08/31: Yanks Collapse Against Jays, Now Trail BoSox By 7
Posted by: Seamus
This was exactly the type of loss the Yankees couldn't afford. Trailing Boston by 6 games in the wild card race with 27 games to go, you gotta win games in which you're leading 6-2 heading into the 7th. But the Yankees didn't get it done this time, and a three-run 7th and two-run 8th helped push the Blue Jays past the Yankees by a score of 7-6. Insult was added to injury a few hours later as the Red Sox trounced the White sox, pushing the Yanks to a seemingly insurmountable seven games behind Boston in the standings.
The Yankees jumped ahead early with a two-run 1st, highlighted by RBI singles off the bats of both A-Rod and Jason Giambi. After the Jays tied it in the top of the 4th, the Yankees went back ahead in the bottom of the inning off of back-to-back homers by Robinson Cano and Ivan Rodriguez. A two-run 5th made it 6-2 Yankees.
Darrell Rasner was good, but could not recover from a colossal error by Robinson Cano, who flipped the ball out of the reach of Derek Jeter on what would have been an easy double play with no outs in the 7th. Both of those runners would come around to score in what would eventually be a three-run inning. After an RBI single by Jose Bautista, Rasner would be lifted for Brian Bruney, who allowed the other two runs (both charged to Rasner).
The Yankees used three pitchers, including Bruney, in the 8th. All three pitchers struggled, as Bruney, Damaso Marte and Edwar Ramirez all allowed at least one hit. Another RBI single off the bat of Jose Bautista tied the game against Edwar Ramirez. The Jays went ahead when the next batter, Greg Zaun, scored Adam Lind on an RBI groundout.
The Yankees tried to rally in the bottom of the 9th, and got the the first two runners on for Alex Rodriguez. As long as he doesn't ground into another double play, I'm thinking, we're in good shape. Rodriguez then completely scorches the 3-2 pitch down the 3rd base line and - it's right at Jose Bautista, who steps on third and throws to first for an unreal, unfortunate and unlucky double play. Cody Ransom, who was probably inserted a bit prematurely for defense, flew out to left to the end the game in the ensuing at-bat.
Well this loss kind of dampens any hope I had remaining about this season, especially losing a game like this with Roy Halladay facing us the next day. Some were saying that really all we needed to do was pick up three games in the standings before the final series in Boston, but I am not anticipating a sweep, so I was realistically thinking we'd have to cut the lead to one game. Now I think picking up four games and hoping for the miracle sweep is the only hope we have, albeit a long shot. But it's enough I guess to make me still watch.
The Yankees will play out the rubber game of this series this afternoon at 1:05 ET before heading to Detroit to play a makeup game tomorrow night. Andy Pettitte will be on the mound and will have to bring his A++ game, as the Yankees will be going up against the abominable Roy Halladay.
And if by any chance you are reading this from the New Orleans area, you should probably shut off your computer and as Ray Nagin says, "Get the heck out."
The Yankees jumped ahead early with a two-run 1st, highlighted by RBI singles off the bats of both A-Rod and Jason Giambi. After the Jays tied it in the top of the 4th, the Yankees went back ahead in the bottom of the inning off of back-to-back homers by Robinson Cano and Ivan Rodriguez. A two-run 5th made it 6-2 Yankees.
Darrell Rasner was good, but could not recover from a colossal error by Robinson Cano, who flipped the ball out of the reach of Derek Jeter on what would have been an easy double play with no outs in the 7th. Both of those runners would come around to score in what would eventually be a three-run inning. After an RBI single by Jose Bautista, Rasner would be lifted for Brian Bruney, who allowed the other two runs (both charged to Rasner).
The Yankees used three pitchers, including Bruney, in the 8th. All three pitchers struggled, as Bruney, Damaso Marte and Edwar Ramirez all allowed at least one hit. Another RBI single off the bat of Jose Bautista tied the game against Edwar Ramirez. The Jays went ahead when the next batter, Greg Zaun, scored Adam Lind on an RBI groundout.
The Yankees tried to rally in the bottom of the 9th, and got the the first two runners on for Alex Rodriguez. As long as he doesn't ground into another double play, I'm thinking, we're in good shape. Rodriguez then completely scorches the 3-2 pitch down the 3rd base line and - it's right at Jose Bautista, who steps on third and throws to first for an unreal, unfortunate and unlucky double play. Cody Ransom, who was probably inserted a bit prematurely for defense, flew out to left to the end the game in the ensuing at-bat.
Well this loss kind of dampens any hope I had remaining about this season, especially losing a game like this with Roy Halladay facing us the next day. Some were saying that really all we needed to do was pick up three games in the standings before the final series in Boston, but I am not anticipating a sweep, so I was realistically thinking we'd have to cut the lead to one game. Now I think picking up four games and hoping for the miracle sweep is the only hope we have, albeit a long shot. But it's enough I guess to make me still watch.
The Yankees will play out the rubber game of this series this afternoon at 1:05 ET before heading to Detroit to play a makeup game tomorrow night. Andy Pettitte will be on the mound and will have to bring his A++ game, as the Yankees will be going up against the abominable Roy Halladay.
And if by any chance you are reading this from the New Orleans area, you should probably shut off your computer and as Ray Nagin says, "Get the heck out."
