Yankee Addicts

New York Yankees Blow Another Lead, Lose Again to LA Angels., 14-8

July 11, 2009 · Greg Cohen · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
NYY	2	1	0	1	0	0	2	2	0	8	9	1
LAA	0	0	0	1	7	1	1	4	X	14	16	1

WP – Jered Weaver (10-3)
LP – Andy Pettitte (8-5)

I’m really getting sick and tired of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. No matter how well the New York Yankees are playing they will still find ways to embarrass themselves against the Angels, especially in Anaheim where they are now 5-16 since 2005.

Today was like watching a replay of yesterday’s game. Yanks jump out to an early four-run lead only to have their starter—this time Andy Pettitte—blow it, and then leave the game after just 4.1 innings.

Then, after the offense battled back to make it a game again, here comes the bullpen to hand the Angels all the insurance runs they’d need. Truly two pathetic losses, both of which can be blamed on the starting pitcher.

Pettitte started off the game very well, holding the Angels hitless over the first three innings. Then, in the fourth the Angels got on the board when Erick Aybar led off with a double and then score on a Bobby Abreu RBI single. It would be the first of three RBI for the former Yankee.

Everything fell apart one inning later when Pettitte would allow 5 runs on 6 hits while recording just one out.

After the game Pettitte said, “That’s as frustrating as it gets right there,” Pettitte said. “Your team gives you a four-run lead against a good pitcher, a guy who’s throwing the ball real well here, and I wasn’t able to hold it. I really can’t put my finger on it.”

I don’t know why he stunk either, but he stunk.

Both Joba and Pettitte are becoming more and more unreliable with every start, and that’s a major problem. The Yankees are not going to make the post season with just two reliable starters. If at least one of them doesn’t get themselves right the Yanks will be in a lot of trouble.

David Robertson wasn’t any help out of the pen. He came in for Pettitte with runners on the corners and one out. Mike Napoli was the first batter Robertson faced, and he lined a two-run double allowing both inherited runners to score. Coming into today’s game Robertson had allowed 50% of inherited runners to score, which is terrible. Going 2-for-2 today didn’t help.

He continued to get hit hard over the next 1.1 innings, allowing three of his own runs on three hits. I’m beginning to think it’s time for the Yanks to send Robertson back down to Scranton and recall Jonathan Albaladejo. Robertson can be a good pitcher, but right now he’s not. If you’re wondering, he’s allowed just 24% of inherited runners to score.

After the Yanks fought back to make it a 10-8 game in the 8th on back-to-back homers by Hideki Matsui and Alex Rodriguez—the HR was A-Rod’s second of the day and 570th of his career, tying him for 10th all-time with Rafael Palmeiro—Phil Coke came in and had his worst outing of the season. In one inning he allowed four runs on three hits and a walk. The four runs killed any chances the Yanks had at a comeback.

Offensively, once again, I can’t complain. When a team scores four off a very good pitcher hands their starter a 4-0 lead, then fights back after falling behind 8-4 and 10-6, they deserve some credit, even in a loss.

A-Rod hit two homers, drove in three and scored three. New Yankee Eric Hinske also hit two homers today, a solo shot in the fourth and a two-run homer in the seventh. Nice start for Hinske as a Yank.

Hopefully CC Sabathia can last more than 4.1 innings when he starts for the Yanks tomorrow as they look to salvage at least one game of this three-game set. John Lackey will get the start for the Halos.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jeter, SS	5	0	1	0	0	0	1	.320
Damon, LF	4	1	0	0	1	3	1	.276
Teixeira, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	2	2	.276
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	3	2	3	1	1	0	.263
Matsui, H, DH	4	1	1	1	0	3	1	.266
Posada, C	4	0	0	0	0	2	1	.281
Cano, 2B	3	1	2	1	1	0	0	.309
Hinske, RF	4	2	2	3	0	0	2	.270
Gardner, CF	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.283
a-Cabrera, Me, PH-CF	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	.280
Totals	35	8	9	8	3	13	8
a-Struck out for Gardner in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Jeter (18, Weaver, Jr). HR: Rodriguez, A 2 (17, 1st inning off Weaver, Jr, 1 on, 2 out; 8th inning off Bulger, 0 on, 1 out), Hinske 2 (4, 2nd inning off Weaver, Jr, 0 on, 2 out; 7th inning off Oliver, 1 on, 0 out), Matsui, H (14, 8th inning off Bulger, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Jeter 2; Rodriguez, A 8; Matsui, H 4; Cano 2; Hinske 8; Cabrera, Me. RBI: Rodriguez, A 3 (50), Hinske 3 (15), Cano (46), Matsui, H (40). 2-out RBI: Rodriguez, A 2; Hinske; Cano. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Teixeira. GIDP: Jeter. Team RISP: 1-for-4. Team LOB: 3. FIELDING E: Coke (1, pickoff). DP: 2 (Jeter-Cano-Teixeira 2).