Remember Friday night’s game? Saturday afternoon’s was the same, but worse. The Yankees built an early lead, thanks in part to an Alex Rodriguez homer, but Angels chipped away and took the lead in the fifth, bouncing the Yankees’ starter in the process, then just kept adding on against the bullpen, keeping the game out of reach of the offense’s modest attempts to come back. Déjà vu all over again.
The Yankees actually hit five home runs in the game. Alex Rodriguez caught, then passed Rafael Palmeiro to move into the all-time top ten with a two run shot in the first and a solo shot in the eighth. Eric Hinske, making just his second start as a Yankee, went deep twice as well, with a solo shot in the third off Angels starter Jered Weaver and a two-run jack in the seventh off lefty Darren Oliver.
Just as they led 5-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth on Friday night, the Yankees led 4-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth on Saturday, but just like Joba Chamberlain before him, Andy Pettitte only managed to get one out in the frame. Five of the six batters Pettitte faced in the fifth got hits, starting with a single by Yankee-killer Howie Kendrick and a home run by Brandon Wood, who just returned from Triple-A Friday night.
David Robertson replaced Pettitte with one out and men on the corners and proceeded to allow four more runs to score, putting the Yankees in an 8-4 hole. With Joe Girardi apparently refusing to use his better relievers either that early or, ultimately, facing a large deficit, Robertson returned in the sixth and struck out the first three men, but one reached on a wild pitch on strike three and came around to score on a two-out triple. It was that kind of game.
Johnny Damon was playing in on Erick Aybar, who hit that triple to left field. Retreating after Aybar’s hit, Damon got to the wall just after Brett Gardner scooped up the ball. With nothing else to do, Damon simply sat back on the lip of the padding under the Plexiglas window, visibly expressing his frustration. That about summed it up.
Hinske’s two run homer made it 9-6, but Mike Napoli homered off Brett Tomko in the bottom of the seventh to make it 10-6. Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui went back-to-back in the eighth off Jason Bulger to get it within 10-8, but when Girardi finally felt the game was in reach and went to Phil Coke, Coke gave up four more runs in an inning that included a wild pickoff throw and another wild strike three that allowed a batter to reach on a strikeout. That ran the final to 14-8. Together, Robertson, Tomko, and Coke allowed eight runs in 3 2/3 innings and threw 91 pitches. Mix in Pettitte’s work in the fifth and the Yankees allowed 13 runs in the last four innings and threw 112 pitches in those four frames.
Ugly.
Oh well, go pound budweisers and win tomorrow. Maybe CC can pitch 8 innings and Mo can get the save. Losing 2 of 3 in LA isn't the end of the world, especially if we can stay only 2 games out and finish the first half with a win.
With CC and a very well rested Hughes and Mo, tomorrow should ring victory. Deep down inside I knew that saving the best pitchers would pay off.
This organization needs to make better decisions. I supported the decision to start Aceves, but I wouldn't have if I knew that it meant keeping Tomko and not being flexible in how they used Hughes. There has to be some accountability for this stupidity.
btw, Nice C,S, N, & Y reference.
ARod is not going to the ASG, for the first time since 1999.
While he is disappointed, I am VERY glad. 3 days off should be very productive for him. Funny, I think of ARod as still not being 100%, and having a less then average year, yet he is posting a .263 .419 .562 .981 line. Not bad for a cripple.
[3] Ah, CSNY. Yes, of course. I was ransacking my memory as the line rang a bell, but you just saved me a google.
Staying on the CSNY tip, Angels Stadium sure ain't "Our House": Yanks 5-15 in their last 20 games there.
Sing it wit me now (in four part harmony): "Hellllllpless, helpless, helpless, helpless..."
Very nice version right here:
http://tinyurl.com/maeglp
I think they need a Will Weiss appearance here at Banter in order to stave off the "Flash Factor," which has consistently provided his sub-mediocre playing aura to the team, whenever he calls a game...
Yeah, that should do the trick!
: )
Meanwhile, Boston won their slugfest against the royals to go up 2 games.
[4]
Why do I think A-Rod will spend the All-Star Break swinging for the fences with Kate Hudson?
(I can see the tabloids now ... "A-Rod 'laid-up' with lower back strain after diving into Hudson")
yeah, I went there, so I must be feeling a bit better ... :-)
[5]
"Don't Let it Bring You Down" seems appropriate right now ...
[7] Only the Red Sox could play K.C. at The Fens in a four game set heading into the ASB and miss Zack Greinke...
: /
[4] Glad you're feeling better, Diane!
: )
[8] Ha ha ha! LOL! But if he's diving into Hudson, shouldn't his engine be working?
Glad I missed the game, Mudhens split with Indianapolis, losing the opener 7-3, coming back 7-2. Lastings Milledge was the strikeout player of the games, but he only wiffed in his first at bat. And while he wasn't good in limited time this year, how much of a dumb@ss do you have to be to have the Nationals not want you and the Pirates keeping you in AAA? He can play at the major league level but he really needs an attitude adjustment.
[11] Should be for [8], not [4], but if you're feeling better too OYF, that's good as well!
I'll get all these numbers down in a week or so...
: )
Lastings Milledge doesn't need an attitude adjustment, but a talent adjustment. He can't really play the field, his hitting leaves much to be desired. He has the tools, but an inability to apply them