Yanks Swept Out of LA

ON THE MOUND:

For three straight days a Yankee starter has pitched well for the first three innings of the game. The rest, is a question. CC Sabathia allowed two hits and a walked 1 over the first three, and in the fourth, allowing four runs on four hits and a walk. A 1-0 Yankee lead turned into a 4-1 deficit. Sabathia would last until the seventh, when he allowed the Angels fifth run on a two-out triple by Chone Figgins, and then an RBI single to Maicer Izturis. He threw 114 pitches, 71 for strikes.

Phil Hughes came into the game after the Angels extended their lead from 4-2 to 5-2. He pitched 1.1 scoreless, walked two, and struck out one.

THE OFFENSE:

For the third straight day the Yankees blew a lead but the Yankee offense put up a fight. Angels' starter John Lackey was very good today, holding the Yanks to just two runs over seven innings, but with Jorge Posada's RBI single off Lackey in the seventh. Then they scored two more in the eighth on an RBI single by Melky Cabrera and a sac-fly by Posada. Those runs cut the Angels lead to 4-2 and then 5-4, but in both innings the Yankees squandered golden opportunities to either tie the game or take the lead.

With the Angels up 4-2 the Yanks had the bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh with Mark Texieira and Alex Rodriguez coming to the plate. You'd think they'd at least get one run in, but no, Lackey buckled down to strike out Texieira and get A-Rod to ground into an inning-ending double play.

An inning later the Yankees had runners on first and second with one out and Nick Swisher at the plate, he was pinch-hitting for Brett Gardner. Swisher lined a ball that was ticketed for center field, but Angels' reliever Darren Oliver stuck his glove down and snared the ball, and then threw to first to double off Cabrera.

The Yanks now have four days off for the all-star break. They open a three-game series against the first place Tigers on Friday in The Bronx.

INJURY STATUS:

According to Rotoworld.com lefty Damaso Marte threw a 25-pitch batting practice session today in Tampa. They also said that he could begin a rehab assignment as soon as later this week.

Speaking of lefties, Zach Kroenke and his 1.17 ERA in Triple-A Scranton. Lefties are hitting just .178 against him this year. Maybe they should give him a shot?

THE BOX SCORE:


ABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVGGardner, CF 4010011.282b-Swisher, PH-LF 1000002.237Jeter, SS 5021002.321Teixeira, 1B 5010025.275Rodriguez, A, 3B 5000024.256Matsui, H, DH 1100300.265Cano, 2B 4110004.308Hinske, RF 3000014.263Cabrera, Me, LF-CF 3221100.285Molina, J, C 1000011.271a-Posada, PH-C 1012000.285Totals334844723

a-Singled for Molina, J in the 7th. b-Hit into a double play for Gardner in the 8th.
BATTING
2B: Cabrera, Me (14, Lackey).
TB: Gardner; Jeter 2; Teixeira; Cano; Cabrera, Me 3; Posada.
RBI: Jeter (37), Posada 2 (40), Cabrera, Me (34).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Hinske.
SF: Posada.
GIDP: Teixeira; Rodriguez, A.
Team RISP: 3-for-9.
Team LOB: 9.

FIELDING
DP: 2 (Rodriguez, A-Cano-Teixeira 2).




IPHRERBBSOHRERASabathia (L, 8-6) 6.29553603.86Hughes, P 1.10002103.91

ANGELS STATS

PLAYER OF THE GAME: John Lacky (W, 7 IP, 6 H, 2, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K)

HONORABLE MENTION: Bobby Abreu (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, R)


UP NEXT:

off day . (all-star break)