That was a thorough ass-whipping.
Mike Mussina didn't have it, Adam Jones belted his first career grand slam and Kevin Millar added a three-run bomb as the
Orioles drilled the Yanks 13-4 at The Stadium. This one was over early as Baltimore scored four runs in the second and Jeremy Shane Guthrie held the Bombers to just two hits through the first six innings. It was the second consecutive loss for the Yanks and snapped their 10-game home winning streak.
The only silver lining was that Tampa Bay and Boston both lost, so the Yankees didn't lose any ground. Yes, I'm looking at the bright side of things.
The Good:Xavier Nady. There wasn't much to cheer about Monday night, but X-Man got his first hit in pinstripes and it just happened to be a home run. Nady blasted a solo shot in the seventh to break up the shutout and slice the Oriole lead to 11-1. The new left fielder also contributed with his glove as he started a relay on a Nick Markakis double in the first inning that cut down Brian Roberts at the plate. Seemed important at the time. Nady finished 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.
The Bad:Mike Mussina. The starts just weren't aligned for The Moose Monday night. Mussina wiggled out of trouble in the first inning thanks to the Nady-to-Jeter-to-Molina putout at the plate, but it all fell apart in the second. Yankee-killer Millar cracked a three-run dinger in the second and Ramon Hernandez followed with a solo blast to give the Orioles a lead they would never relinquish. It was the first two round-trippers Mussina has allowed since June 20 against the Cincinnati Reds. These things happen. Mussina fell to 13-7 with this: 5 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR.
David Robertson. Mussina was bad, but Robertson was even worse. D-Rob entered the game in the sixth with the Yankees down 6-0 and left with the team down 11-0. It was Robertson's worst outing by far in pinstripes and the first runs he's given up since July 6 against the Red Sox. Jones' grand slam was also the first homer that Robertson has given up in his Major League career. Shake it off, rookie. Robertson's night: .1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HR.
The Ugly:Robbery. Third base coach Bobby Meacham has been a windmill machine this season, but for some reason he decided to put up the stop sign in the eighth inning and it cost Melky Cabrera an RBI. I'll set up the scenario in case you missed it. Robinson Cano was at second base with two outs and Cabrera at the plate. Melky lined a base hit to center. Cano took off with the crack of the bat and center fielder Adam Jones conceded the run. Robbie would have scored easily on the play and was ready to round the bag, but for some reason Meacham held him up. Cano was stunned and frankly so was I. Cano was eventually stranded at third. Now, that one run didn't matter in the end, but it robbed Melky of an easy RBI. Meacham should buy Melky a steak or something.
And if you didn't hear,
Jorge Posada decided to have season-ending shoulder surgery. The Yanks will definitely miss him, but it's the smart move. Posada has heart, but he wasn't doing himself or the Yankees any good by trying to play through it. No date has been set for the surgery, but the rehab will take at least six months.
The Yanks will send Darrell Rasner (5-7, 4.83 ERA) to the hill Tuesday night against Daniel Cabrera (6-6, 4.86 ERA). Cabrera has good stuff, but can't ever seem to put it all together. He's having an awful July (1-2, 6.07 ERA), but he likes pitching against the Bombers. Cabrera is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against the Yankees this season. Rasner pitched well in his last start against the Minnesota Twins (5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 2 K), but picked up a no-decision in the Bombers 8-2 victory. The Ras has had success against the Birds this season. He's 1-1 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts, but he should keep away from the Orioles right fielder. Markakis is batting an eye-popping .818 (9 for 11 with one homer) against Rasner in his career.
Time to put an end to this mini-losing streak.
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Meacham has been baffling as the third base coach. I'm still curious as to how he got the job. Does Sterling have a stupid call for Nady's homeruns? One caller to The Fan suggested "X marks the spot!" Maybe too creative for him. He'll find a way to embarrass himself.