These are the kind of games that age you as a fan.
Sidney Ponson made a claim for another start with seven shutout innings and Damaso Marte contributed with an impressive eighth, but Mariano Rivera gave up a run in the ninth as the
Angels nipped the Yanks 1-0 in the Boogie Down. It was a pitchers' duel (obviously, the final was 1-0) and the first guy to blink was going to be the loser.
And it's always weird when it turns out to be Rivera.
The loss also dropped the Bombers 5.5 games back of the Rays in the AL East. So, after starting the second half with eight straight wins, the Yanks have now lost five of their past six. Yep, the season is a marathon.
The Good:Sidney Ponson. It wasn't exactly a Picasso, but The Arubian Knight matched Ervin Santana pitch for pitch. He got some help from the defense (Bobby Abreu in right, Melky Cabrera in center and Wilson Betemit at first), but also worked out of a bases loaded, one-out jam in the fifth. And it all went to waste. If you told me before the game that Ponson would hold the Angels to no runs on two hits through seven I would have called you a madman. And if you told me that the Yanks would still lose the game I would have punched you in the face. Ah, well. Ponson settled for a no-decision with this effort: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 1 K.
The Bad:Mariano Rivera. The numbers are out there and I still can't wrap my head around it. Rivera is 26 for 26 in save situations, but somehow falls apart when the spotlight dims. Michael Kay gave the stats during the broadcast and in case you missed it, I'll regurgitate it for you. The Sandman had allowed seven runs this season. Five of the seven runs came in tie games. Unfathomable. Well, Mo entered Friday's action in the ninth with the score tied and gave up his eighth run of the season. That's why you can't predict baseball. Rivera fell to 4-4 with this: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K.
The Ugly:Nonsense. I've said (and written) it before, but I guess I'll have to say (write) it again since no one seems to be getting the message. Why is Major League Baseball compelled to suspend a pitcher for throwing at a batter (allegedly) even though the pitcher received an ejection during that ballgame? Also, how on God's Green Earth does it make sense to throw a pitcher out of a game for
almost hitting a batter and then suspending him for it? That's the case for
Edwar Ramirez. Ramirez was kicked out of Wednesday's game against the O's after his first pitch sailed high and wide to Kevin Millar. The suits have handed down a three-game suspension for Ramirez. Edwar will appeal. Fight the power, Urkel!
The Yanks also made a roster move Friday.
Brian Bruney (remember him?) was called up from Triple-A and reliever Chris Britton was sent back down to Scranton. Bruney hasn't pitched since injuring his foot against the Chicago White Sox on April 22. The Maltese Falcon opted out of season-ending surgery and instead choose to rehab. I guess it worked.
The Yanks will try for the split this weekend and send Mike Mussina (13-7, 3.56 ERA) against Jered Weaver (9-8, 4.11 ERA) on Saturday. Weaver is coming off a solid July (2-0, 3.27 ERA in four starts) and has walked only 38 batters in 124.2 innings this season. Dream Weaver is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees. The Moose was shellacked in his last start against the Orioles, giving up six runs on eight hits in five innings, but still finished the month of July at 3-1 with a 2.61 ERA. Mussina is 15-9 with a 3.71 ERA in 31 career starts against the Halos.
Saturday will also mark the final Old Timers' Day at the "old" Yankee Stadium. The Angels-Yankees game will be on FOX (guh!), but YES will broadcast the ceremonies beginning at 1:30 p.m. Should be fun.
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