It was a depressing game on an equally miserable night.
Andy Pettitte persevered through seven and Derek Jeter picked up three hits and an RBI after missing a game with a bruised foot, but Mariano Rivera came apart in the ninth as the
Royals squeaked by the Yanks 4-3 at The Stadium. Rain delayed the start of this game for an hour and a half, but really it just delayed another agonizing loss.
The Bombers fell behind 3-0, but battled back with a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh to even things up. That's the only positive I can point out about this team right now. When they fall behind (which seems to be happening on a nightly basis) they usually fight back. They don't come all the way back (usually), but they keep plugging away. It doesn't mean much in the end if you lose, but it shows me that they haven't quit. The Yankees had chances throughout the night and had another opportunity at the end. But Jason Giambi (sporting the 'stache once again) flew out with the bases loaded in the ninth.
Anyway, this isn't Little League and you don't get extra points for trying. The loss dropped the Yanks an amazing 10.5 games behind the Rays in the AL East and 7 games back of the Red Sox for the wild card. I'm not one to throw in the towel, but I think you can safely say that a division crown is an extreme long shot -- at best. In fact, I won't even mention where the Yanks stand in the East from now on unless the deficit has been whittled down to a handful of games.
It's been a while, but I'm going to round this puppy up.
The Good:Andy Pettitte. It wasn't a thing of beauty, but Pettitte kept the Bombers in the game. A leadoff walk in the second led to the Royals first run and they tacked on two more in the fifth. Actually, Pettitte managed to keep the damage to a minimum in the fifth. The Royals loaded the bases twice in the inning, but came away with only two runs and couldn't deliver the knockout blow. It looks like Pettitte is starting to hit the wall, but he still manages to put forth a good effort most of the time. Unfortunately, the Yankees need a little bit more help from their starting pitchers lately. Pettitte picked up a no-decision with this: 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 4 BB (2 intentional), 1 hit batsman, 7 K.
Derek Jeter. The Captain returned after a one-game absence and did his best to right the Yankee ship. Jeter drove in the first Yankee run with an RBI-single in the fifth and worked out a walk during a two-run rally in the seventh. Jete also kept hope alive with a two-out single in the ninth. I thought the recent call-up of infielder
Cody Ransom meant that DJ's foot was worse than originally reported, but it seems to be OK. At least OK enough to play. Jeter finished 3 for 4 with a walk, a stolen base, a run scored and a run batted in.
The Bad:Mariano Rivera. The Sandman usually hits the wall for a brief stretch in August and usually it doesn't matter. Usually. Oh, it matters this season. I checked the numbers and while there isn't any concrete proof to support my theory (Rivera's career ERA in August is 2.48 and opponents are batting .232 against him during the month), I'll stand by it just the same. And for whatever reason, it's been an almost automatic loss when Rivera hits the hill in a tie game this year. It was more of the same Friday night. Rivera struck out the leadoff man, but allowed a double to light-hitting Esteban German, an infield single to Mitch Maier and uncorked a wild pitch that brought German home with the eventual game-winning run. This isn't right at all. Rivera fell to 4-5 on the season with this: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP.
Justin Christian. JC didn't get into the ballgame until the ninth, but he played a big role in this one. Christian came in to pinch run for Wilson Betemit (who reached on a infield single to lead of the inning) and seemed poised to swipe second base. It didn't happen. Not only did it not happen, but the rookie managed to get picked off first for the first out of the inning. Unacceptable! Christian finished 0 for 0 with the gigantic pick off.
The Ugly:Whoa! The Royals pushed across two runs in the fifth on Mark Teahen's ground-rule double, but they almost botched that up. John Buck scored the first run and put up his hand to tell German to ease up since the ball was dead. I don't know if German didn't see him or maybe just plum didn't believe him, but he kept up motoring. It was close, but Buck beat German to home plate and the two runs counted. Too bad. The Yanks really could have used a cheapie in this game.
The Yanks also tweaked their
roster before Friday's game. Richie Sexson was released to make room for Ransom and Melky Cabrera was sent to Triple-A. Brett Gardner will recalled and will take Melky's spot. The Yanks were hoping that Sexson would give them some added pop from the right-side when they picked him up off waivers, but it never worked out. Sexson also seemed to have trouble transitioning from an everyday player into a part-time one. Cabrera's playing time had dwindled in the past week or so and he wasn't exactly tearing it up when he was in the lineup. I had initially thought that Joe Girardi would start Johnny Damon in center with Gardner spelling him, but it was brought to my attention (and rightly so) that it would be foolish to bring up Gardner and not play him. Gardner got the start in center Friday and finished 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, but threw out German at home in the third.
Sidney Ponson (7-3, 4.27 ERA) will try and give the Yanks (and fans) reason to hope Saturday afternoon. The Royals will go with Zack Greinke (9-8, 4.09 ERA). Greinke got off to a great start this season (3-0, 1.25 ERA in April), but hasn't been able to stretch that magic throughout the year. He's made two starts against the Bombers this season and is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA. Ponson is coming off a tough-luck loss to the Twins, but has been solid in August (1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts). The Arubian Knight is 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA in three daytime starts this year.
Can Sir Sidney give the Yanks a fighting chance the rest of the way?
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