07/01: Offense Struggles in Loss to Rangers
Posted by: Seamus
Mike Mussina was great and the bullpen was solid as well, as the Yanks as a team allowed just two runs on seven hits. Somehow, though, holding the highest scoring team in baseball to two runs was not enough, as the Yankees managed only four hits and one run. The Yankees lost the game 2-1 and fell 6.5 games behind division leading Tampa Bay.
It was kind of a frustrating loss for the Yankees, considering the Rangers lead the Majors in runs scored (458) and still have allowed more runs than they've scored (468). That's compounded by the fact that the Rays and Red Sox are playing against each other, so the Yanks are guaranteed to lose ground on somebody with a loss.
The only offense for the Yankees came in the 4th inning, via a mammoth home run by Alex Rodriguez that bounced in the back of Monument Park and landed up in the left field bleachers. Posada doubled later in the inning but was stranded at 2nd.
Jason Giambi hit a ball off the right centerfield wall in the bottom of the 6th with two outs, and since he ran hard out of the box and the ball took a weird bounce, he was able to get to third without a throw for his first triple of the season. Makes you wonder how many more doubles and triples would be hit in this league if some players weren't such prima donnas.
It's unfortunate that Mussina had to get hit with the loss, because he was on his game last night. Moose threw 103 pitches in 6 innings, striking out 8 and allowing five hits. The Yankees did a good job against most of the Rangers' big hitters, as Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley went a combined 2-12 (Bradley struck out four times). Michael Young went 3-4, but did not score or drive in a run.
The Yankees will try to bounce back tonight as Joba Chamberlain will take the mound and will face Kevin Millwood. Game starts at 7:05 E.T.
It was kind of a frustrating loss for the Yankees, considering the Rangers lead the Majors in runs scored (458) and still have allowed more runs than they've scored (468). That's compounded by the fact that the Rays and Red Sox are playing against each other, so the Yanks are guaranteed to lose ground on somebody with a loss.
The only offense for the Yankees came in the 4th inning, via a mammoth home run by Alex Rodriguez that bounced in the back of Monument Park and landed up in the left field bleachers. Posada doubled later in the inning but was stranded at 2nd.
Jason Giambi hit a ball off the right centerfield wall in the bottom of the 6th with two outs, and since he ran hard out of the box and the ball took a weird bounce, he was able to get to third without a throw for his first triple of the season. Makes you wonder how many more doubles and triples would be hit in this league if some players weren't such prima donnas.
It's unfortunate that Mussina had to get hit with the loss, because he was on his game last night. Moose threw 103 pitches in 6 innings, striking out 8 and allowing five hits. The Yankees did a good job against most of the Rangers' big hitters, as Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley went a combined 2-12 (Bradley struck out four times). Michael Young went 3-4, but did not score or drive in a run.
The Yankees will try to bounce back tonight as Joba Chamberlain will take the mound and will face Kevin Millwood. Game starts at 7:05 E.T.
