08/09: Kennedy Can't Find Minor League Magic in Yankee Loss
Posted by: Seamus
Ian Kennedy continues to be the best player for opposing teams. Kennedy didn't last three innings, and the Yankees failed in yet another opportunity to gain ground on the Red Sox as the Angels defeated the Yanks by a score of 10-5. The Rays won their game in Seattle, so the Yanks fall to 6.5 games behind Tampa Bay in the A.L. East.
To say Ian Kennedy struggled in his return to the big-league club would be quite an understatement, as he was tattooed to the tune of 5 runs on 9 hits in just 2 innings, and was unable to retire any of the five batters he faced in the 3rd. Darrell Rasner relieved Kennedy and did a much better job. He allowed three runs in five innings, but if you take Torii Hunter out of the equation, he'd have gotten out of that game pretty much untouched. I'd expect to see him back in the rotation in the next go-around.
The Yankees' offense did get some timely hitting (and walking) early on, as they were able to take the lead with a two-run inning in the 3rd, highlighted by a game-tying walk for Jason Giambi and an infield single for new Angels' nemesis Xavier Nady. After the Yankees again fell behind, Nady brought them back in it with a home run in the Bombers' two-run 6th. The Yankees were within 6-5, but a double play off the bat of Bobby Abreu in the 7th kind of put the air out of the Yankee comeback.
Torii Hunter homered in the 7th and Brian Bruney put the game out of reach later in the inning by allowing three runs to score (one was charged to Rasner).
The Yanks will try to bounce back later this afternoon as Dan Giese will take the mound against the Angels' John Lackey. Hopefully the Yankees can work some of the magic they worked against Lackey last Sunday, as the lineup did a nice job against him once they got his pitch count up. Game starts at 3:55 ET.
To say Ian Kennedy struggled in his return to the big-league club would be quite an understatement, as he was tattooed to the tune of 5 runs on 9 hits in just 2 innings, and was unable to retire any of the five batters he faced in the 3rd. Darrell Rasner relieved Kennedy and did a much better job. He allowed three runs in five innings, but if you take Torii Hunter out of the equation, he'd have gotten out of that game pretty much untouched. I'd expect to see him back in the rotation in the next go-around.
The Yankees' offense did get some timely hitting (and walking) early on, as they were able to take the lead with a two-run inning in the 3rd, highlighted by a game-tying walk for Jason Giambi and an infield single for new Angels' nemesis Xavier Nady. After the Yankees again fell behind, Nady brought them back in it with a home run in the Bombers' two-run 6th. The Yankees were within 6-5, but a double play off the bat of Bobby Abreu in the 7th kind of put the air out of the Yankee comeback.
Torii Hunter homered in the 7th and Brian Bruney put the game out of reach later in the inning by allowing three runs to score (one was charged to Rasner).
The Yanks will try to bounce back later this afternoon as Dan Giese will take the mound against the Angels' John Lackey. Hopefully the Yankees can work some of the magic they worked against Lackey last Sunday, as the lineup did a nice job against him once they got his pitch count up. Game starts at 3:55 ET.
