And so it goes.
Andy Pettitte went seven gritty innings, but Joe Saunders was equal to the task and Chone Figgins dribbled the game-winning hit off Mariano Rivera in the ninth as the
Angels edged the Yanks 4-3 in Anaheim. The Bombers jumped to an early 2-0 lead after one, but the Halos took the lead with three runs in the third. Robinson Cano tied the score with an RBI-ground out in the fourth. The remainder of the game turned into a battle of attrition.
The Yankees had chances in the seventh and eighth innings to take the lead, but came up empty. Justin Christian doubled to open the seventh and was sacrificed to third. But Johnny Damon struck out and Derek Jeter popped out to end the threat. Alex Rodriguez doubled with one out in the eighth, but was thrown out trying to steal third base. It was a bang-bang play and A-Rod may have been safe, but the replay was inconclusive. And to be honest, I thought he was out with the naked eye. Anyway, the Yanks came away with no runs.
The loss drops the Yanks 8.5 games behind the high-flying Rays in the AL East, but keeps them 4 games back of the Red Sox in the wild card chase.
The Good:Andy Pettitte. The Yankees needed a big effort from their veteran lefty and if not for one bad inning, No. 46 could have pulled out a win. But you don't get to drop your worst inning from the box score. Pettitte pitched in and out of danger for most of the afternoon, but he couldn't escape a very unlucky third inning. Gary Matthews opened the frame with an infield hit and Mike Napoli doubled just inside the third base line. Those were bad enough, but the next infield hit was the killer. Figgins laced a shot that was ticketed to center, but Pettitte got his glove out and almost snagged the liner. He didn't, however, and the ball bounced harmlessly to Jeter for an infield hit. If Pettitte made the play he may have had a shot at a double play or at the very least it would have been the first out of the inning. None of those scenarios happened. A run scored on the single and the Angels went on to score three runs in the frame (which also included an ugly balk by Pettitte). Still, Pettitte regrouped and gave the Yanks a solid outing so I'm going to dedicate Iron Maiden's The Trooper to him. Pettitte picked up the no-decision with this: 7+ IP, 10 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 K.
The Bad:Damaso Marte. The Yankee lefty did some good, but it couldn't wash away his bad. Marte entered the game in the eighth inning with a runner on first and nobody out and retired Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Garret Anderson in order. That was the good part. It was a different story in the ninth. Howie Kendrick singled to open the ninth, but there's no shame in that. Kendrick is a good hitter and he's murdered the Yanks in his short career. Marte struck out Gary Matthews for the first out, but then committed his unforgivable sin. He walked the next batter -- Napoli. Now, Napoli has some pop and one day may turn into a decent hitter, but he entered Sunday's action with a .215 average. Unacceptable. That was all for Marte. He may not have given up the game-winning hit, but Marte played a big role in making it happen. Marte fell to 0-2 as a Yank with this: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K.
Robinson Cano/Wilson Betemit. Robbie went hitless, but picked up an RBI, and Betemit struck out in a pinch hitting appearance in the ninth, but they aren't earning my contempt for their offense. No, their defense, or lack thereof, in the ninth is the reason I'm putting both of them in the corner. Rivera came in to face Figgins with runners on first and second and one out in the ninth. Figgins hit a weak ground ball between first and second. Betemit gave up on it too soon and retreated to cover first base. That was a mistake because every infielder should have tried to do everything possible to keep the ball from going into the outfield. Still, I don't think Betemit would have made the play and he felt it was his responsibility to get to the bag. OK. He was wrong, but OK. But I don't know what Cano was thinking on the play. He actually stopped and assumed Betemit was going to make the play. Cano had no other responsibility other than making a play on the ground ball. He hesitated and the ball trickled into right field for the game-winning hit. Inexcusable!
The Ugly:Close call. The last thing the Yankees need is to have another pitcher go down with an injury, but it almost happened in the sixth. Anderson led off the inning with a line shot off Pettitte's right leg. Pettitte scrambled after the ball and made a nice play to get Anderson at first, but the greater concern was for Andy's health. Girardi and Stevey Donahue came out to take a look at Pettitte, but the big lefty shook it off and stayed in the game. Things have been dark in Yankee Land lately, but they may have shut off the lights if Pettitte was injured on that play.
The Yanks will now embark on the final leg of this 10-game road trip from Hell with a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins. Sidney Ponson (7-2, 4.23 ERA) will go against Glen Perkins (8-3, 4.38 ERA) in the opener Monday night. Perkins has put together a solid season and it could have been even better if not for his two starts against the Bombers this season. The 25-year-old is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA against the Yankees, including a 5-1 loss at The Stadium in which he showed up second baseman Alexi Casilla for forgetting how many outs there were. Ponson is coming off two dazzling starts against two very good offensive teams (Texas Rangers and Angels). The Arubian Knight will be making his fourth start against the Twinkies this season (two with the Rangers, one with the Yanks). Sir Sid is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA this season against Minnesota and is 11-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 16 career appearances. He doesn't pitch as well at the Metrodome, though. Ponson is 5-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 11 lifetime starts under the dome.
This may be the make-or-break series for the Yanks this season. The Twins are battling the Chicago White Sox for the AL Central crown (they're a half game out as I write this) and are 1.5 games behind the Red Sox for the wild card berth. A poor showing in Minnesota and the Yankees could find themselves in a deeper hole (yes, it's possible to sink further).
Time to see what the Bombers are made of.
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The Angels are just too tough for the Yankees and it looks like the Rays are for real. You're right, this Twins series is big and they have to win it. It's looking bleak.