Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees squandered an early lead and some sub par pitching prevented the Bombers from climbing back as they eventually lost the second game of this four-game series 10–5 to the White Sox.
The Yankees scored three runs in the top of the first, but Sergio Mitre was unable to preserve the lead as the Sox were able to light him up for five runs and seven hits in just three innings. Eric Hinske tied the game with a home run in the fourth, and Carlos Quentin put the White Sox back ahead with a double in the fifth to make it 6–5.
With the game still close, the Yanks were an out away from getting out of the bottom of the seventh unscathed with Alfredo Aceves on the mound, but a walk followed by two straight hits and a double steal (Posada made a bad throw to second, and then flat out dropped the ball on the return throw, allowing Jayson Nix to score) led to four runs as the Sox pretty much sealed the deal.
The Yankees were unable to climb back. They looked like they might get some sort of rally going in the ninth, but all hopes were pretty much ended when Alex Rodriguez decided not to run hard out of the box on a ball hit to the left field wall and was tagged out trying to get into second base with a double.
Despite the rough two nights they've had so far in Chicago, the Yankees finished the month of July with an 18–9 record (.667). That's the best month the team has had since they went 19–8 (.704) in September of 2007.
The series will resume tomorrow afternoon as A.J. Burnett will take the mound for the Yankees and will be opposed by John Danks. Game starts at 4:05 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 27–19, Andrew: 7–9
The Yankees scored three runs in the top of the first, but Sergio Mitre was unable to preserve the lead as the Sox were able to light him up for five runs and seven hits in just three innings. Eric Hinske tied the game with a home run in the fourth, and Carlos Quentin put the White Sox back ahead with a double in the fifth to make it 6–5.
With the game still close, the Yanks were an out away from getting out of the bottom of the seventh unscathed with Alfredo Aceves on the mound, but a walk followed by two straight hits and a double steal (Posada made a bad throw to second, and then flat out dropped the ball on the return throw, allowing Jayson Nix to score) led to four runs as the Sox pretty much sealed the deal.
The Yankees were unable to climb back. They looked like they might get some sort of rally going in the ninth, but all hopes were pretty much ended when Alex Rodriguez decided not to run hard out of the box on a ball hit to the left field wall and was tagged out trying to get into second base with a double.
Despite the rough two nights they've had so far in Chicago, the Yankees finished the month of July with an 18–9 record (.667). That's the best month the team has had since they went 19–8 (.704) in September of 2007.
The series will resume tomorrow afternoon as A.J. Burnett will take the mound for the Yankees and will be opposed by John Danks. Game starts at 4:05 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 27–19, Andrew: 7–9
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees have acquired Jerry Hairston Jr. from the Cincinnati Reds, according to Joseph Pawlikowski over at River Ave. Blues (via Joel Sherman). Haven't found any word yet as to what the Yankees gave up in return. Hairston, 33, has put up an OPS of .703 (.254/305/397) in 307 AB's so far this season.
Hairston can play pretty much anywhere on the diamond (he's played everywhere this season except first base and catcher), but he has gotten a plurality of his AB's as a third baseman.
The Yankees have also called up Shelley Duncan and he will be in Chicago for tonight's game, reports Peter Abraham. I think I smell a DFA coming for Cody Ransom.
Update: The Yankees gave up minor league catcher Chase Weems in the trade for Hairston, according to Ken Davidoff.
Hairston can play pretty much anywhere on the diamond (he's played everywhere this season except first base and catcher), but he has gotten a plurality of his AB's as a third baseman.
The Yankees have also called up Shelley Duncan and he will be in Chicago for tonight's game, reports Peter Abraham. I think I smell a DFA coming for Cody Ransom.
Update: The Yankees gave up minor league catcher Chase Weems in the trade for Hairston, according to Ken Davidoff.
Posted by: Seamus
Via Peter Abraham:
As much as I want to yell "Told you so!" to all my fellow Sox fan friends (it's true, I regret to admit there are some), I have to agree with Damon here. It would be unfair to try to take that title away from the players who were clean, especially considering most if not all of the teams they played against likely had players who were using PED's as well. I don't think there's any way we can point at the Sox and try to discredit them without acknowledging that the Yankees' championship teams of the 90's and in 2000 had players that were linked to 'roids as well, and I think that goes without saying. I'd imagine that goes for just about any team that's won a title in the last 20 years or so. And as Ken Davidoff rightly pointed out a few days ago, you can't discredit these guys without discrediting all the players who played before Jackie Robinson entered Major League Baseball. Numbers and championships have been tainted in one way or another almost since the game's inception, and they are what they are. We can't go back in time and say the games didn't happen.
Damon defended the 2004 Red Sox, saying the team was more than two players
"I know the '04 year was special and I know we could not have won without a bunch of the players we had there," he said. "David and Manny were great, but I had probably the best year of my career hitting in the clutch. We had Derek Lowe pitch well, Pedro (Martinez) pitch well, added (Curt) Schilling. I would have to see if there's more names and then I'd be able to comment on that."
"I know the '04 year was special and I know we could not have won without a bunch of the players we had there," he said. "David and Manny were great, but I had probably the best year of my career hitting in the clutch. We had Derek Lowe pitch well, Pedro (Martinez) pitch well, added (Curt) Schilling. I would have to see if there's more names and then I'd be able to comment on that."
As much as I want to yell "Told you so!" to all my fellow Sox fan friends (it's true, I regret to admit there are some), I have to agree with Damon here. It would be unfair to try to take that title away from the players who were clean, especially considering most if not all of the teams they played against likely had players who were using PED's as well. I don't think there's any way we can point at the Sox and try to discredit them without acknowledging that the Yankees' championship teams of the 90's and in 2000 had players that were linked to 'roids as well, and I think that goes without saying. I'd imagine that goes for just about any team that's won a title in the last 20 years or so. And as Ken Davidoff rightly pointed out a few days ago, you can't discredit these guys without discrediting all the players who played before Jackie Robinson entered Major League Baseball. Numbers and championships have been tainted in one way or another almost since the game's inception, and they are what they are. We can't go back in time and say the games didn't happen.
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees lost a bit of a heartbreaker Thursday night, after a game-tying home run by Nick Swisher in the ninth went to waste when Dewayne Wise ended the game with a walk-off base hit in the bottom of the inning to give the White Sox a 3–2 victory.
Runs were difficult to come by as both starters gave quality outings, with Andy Pettitte allowing just one earned run in 6 and 1/3 innings. The Yankees couldn't get to Gavin Floyd, who also allowed just one run, going 7 and 2/3 and striking out 10 Yankee batters.
The game was tied after six and a half but some sloppy defense in the bottom of the seventh cost the Yankees. Jim Thome reached on an error by Pettitte to start the inning. Then with two on and one out, Carlos Quentin grounded into what might have been an inning ending double play, but a throwing error by Robinson Cano allowed Thome to come around and score the go-ahead run.
The Sox remained ahead until the Yankees were down to their last out in the ninth, but Nick Swisher took his former teammate Matt Thornton's pitch over the left field wall for a game-tying home run.
After putting two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth, Joe Girardi opted to pull Phil Hughes in favor of Phil Coke with one out. Coke got A.J. Pierzynski to fly out to center and was a strike away from getting the Yanks into extra innings, but Dewayne Wise took a 2-2 pitch right up the middle for a game-ending base hit.
The Yanks will try to bounce back tonight at 8:11 ET with Sergio Mitre taking the mound against the White Sox and Clayton Richard.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 27–18, Andrew: 7–9
Runs were difficult to come by as both starters gave quality outings, with Andy Pettitte allowing just one earned run in 6 and 1/3 innings. The Yankees couldn't get to Gavin Floyd, who also allowed just one run, going 7 and 2/3 and striking out 10 Yankee batters.
The game was tied after six and a half but some sloppy defense in the bottom of the seventh cost the Yankees. Jim Thome reached on an error by Pettitte to start the inning. Then with two on and one out, Carlos Quentin grounded into what might have been an inning ending double play, but a throwing error by Robinson Cano allowed Thome to come around and score the go-ahead run.
The Sox remained ahead until the Yankees were down to their last out in the ninth, but Nick Swisher took his former teammate Matt Thornton's pitch over the left field wall for a game-tying home run.
After putting two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth, Joe Girardi opted to pull Phil Hughes in favor of Phil Coke with one out. Coke got A.J. Pierzynski to fly out to center and was a strike away from getting the Yanks into extra innings, but Dewayne Wise took a 2-2 pitch right up the middle for a game-ending base hit.
The Yanks will try to bounce back tonight at 8:11 ET with Sergio Mitre taking the mound against the White Sox and Clayton Richard.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 27–18, Andrew: 7–9
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees were able to take the rubber game of their three-game series in Tampa Bay thanks to another sizzling performance by Joba Chamberlain. The 6–2 victory gives the Yankees more breathing room over the Rays, who now trail the bombers by 7.5 games and also puts the Yankees' lead over the Red Sox at 3.5 with the Sawx losing at home to Oakland.
Joba was dominant for the third consecutive start, allowing just three hits in eight shutout innings while throwing a manageable 101 pitches. Chamberlain has allowed a run or less in each of his last three starts.
Offensively, the Yankees scattered six runs, three of which came off of solo home runs (Cano, Cabrera and Teixeira). Johnny Damon was the only Yankee starter without a hit, and four Yankees had two hits or more in the game.
The only bump in the road the Yanks hit was in the ninth inning, when Brian Bruney came in and was immediately knocked around, serving up a triple to Carl Crawford which was followed by a long two-run bomb off the bat of Evan Longoria. After Bruney put Carlos Pena on by allowing a double to right, Joe Girardi was forced to call on Mariano Rivera to close things out. Rivera, as usual, had no problems, striking out two of the three batters he faced to end the game.
From the Rays' perspective, a lot of folks were making a huge deal of this series, the Rays included, but I wouldn't write them off just yet. Yes, picking up 7.5 games is a bit of a long shot, but this team is just too good to sleep on with 60 games still to be played.
The Yankees will be in Chicago tomorrow night to open up a four-game series with the White Sox. The Sox are currently just two games out of first place in the A.L. Central despite their 51–50 record. The most eye-popping matchup of the series won't be until Sunday, when CC Sabathia will be up against Mark Buehrle, who in his last outing flirted with a second consecutive perfect game (he was perfect through 17 batters, but did eventually allow five runs and lost the game). Tomorrow we'll see Andy Pettitte for the Yankees and Gavin Floyd taking the hill for the White Sox. Game starts at 8:11 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 27–17, Andrew: 7–9
Joba was dominant for the third consecutive start, allowing just three hits in eight shutout innings while throwing a manageable 101 pitches. Chamberlain has allowed a run or less in each of his last three starts.
Offensively, the Yankees scattered six runs, three of which came off of solo home runs (Cano, Cabrera and Teixeira). Johnny Damon was the only Yankee starter without a hit, and four Yankees had two hits or more in the game.
The only bump in the road the Yanks hit was in the ninth inning, when Brian Bruney came in and was immediately knocked around, serving up a triple to Carl Crawford which was followed by a long two-run bomb off the bat of Evan Longoria. After Bruney put Carlos Pena on by allowing a double to right, Joe Girardi was forced to call on Mariano Rivera to close things out. Rivera, as usual, had no problems, striking out two of the three batters he faced to end the game.
From the Rays' perspective, a lot of folks were making a huge deal of this series, the Rays included, but I wouldn't write them off just yet. Yes, picking up 7.5 games is a bit of a long shot, but this team is just too good to sleep on with 60 games still to be played.
The Yankees will be in Chicago tomorrow night to open up a four-game series with the White Sox. The Sox are currently just two games out of first place in the A.L. Central despite their 51–50 record. The most eye-popping matchup of the series won't be until Sunday, when CC Sabathia will be up against Mark Buehrle, who in his last outing flirted with a second consecutive perfect game (he was perfect through 17 batters, but did eventually allow five runs and lost the game). Tomorrow we'll see Andy Pettitte for the Yankees and Gavin Floyd taking the hill for the White Sox. Game starts at 8:11 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 27–17, Andrew: 7–9
Posted by: Seamus
This game looked promising for the Yankees before it started with CC Sabathia facing a struggling Scott Kazmir, but it wasn't meant to be as the Yankees failed to bring their "A" game to Tropicana Field and lost 6–2 to a desperate Rays team.
Ugly defense was the culprit in this one along with some mediocre pitching from Sabathia. Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez both made throwing errors early on and Nick Swisher played a little hot potato in right field as he struggled with a couple plays out there. Despite the sketchy defense, however, five of the six runs allowed by CC Sabathia were earned, and he was forced to exit earlier than he and the Yankees would have liked, leaving with two outs in the sixth after allowing nine hits in the game.
Offensively there wasn't much to talk about really, aside from an RBI single by Hideki Matsui in which he was caught rounding first too sharply and was tagged out trying to get back. Matsui also drove home the other run scored in the game, bringing in A-Rod with an RBI double in the ninth.
Things have been so good for the past two weeks and really for the last month or so that you almost sort of forget that games like this just happen every once in awhile. Fortunately for the Yankees, a clunker like this was coupled by a late inning collapse by the Red Sox, who blew a three-run lead in the ninth and lost in extra innings.
The Yanks and Rays will finish things up tonight as Joba Chamberlain will go up against Matt Garza in the rubber game of this series beginning at 7:08 ET. Chamberlain is showing signs of heating up, allowing just one earned run and going 6+ in each of his last two outings.
Off the field news: I decided against giving this its own post since I'm a little late on it (I fell asleep pretty early last night), but Chien-Ming Wang's season is done after he and the Yankees have decided to undergo season-ending surgery. After winning a total of 38 games in 2006 and '07, Wang will end this season having won only 9 in his last two seasons.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 26–17, Andrew: 7–9
Ugly defense was the culprit in this one along with some mediocre pitching from Sabathia. Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez both made throwing errors early on and Nick Swisher played a little hot potato in right field as he struggled with a couple plays out there. Despite the sketchy defense, however, five of the six runs allowed by CC Sabathia were earned, and he was forced to exit earlier than he and the Yankees would have liked, leaving with two outs in the sixth after allowing nine hits in the game.
Offensively there wasn't much to talk about really, aside from an RBI single by Hideki Matsui in which he was caught rounding first too sharply and was tagged out trying to get back. Matsui also drove home the other run scored in the game, bringing in A-Rod with an RBI double in the ninth.
Things have been so good for the past two weeks and really for the last month or so that you almost sort of forget that games like this just happen every once in awhile. Fortunately for the Yankees, a clunker like this was coupled by a late inning collapse by the Red Sox, who blew a three-run lead in the ninth and lost in extra innings.
The Yanks and Rays will finish things up tonight as Joba Chamberlain will go up against Matt Garza in the rubber game of this series beginning at 7:08 ET. Chamberlain is showing signs of heating up, allowing just one earned run and going 6+ in each of his last two outings.
Off the field news: I decided against giving this its own post since I'm a little late on it (I fell asleep pretty early last night), but Chien-Ming Wang's season is done after he and the Yankees have decided to undergo season-ending surgery. After winning a total of 38 games in 2006 and '07, Wang will end this season having won only 9 in his last two seasons.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 26–17, Andrew: 7–9
Posted by: Seamus
A.J. Burnett gave the Yankees another solid start and the offense overwhelmed both James Shields and the Rays' bullpen en route to an 11–4 victory that puts the Yanks' record at 10–1 since the All-Star break.
Burnett allowed just two hits and didn't allow an earned run in his 7 innings of work. Burnett has pitched 6 innings or more in every start since his clunker in Boston on June 9, allowing 3 runs or less each time (8 starts) and has an ERA of just 1.68 in that span.
The offense also had it going, as every player in the lineup recorded at least one hit in the Yankees' 11-run attack. Nick Swisher had two home runs, Robinson Cano homered while driving in two and Johnny Damon added his 200th career home run with a three-run shot in the 9th. Derek Jeter had 3 hits and the bottom third of the order was a combined 6-for-12.
Brian Robertson struggled a bit with the Yankees leading big in the 9th, but did record a key strikeout against Carlos Pena in the bottom of the 8th with the tying run still on deck.
Tonight's game should offer the potential for another good pitching matchup, as CC Sabathia will be faced by Scott Kazmir. Kazmir, however, has really struggled this season as he's battled both injuries and inconsistency throughout the year. His opponents are hitting .289 against him and his ERA is at an uncharacteristic 6.69. Game starts at 7:08 ET.
Also of note: I didn't get this through the original post, but a couple stats to pass along: The Yanks now have the best run differential of any team in the A.L. East (+84) and the win last night was also Joe Girardi's 150th as Yankee manager.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 26–16, Andrew: 7–9
Burnett allowed just two hits and didn't allow an earned run in his 7 innings of work. Burnett has pitched 6 innings or more in every start since his clunker in Boston on June 9, allowing 3 runs or less each time (8 starts) and has an ERA of just 1.68 in that span.
The offense also had it going, as every player in the lineup recorded at least one hit in the Yankees' 11-run attack. Nick Swisher had two home runs, Robinson Cano homered while driving in two and Johnny Damon added his 200th career home run with a three-run shot in the 9th. Derek Jeter had 3 hits and the bottom third of the order was a combined 6-for-12.
Brian Robertson struggled a bit with the Yankees leading big in the 9th, but did record a key strikeout against Carlos Pena in the bottom of the 8th with the tying run still on deck.
Tonight's game should offer the potential for another good pitching matchup, as CC Sabathia will be faced by Scott Kazmir. Kazmir, however, has really struggled this season as he's battled both injuries and inconsistency throughout the year. His opponents are hitting .289 against him and his ERA is at an uncharacteristic 6.69. Game starts at 7:08 ET.
Also of note: I didn't get this through the original post, but a couple stats to pass along: The Yanks now have the best run differential of any team in the A.L. East (+84) and the win last night was also Joe Girardi's 150th as Yankee manager.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 26–16, Andrew: 7–9
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees should be able to enjoy their flight down south later tonight after they defeated the A's once again to take three out of four in the series and finish out their 10-game homestand with a 9–1 record. They also put a little more distance between themselves and the Red Sox and Rays, who both lost this afternoon.
This one was a bit of a back-and-forth affair, as the A's went ahead twice but both times were answered back in the same inning. The Yankees erased a 2–0 first inning deficit and took the lead with a 4-run bottom of the inning, highlighted by a 3-run double by Robinson Cano (Cano tried to make it to third but was tagged out after oversliding past the bag). Oakland regained the lead in the 6th with a two-run home run by Mark Ellis off of Phil Coke that put the A's ahead 5–4, but a two-run single in the bottom of the inning by Derek Jeter put the Yankees back ahead. The Yankees tacked on another run in the 6th thanks to a base hit up the middle by Mark Teixeira that made it 7–5, and that would prove to be the final score.
The Yankees got an acceptable performance out of Sergio Mitre, who bounced back from a rough first inning and left the game after pitching to one batter in the 6th and was holding onto a one-run lead. The home run allowed by Phil Coke erased Mitre's chances to pick up his 2nd win, however. In all the Yankees used five pitchers in the game. Phil Hughes pitched the 7th and he along with Brian Bruney and Mariano Rivera each recorded one out in the 8th. Rivera put the A's down 1-2-3 in the 9th to wrap up the Yanks' very successful homestand and recorded his 29th save in the process.
The Yankees will be in St. Petersburg tomorrow to pay the Rays a visit for the second time this season (the Yankees took two out of three in April). The pitching match up should be a good one as the red hot A.J. Burnett will be going up against James Shields. Game is slated to start at 7:08 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 25–16, Andrew: 7–9
This one was a bit of a back-and-forth affair, as the A's went ahead twice but both times were answered back in the same inning. The Yankees erased a 2–0 first inning deficit and took the lead with a 4-run bottom of the inning, highlighted by a 3-run double by Robinson Cano (Cano tried to make it to third but was tagged out after oversliding past the bag). Oakland regained the lead in the 6th with a two-run home run by Mark Ellis off of Phil Coke that put the A's ahead 5–4, but a two-run single in the bottom of the inning by Derek Jeter put the Yankees back ahead. The Yankees tacked on another run in the 6th thanks to a base hit up the middle by Mark Teixeira that made it 7–5, and that would prove to be the final score.
The Yankees got an acceptable performance out of Sergio Mitre, who bounced back from a rough first inning and left the game after pitching to one batter in the 6th and was holding onto a one-run lead. The home run allowed by Phil Coke erased Mitre's chances to pick up his 2nd win, however. In all the Yankees used five pitchers in the game. Phil Hughes pitched the 7th and he along with Brian Bruney and Mariano Rivera each recorded one out in the 8th. Rivera put the A's down 1-2-3 in the 9th to wrap up the Yanks' very successful homestand and recorded his 29th save in the process.
The Yankees will be in St. Petersburg tomorrow to pay the Rays a visit for the second time this season (the Yankees took two out of three in April). The pitching match up should be a good one as the red hot A.J. Burnett will be going up against James Shields. Game is slated to start at 7:08 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 25–16, Andrew: 7–9
07/26: Gardner on DL
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees placed Brett Gardner on the 15-day disabled list last night after he broke his left thumb sliding into second early on in the game against Oakland. Gardner remained in the game and made a few nice defensive plays and also had a triple in the game.
Jonathan Albaladejo was called up to take his spot on the roster, but the Yankees plan on eventually bringing up an outfielder. Perhaps Shelley Duncan will finally get the call, as he's been raking in Scranton all season (.923 OPS, 25 HR, 75 RBI in 86 games) but he is also just 5 for his last 37.
Jonathan Albaladejo was called up to take his spot on the roster, but the Yankees plan on eventually bringing up an outfielder. Perhaps Shelley Duncan will finally get the call, as he's been raking in Scranton all season (.923 OPS, 25 HR, 75 RBI in 86 games) but he is also just 5 for his last 37.
Posted by: Andrew
All good things must come to an end.
And that's exactly what happened to the Yankees' eight-game winning streak Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Yankees 6-4.
The game started out as a pitchers' duel between Andy Pettitte and Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who gave up 11 earned runs in his previous start, took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before a Melky Cabrera bunt single ended that bid. Pettitte also was dealing, as he had a perfect game going until one out in the fourth.
The Yankees got on the board first in the sixth inning when Brett Gardner hit an RBI triple to right center.
But things unraveled for Pettitte and reliever Alfredo Aceves in the top of the seventh inning. Pettitte allowed a leadoff double and a walk. With one out, Rajai Davis hit an RBI single to tie the game. Following that, Bobby Crosby reached on a bunt single to load the bases and knock Pettitte out of the game.
Aceves started out well, as he got Mark Ellis to pop out. However, three straight hits resulted in five more runs for the A's, as they took a 6-1 lead. Aceves had catcher Landon Powell in an 0-2 hole with two outs when the game was 1-1, but his single to left opened the floodgates.
All told, Pettitte was charged with four runs in 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven and allowing five hits. Aceves gave up two earned runs in 1/3 of an inning.
The Yankees went on the comeback trail in the eighth inning. Derek Jeter hit a two-run home run over the right center manual scoreboard to cut Oakland's lead to 6-3. Mark Teixeira followed two batters later with a solo home run just to the left of the right field foul pole. They would try to muster a rally in the ninth - Cabrera and Johnny Damon both walked with no outs - but Jorge Posada grounded into a double play right after to end any hopes of a comeback.
Sergio Mitre goes for the Yankees tomorrow afternoon as they'll look to take three of four against their Oakland foes.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 24–16, Andrew: 7–9
Andrew Fletcher regularly blogs about the Yankees at Scott Proctor's Arm.
And that's exactly what happened to the Yankees' eight-game winning streak Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Yankees 6-4.
The game started out as a pitchers' duel between Andy Pettitte and Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who gave up 11 earned runs in his previous start, took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before a Melky Cabrera bunt single ended that bid. Pettitte also was dealing, as he had a perfect game going until one out in the fourth.
The Yankees got on the board first in the sixth inning when Brett Gardner hit an RBI triple to right center.
But things unraveled for Pettitte and reliever Alfredo Aceves in the top of the seventh inning. Pettitte allowed a leadoff double and a walk. With one out, Rajai Davis hit an RBI single to tie the game. Following that, Bobby Crosby reached on a bunt single to load the bases and knock Pettitte out of the game.
Aceves started out well, as he got Mark Ellis to pop out. However, three straight hits resulted in five more runs for the A's, as they took a 6-1 lead. Aceves had catcher Landon Powell in an 0-2 hole with two outs when the game was 1-1, but his single to left opened the floodgates.
All told, Pettitte was charged with four runs in 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven and allowing five hits. Aceves gave up two earned runs in 1/3 of an inning.
The Yankees went on the comeback trail in the eighth inning. Derek Jeter hit a two-run home run over the right center manual scoreboard to cut Oakland's lead to 6-3. Mark Teixeira followed two batters later with a solo home run just to the left of the right field foul pole. They would try to muster a rally in the ninth - Cabrera and Johnny Damon both walked with no outs - but Jorge Posada grounded into a double play right after to end any hopes of a comeback.
Sergio Mitre goes for the Yankees tomorrow afternoon as they'll look to take three of four against their Oakland foes.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 24–16, Andrew: 7–9
Andrew Fletcher regularly blogs about the Yankees at Scott Proctor's Arm.
