The sky may not be falling in Yankee Land just yet, but it's getting mighty heavy.
Chien-Ming Wang fell apart after a promising beginning, the offense managed only three hits and Jose Reyes and Moises Alou combined to drive in six runs as the
Mets spanked the Yanks 11-2 in the Bronx. The Yanks actually caught a break in this one when Carlos Delgado's shot down the left field line was incorrectly called a foul ball instead of a three-run home run in the fourth inning. But in the end, it didn't matter. The Bombers have dropped eight of their past 11 games.
The Good:Hideki Matsui. Godzilla was responsible for the most exciting part of the evening for the Yanks. Matsui went yard and sliced the Mets lead to 4-2 in the fourth inning. That would be as close as the Yankees would get. In fact, the Bombers would only get one more hit the rest of the night -- a leadoff double off the bat of Jose Molina in the fifth. Obviously, Molina didn't come around to score. Kinda hard to come back when you can't piece together any hits. Matsui finished 1 for 4 with a run scored and the 2 RBIs.
The Bad:Chien-Ming Wang. When The Wanger has an off night, he usually shows signs early. That wasn't the case Sunday night. Wang retired the first nine batters, had his sinker working and looked poised to have another Wang-like outing. But fortunes changed in the fourth when Reyes led off the inning with a double. Things quickly degenerated from there. When the smoke cleared, the Mets pushed four runs across on four hits and two walks and with the Yanks struggling on O, you could have turned your sets off right there. Wang rebounded (sort of) and worked into the eighth inning, but another leadoff double (this time by David Wright) started another Mets rally. In the end, it was a bad start on an all-around bad night for the Yanks. Wang fell to 6-2 with this: 7.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR.
Ross Ohlendorf. The Big O came into the game with the Yanks down 6-2 in the eighth and quickly allowed the game to get out of hand (more so). Ohlendorf allowed two RBI-singles and then gave up a three-run bomb to Reyes to cap the Mets scoring. The Yanks were already getting their lunch handed to them, but Ross made sure the beating turned into a laugher. Ohlendorf's line: .1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR.
The Ugly:Offensive offense. The Yanks aren't firing on all cylinders without Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, that much is clear, but there is no way this offense should be this putrid. The "Bombers" have scored 12 runs in the past six games. My quick math tells me that's an average of two runs per game. That ain't gonna get it done. I don't think anyone expects this team to put up eight or nine runs on a daily basis, but they should be able to put together close to a fistful more than once a week. Right?
Thankfully, reinforcements are on the way.
A-Rod is expected to be back in the lineup on Tuesday. Thank Budda.
*Monday is an off-day as the Yanks will head down to Baltimore and take on the Orioles in a three-game series staring on Tuesday. Former O Mike Mussina (6-3, 3.99) will take the hill for the Yankees and go against Daniel Cabrera (4-1, 3.58 ERA). The Moose has rattled off five wins in a row and has an impressive 3.38 ERA on the road this season. He's also 77-41 with a 3.66 ERA lifetime at Camden Yards. Cabrera is off to a nice start, but he's struggled at home. Danny's road ERA is a tiny 2.17, but balloons to 5.87 in front of the home folks. Cabrera defeated the Yanks in Baltimore on April 18.
Maybe the return of A-Rod can kick-start this offense.
*Seems like the Yanks' lethargy is rubbing off on me. The Bombers will be HOSTING the Birds for a three-game set. Thanks to Scott for pointing out my embarrassing error. So, file away Mussina's career efforts in Baltimore for another day. As a peace offering for my blunder I can offer you this: The Moose is 10-6 with a 4.51 ERA in 23 lifetime starts against his former team.
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I just need to remind you that the Yankees play the Orioles at home in Yankees Stadium. In your article you say the Yankees are at Camden Yards.
That is not true. This is a home series for the Yankees.