allowed two earned runs or fewer in his first 11 starts until Friday’s 8-5 loss to the Dodgers. Facing the defending World Champions, Fried was tagged for six runs on eight hits, including two homers in five innings.

“Mostly, it was just execution, leaving balls in the middle of the plate,” Fried said. “I wasn’t going to the locations I wanted to, and when you’re facing a good team with good hitters, they’re going to make you pay for it.”

Fried allowed homers to Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages in a game where the Yankees held a 5-2 lead before facing four hitters in a four-run sixth.

“The fact that we had a lead and I gave it up … it’s not going to sit well with me,” Fried said. “But you’ve got to be able to use this as motivation to go out next time and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Fried is making his second career start against the Guardians. On April 21, 2019 in Atlanta’s 11-5 win, the left-hander allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Cleveland is trying to win the season series from the Yankees for the first time since 2021 after scoring three runs in the first inning and turning three double plays Wednesday.

Angel Martinez, who is 7-for-45 over his past 11 games, hit a two-run homer following a walk to Steven Kwan. Daniel Schneemann added an RBI double as part of a three-hit night and is 7-for-32 in his past 11 contests.

“When we can jump on the starter, that’s when we’re at our best,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “That’s any team. Anytime you can take the lead early, it’s nice.”

Jose Ramirez doubled to extend his on-base streak to 30 games and also started two of Cleveland’s double plays. Ramirez is hitting .390 (46-for-118) during his on-base streak, which is two shy of his career high set in 2018.

“He’s one of the best players on the planet,” Vogt said about Ramirez.

Carlos Santana also singled to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Santana is hitting .413 (19-for-46) during his hitting streak.

Slade Cecconi (1-1, 5.28) makes his fourth start since entering Cleveland’s rotation. Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in December for Josh Naylor, Cecconi had the worst of those outings when he allowed five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings during a no-decision Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels.

Cecconi’s lone career appearance against the Yankees occurred Sept. 22, 2023 in New York when he pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief and allowed a home run to Judge.

–Field Level Media