This team has guts, but it wasn't enough.
Andy Pettitte was off, Brian Bruney provided little relief and Alex
Rodriguez grounded into a double play to end it as the
Rangers bested
the Yanks 8-6 in Arlington. This game smelled like a loss as soon as I
turned on the television and the Bombers could have rolled over and
died several times, but they fought back from 5-1 and 8-2 deficits to make things close.
They just couldn't get over the hump. Bouncing into four double plays
will do that.
The Rays and Red Sox both won so the Yankees slipped 6.5 games back of
Tampa in the AL East and 3.5 games behind Boston in the wild card hunt.
I'm feeling very fatigued and this game sapped what little strength I had left so I'll quickly round this one up.
The Good:
Richie Sexson. The Yanks were unable to get a big hit all night, but
Sexson delivered in the eighth. Big Sexy stepped up to the plate with
the bases loaded and the Bombers down 8-2 and ripped his first homer in
pinstripes. It would be as close as the Yanks would get, but maybe Sexson's
dinger shows that he still has something left in the tank. Sexson
finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and 4 RBIs.
The Bad:
Andy Pettitte. The Yankees really needed a quality start from the
veteran lefty, but it didn't happen. Pettitte served up a two-run
homer to Josh Hamilton in the first and gave up single runs in the
second, fourth and sixth before exiting. It was the second straight
poor performance from Pettitte. And the Yanks just can't afford to
have awful starts at this point in the season. Pettitte fell to 12-9
with this: 5 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR.
Brian Bruney. The Maltese Falcon has pitched well since returning from
his foot injury on Aug. 2, but he crapped the bed Tuesday night.
Bruney entered the game in the seventh with two outs, runners on the
corners and the Yanks trailing 5-2. It didn't turn out well. Bruney issued a walk and then Chris
Davis laced a bases-clearing double to give the Rangers an 8-2
advantage. That was bad enough, but Sexson's grand slam in the
following inning made these three runs sting even more. The box score
will deceive, but the people know what happened out there. Bruney's
horrorshow: .1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K.
The Ugly:By the time I get to Alabama. It's never a good sign when the name
Dr. James Andrews pops up. And it just popped up. Joba Chamberlain will head down to see the Doc about his aching shoulder. The Yanks are trying to downplay the situation, but I'm not buying it. Chamberlain is already scheduled to miss his next start (Ian Kennedy will take his place Saturday against the Angels) and will most likely land on the disabled list, even if it's a minor injury. May God have mercy on us all.
The Yanks will try and snap out of this funk and give the assignment to Sidney Ponson (6-2, 4.23 ERA). Tommy Hunter (0-0, 10.80 ERA) will take the ball for Texas. Hunter is another Ranger baby, just 22-years-old, and is coming off his first career start. The Blue Jays smacked Hunter around for six runs on eight hits in five innings, but he walked away with a no-decision as the Rangers won the game 9-8. Ponson did everything anyone could have possibly asked for in his last start against the Angels. Except win. The Arubian Knight spun seven shutout innings, but picked up a no-decision in the Yanks eventual 1-0 loss. The Rangers beat up Ponson to the tune of seven runs on nine hits in five innings July 2 at The Stadium. But Sir Sid picked up a no-decision as the Yanks went on to win the game 18-7. This will be Ponson's first visit back to Texas since the Rangers released him.
Release your anger on them, Sid.
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Why are all these young pitchers getting hurt?! I know Joba throws very hard but between him, Hughes, Kennedy and Wang, it's ridiculous. I think Nolan Ryan sitting in the stands is in better shape.