07/12: Angels Cap Off Sweep of Yankees
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees had about as much luck today as they've had the last five years or so in Angel Stadium, as a 5–4 loss put the Yankees on the wrong end of a sweep for the first time since they were swept in Boston June 9-11. Much like in the previous two games, the Yankees missed some opportunities and the Angels had some luck on their side. The Yankees will go into the All-Star break 3 games behind the Red Sox and 2.5 games ahead of Texas in the A.L. wild card standings.
The Yankees for the most part got some good pitching out of CC Sabathia, but his performance was marred by a rather disastrous 4th inning, in which he allowed 4 runs on 4 hits. Aside from that rough inning, the big man allowed only one more run and struck out 6 batters in 6 and 2/3 innings of work.
The Yankees left 9 men on base and squandered opportunities throughout, although the most gut-wrenching failures occurred in the 7th and 8th innings. The Yankees scored a run in the 7th and loaded the bases with nobody out, but Mark Teixeira struck out swinging and Alex Rodriguez ended the inning with a 5U-3 double play. In the 8th, the Yankees pulled to within a run and had the tying run in scoring position with one out, but a rocket hit by Nick Swisher was snared by Angels pitcher Darren Oliver before the ball could reach the ground, and he was able to double off Melky Cabrera trying to get back to first.
So the Yankees quickly go from not wanting a day off because of the rhythm they were in, to now probably embracing a four-day break after the sweep. The Yankees should still go into the break feeling pretty good about their team though, as their 53–37 record is the third best in baseball. The Yankees are, however, a combined 5–15 against division leading teams (Red Sox, Angels, Tigers, Phillies). The Yankees will have an opportunity to improve on that record when the Tigers come into town for a three-game set beginning Friday.
Recap records: Patrick: 25–13, Seamus: 20–16, Andrew: 6–8
The Yankees for the most part got some good pitching out of CC Sabathia, but his performance was marred by a rather disastrous 4th inning, in which he allowed 4 runs on 4 hits. Aside from that rough inning, the big man allowed only one more run and struck out 6 batters in 6 and 2/3 innings of work.
The Yankees left 9 men on base and squandered opportunities throughout, although the most gut-wrenching failures occurred in the 7th and 8th innings. The Yankees scored a run in the 7th and loaded the bases with nobody out, but Mark Teixeira struck out swinging and Alex Rodriguez ended the inning with a 5U-3 double play. In the 8th, the Yankees pulled to within a run and had the tying run in scoring position with one out, but a rocket hit by Nick Swisher was snared by Angels pitcher Darren Oliver before the ball could reach the ground, and he was able to double off Melky Cabrera trying to get back to first.
So the Yankees quickly go from not wanting a day off because of the rhythm they were in, to now probably embracing a four-day break after the sweep. The Yankees should still go into the break feeling pretty good about their team though, as their 53–37 record is the third best in baseball. The Yankees are, however, a combined 5–15 against division leading teams (Red Sox, Angels, Tigers, Phillies). The Yankees will have an opportunity to improve on that record when the Tigers come into town for a three-game set beginning Friday.
Recap records: Patrick: 25–13, Seamus: 20–16, Andrew: 6–8
