Damn rainout.
Mike Mussina pitched well enough to win and Bobby Abreu delivered a clutch two-run single to tie the score in the seventh, but Nate McLouth answered with a two-run bomb in the bottom of the frame as the
Pirates doubled up the Yanks 4-2 in a makeup game in Pittsburgh. It's too bad the Yankees couldn't carry over the three runs they scored in the June 26 game -- they really could have used them.
Paul Maholm kept the Bombers in check for most of the night this time around, but the Yanks had a chance in the ninth against Damaso Marte. Jason Giambi came up to the dish as the tying run with one out in the eighth, but Marte got The 'Stache to fly out to center after a tough at-bat. Derek Jeter then bounced out to first to end the game. The loss snaps the Yankees four-game winning streak.
The Good:Bobby Abreu. Another day, another big hit for the Candy Man. Abreu struck out with runners on first and second in the fifth inning to end a scoring threat, but he didn't let another opportunity pass him by in the seventh inning. The Yanks loaded the bases with two outs and Abreu laced a two-run single to right to knot the score at 2-2. Unfortunately, that was all the offense the Yankees would muster. Abreu finished 1 for 3 with a walk, a stolen base and 2 RBIs.
Mike Mussina. It's a sin what the Yankees are doing to Mussina. The Moose was
victimized by both his catchers in the fifth inning. Jorge Posada was
at first base Thursday night and failed to hold on to a relay throw
that would have resulted in a double play. Instead of two outs and
nobody on, McLouth reached on the fielder's choice (can't assume the
double play my ass!) with one out. McLouth then swiped second and
scampered to third when Jose Molina skipped the throw into center field
for an error. Freddy Sanchez then delivered a sacrifice fly to give
the Pirates their second run of the game. Freddy Sanchez also gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead with an RBI-single that just floated over the glove of Jeter at short. The Moose really deserved a better fate, but at least he smacked an opposite-field single in the fifth. Mussina picked up a no-decision with this: 6 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 5 K.
The Bad:Jose Veras. Leadoff walks always seem to come around and score. Especially when they're followed up with a home run. That's how Veras' night started. Veras came in for Mussina in the seventh and walked Jack Wilson and then gave up a two-run shot to McLouth. It was the first homer Veras has given up since June 21 against the Cincinnati Reds, which was also the last time he allowed an earned run. Talk about bad timing. Veras picked up the loss and fell to 2-1 on the year with this: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HR.
Alex Rodriguez. The Yanks didn't put together many rallies, but A-Rod manged to kill the few they had. Rodriguez struck out in the first with a runner on and one out, flew out to center with a runner on second and two outs in the third and bounced into a fielder's choice with runners on first and second and two outs in the seventh. The Bomber offense is struggling and it's up to A-Rod to get things going again. Rodriguez finished 0 for 4.
The Ugly:An absent All-Star.
Jason Giambi didn't get the people's vote for the American League's final slot in the All-Star Game, but another Yankee will also miss the Midsummer Classic. Public address announcer
Bob Sheppard still isn't feeling well and won't be able to man the mic on Tuesday night in the Bronx. "I am not going to be physically able to perform my duties during the
All-Star activities," Sheppard, 97, told The Star-Ledger from his home in
Baldwin, N.Y. "I notified the Yankees that my back-up, Jim Hall - H-A-L-L - will
be filling in for me." Sheppard, who hasn't worked a game during this final year of Yankee Stadium, doesn't know when he'll be back. He's been sorely missed.
The Yanks will head north and take on the Toronto Blue Jays for their final three-game set before the break. Joba Chamberlain (2-2, 2.45 ERA) will go against Roy Halladay (10-6, 2.88 ERA) in Friday night's opener. Halladay is 7-1 in his past 10 starts and will be facing the Yanks for the third time this year. He's 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA in his previous two starts. Chamberlain made his first big league start against the Jays on June 3 at The Stadium and picked up a no-decision in a 9-3 Yankee loss. Joba picked up his first win of the year (in relief) against the Jays on April 3. Chamberlain has a 1.11 ERA on the road this season and is 1-0 with a 0.79 ERA in seven career appearances against the Blue Jays.
Looks like it's a set up of the unstoppable force vs. the immovable object.
Let's see who will come out on top.
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Mussina has definitely been short-changed this year. Hate to speculate about outside garbage but I wonder if A-Rod is a little distracted at the moment.