It's the age-old question: would you rather get routed or lose a close one?
Either way, a loss is a loss as the Yanks wasted a dramatic three-run bomb off the bat of Shelley Duncan and dropped the rubber game to the O's, 6-3 in 10 innings, in the Bronx. The Bombers didn't lose any ground to the Red Sox in the AL East or to the Mariners in the wild card hunt, but that offers me little consolation.
I was at work during the game, but checked in on MLB's Gamecast and caught some of the replay when I got home. Let's get this over with.
The Good:
Duncan continues to be a monster -- Frankenstein's monster! The Yanks were on their way to another shutout loss when Shelley lifted a ninth inning, two-out, three-run dinger to tie the score at 3-3. Duncan also picked up his first big league assist when he gunned out the speedy Corey Patterson at the plate. This kid has really given the Yanks a shot in the arm. My only problem with him is that he just doesn't show enough emotion on the field. Duncan finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and 3 RBIs.
Edwar Ramirez. The Yankees did the right thing before Wednesday's ballgame and sent Jeff Karstens and Jim Brower back to Triple-A and brought up Ramirez and Sean Henn. And guess what? Torre used Ramirez right off the bat and the kid was impressive. His changeup was falling off the table and the Orioles had no answer for it. I still don't know what took the Yanks so long to bring him back up. Edwar's totals: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
The Bad:
Mariano Rivera. What the hell's going on here? Rivera has been shaky in his last three outings and really ripped the hearts out of the Yanks on Wednesday. Mo blew a save on Monday against the O's, but the hits he gave up that night were bloops and bleeders. Well, he was hit hard on Wednesday and his poor performance cost the Yanks a chance at an uplifting victory. I guess the Dog Days of August are taking their toll on the Sandman. Shake it off, Mo, you're better than this. Rivera dropped to 3-4 on the year with this: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR.
Phil Hughes. Hughes' performance on Wednesday afternoon was so-so. I'll put him in the "bad" category because the three runs he gave up all came with two outs. The Yankees may tell you he's mature well beyond his years (and he certainly gives that impression on the mound), but he's still a rookie and he has to learn how to pitch out of two-out jams. Still, I have to give him credit for working out of a first and third, nobody out jam in the fifth. I guess the Yanks will have to live with his growing pains. Hughes' no decision: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 earned), 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP.
The Ugly:
The Birds. The Yankees record against Baltimore this season now stands at 4-8. The Orioles aren't an awful team by any stretch -- their lineup is decent and they have some quality starters -- but there is no way the Yanks should be four games under against a team that's 56-63 on the year.
The Yanks have to shake off this disappointing loss as they welcome in the Detroit Tigers for an important four-game set beginning on Thursday night. It will be the first meeting between these teams this season and the first meeting since the Tigers upset the Yanks in last year's divisional playoffs. Mike Mussina goes for his fifth straight win and the Tigers will counter with their ace Justin Verlander (12-4, 3.58 ERA).
This will also be the first visit for Gary Sheffield since he left New York.
I wonder what kind of reception the home folks will give him.
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Thank you Jim Brower. You're stay in the Bronx was short but pointless.