08/04: Moose Surrenders 6 Runs in the 5th, Yankees Lose 7-4
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees lost a tough one last night as they blew a 4-0 lead halfway through and lost 7-4 to the Indians in Jacobs Field. Mike Mussina started and cruised through the first four innings (he had 5 strikeouts after 2) without allowing a run, but had a nightmarish 5th inning. Ben Broussard led off the inning with a home run. The Yankees still led 4-2 with two outs in the inning, but Mussina never retired that last batter as he gave up four more runs, with the biggest hit being former Yankee Aaron Boone's two-run single. Tanyon Sturtze came in to finish the inning and the Yankees allowed only one run the rest of the game.
There wasn't much to talk about in terms of hitting as the Yankees scored all four of their runs in the first three innings, although Matsui had two hits and Jorge Posada launched his 14th home run of the season. Indians' pitcher Cliff Lee settled down after that as he got into the 7th inning, and the Indians' bullpen threw 2 and 1/3 shutout innings to hold on for a 7-4 victory over the Yankees.
Robinson Cano had a really rough night all around. In the top of the 5th, he missed a sign from Luis Sojo and bunted a ball foul with two strikes. Later in the game he misplayed an easy double play ball in which he should've just stepped on the bag and threw to first but instead flipped it to an unexpecting Derek Jeter, and after that he dropped a routine popup. We almost forget sometimes that this kid is still a rookie. I'm hoping last night's game doesn't get into his head too much. It was one of those games that you just hope to forget ever happened.
Jorge Posada's home run was only his 3rd right-handed but he is hitting almost .300 from the right side of the plate. I don't think I've ever seen a hitter struggle so much as Posada has from one side of the plate and at the very same time, not have any problems whatsoever at the other side. Perhaps he's having some mechanical issues.
The Yankees' loss puts them 4.5 games behind Boston for the lead in the AL East, but the A's loss kept them only 3 back in the wild card race. Tonight the Yankees will send out Shawn Chacon to make his second Yankee start and will be opposed by Kevin Millwood. This is a big one as the Yankees have lost two games on the Red Sox in the standings in the past two days, so hopefully Chacon can give us something like he gave us in his previous start against the Angels.
Also of note: Jason Giambi was named the American League Player of the Month for July as he batted .355 with 14 home runs and 24 RBI.
There wasn't much to talk about in terms of hitting as the Yankees scored all four of their runs in the first three innings, although Matsui had two hits and Jorge Posada launched his 14th home run of the season. Indians' pitcher Cliff Lee settled down after that as he got into the 7th inning, and the Indians' bullpen threw 2 and 1/3 shutout innings to hold on for a 7-4 victory over the Yankees.
Robinson Cano had a really rough night all around. In the top of the 5th, he missed a sign from Luis Sojo and bunted a ball foul with two strikes. Later in the game he misplayed an easy double play ball in which he should've just stepped on the bag and threw to first but instead flipped it to an unexpecting Derek Jeter, and after that he dropped a routine popup. We almost forget sometimes that this kid is still a rookie. I'm hoping last night's game doesn't get into his head too much. It was one of those games that you just hope to forget ever happened.
Jorge Posada's home run was only his 3rd right-handed but he is hitting almost .300 from the right side of the plate. I don't think I've ever seen a hitter struggle so much as Posada has from one side of the plate and at the very same time, not have any problems whatsoever at the other side. Perhaps he's having some mechanical issues.
The Yankees' loss puts them 4.5 games behind Boston for the lead in the AL East, but the A's loss kept them only 3 back in the wild card race. Tonight the Yankees will send out Shawn Chacon to make his second Yankee start and will be opposed by Kevin Millwood. This is a big one as the Yankees have lost two games on the Red Sox in the standings in the past two days, so hopefully Chacon can give us something like he gave us in his previous start against the Angels.
Also of note: Jason Giambi was named the American League Player of the Month for July as he batted .355 with 14 home runs and 24 RBI.
