Lose two out of three to the worst team in the American League and what do you get?
A fourth-place standing.
Mike Mussina was given a 2-0 lead courtesy of solo homers from Derek Jeter and Xavier Nady, but Jose Lopez belted two of his own and Adrian Beltre drove in two as the
Mariners dropped the Yanks 5-2 in Seattle. I erred on my "preview" of this game as the M's turned to Ryan Feierabend instead of Carlos Silva (thank you very much ESPN!) and it worked out well -- if you were rooting for Seattle. Feierabend gave up solo shots in the first two innings, but settled down and went seven innings to earn his first win of the season.
I would be lying to you if I said I watched more than 15 minutes total of this ballgame. Jeter finished 2 for 3 on the day and tied Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time Yankees hit list with 2,518. That was pretty much the highlight if you were a Bomber booster. The loss dropped the Yanks 8.5 games behind the Red Sox in the wild card "chase" and into fourth place in the AL East, 1/2 game back of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Yankees will head to California and take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a three-game set beginning Monday night. Carl Pavano (2-0, 4.20 ERA) will go against Jon Garland (12-8, 4.64 ERA) in the opener. Garland has given up five runs in each of his past three starts, but the Halos managed to win two of those games. It's been that kind of season for them. Garland is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in one start against the Yanks this season. Pavano picked up a no-decision in his last start against the Tampa Bay Rays, but the Bombers have won all three of his starts this season.
Seems like the fight is no longer for the wild card, but for third place.
These are dark days indeed, Yankee fans.
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