The Unreliables

Starting pitching has troubled the Yankees more than any other issue this season. The bullpen is a close second. Both let the Yankees down last night in the Minnesota Twins 6-5 win at the Metrodome. After taking the first 2 games of the series, the Yankees dropped the final two and ended the road trip 3-4 to fall back under .500 (28-29).

Andy Pettitte blew three separate leads before Kyle Farnsworth lost the game in the 8th inning. Michael Cuddyer lead off the decisive inning with a double, his 9th hit in 18 at-bats in the series. Nick Punto delivered a perfect pinch-hit sacrifice bunt to move Cuddyer to 3rd and Delmon Young brought him home with a double to right. It was his 3rd RBI double of the game.

Alex Rodriguez lead off the 9th with a single up the middle off closer Joe Nathan, but Hideki Matsui bounced into 4-6-3 double play to erase any hopes. Jason Giambi then lined out to center as Nathan recorded his 15th save.

The Yankees got right to Twins starter Livan Hernandez in the 1st inning. With Derek Jeter aboard via a single, A-Rod belted a 2-outm 2-run home run for a 2-0 lead. It was his 8th home run of the season and #526 for his career.

Young's first double cut the lead in half and then the Twins speed tied it up in the 3rd. Carlos Gomez singled to right and advanced all the way to 3rd Base on Pettitte's errant pick-off attempt. Alexi Casilla then brought him with a safety squeeze which he also beat out for a single.

The Yankees took the lead back in the 6th, built on a single by Jason Giambi and a double by Chad Moeller. Melky Cabrera's broken bat single brought home one run and Johnny Damon singled through the right side to score Moeller for a 4-2 Yankees lead.

The Twins came right back though in their half of the 6th on an RBI single by Cuddyer and another RBI double by Young. A-Rod gave the Yankees their final lead when he doubled leading off the 7th, moved to 3rd on a wild pitch and scored ahead of a throw home on Giambi's grounder. But Pettitte would have none of it and served up Joe Mauer's first home run of the season to tie the game once again. Then the game fell into the giant hole that is the Yankees 8th inning relief.

Notes and News

Johnny Damon extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Derek Jeter is 5-13 in his last 3 games, but was thrown out last night by Cuddyer trying to stretch a single into a double.

A-Rod continues to love the Metrodome. He was 8-20 (.400) with a home run, 3 doubles, and 6 RBI.

Jorge Posada played in another extended spring training game and remains on track to be activated this week.

Jeff Karstens appeared to be close to returning to the team as a long man in the pen/spot starter, but he's back on the DL with a strained groin.

LaTroy Hawkins will have his suspension appeal hearing today.

June 2, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Yankees	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0		5	15	1
Minnesota	0	1	1	0	0	2	1	1	X		6	13	0

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	5	0	2	1	0	0	2	.293
Jeter, SS	5	1	3	0	0	0	3	.279
Abreu, RF	5	0	0	0	0	0	4	.292
Rodriguez, 3B	4	2	3	2	1	0	1	.300
Matsui, DH	4	0	1	0	1	0	3	.328
Giambi, 1B	5	0	2	1	0	0	2	.250
Cano, 2B	4	1	1	0	0	0	5	.220
Moeller, C	4	1	1	0	0	2	3	.254
Cabrera, CF	4	0	2	1	0	0	2	.270
Totals	40	5	15	5	2	2	25
BATTING 2B: Jeter (8, Hernandez), Moeller (4, Hernandez), Rodriguez (12, Hernandez). HR: Rodriguez (8, 1st inning off Hernandez, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Damon 2; Jeter 4; Rodriguez 7; Matsui; Giambi 2; Cano; Moeller 2; Cabrera 2. RBI: Rodriguez 2 (23), Cabrera (25), Damon (26), Giambi (28). 2-out RBI: Rodriguez 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano; Jeter; Giambi; Matsui; Abreu; Cabrera. GIDP: Damon; Matsui. Team LOB: 10. FIELDING E: Pettitte (1, pickoff).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte	7.0	10	5	4	0	2	1	4.21
Farnsworth (L, 0-2)	1.0	3	1	1	1	1	0	4.44

Minnesota	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Gomez, CF	5	1	1	0	0	1	3	.280
Casilla, 2B	4	0	1	1	0	0	1	.328
Mauer, C	4	2	2	1	0	0	1	.319
Morneau, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	.303
Cuddyer, RF	4	3	3	0	0	0	0	.258
Monroe, DH	3	0	1	1	0	0	1	.238
a-Punto, PH-DH	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.264
Young, LF	4	0	3	3	0	0	0	.273
Harris, SS	4	0	1	0	0	2	3	.249
Macri, 3B	3	0	1	0	0	0	2	.500
b-Lamb, PH-3B	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.250
Totals	35	6	13	6	1	3	13
a-Hit a sacrifice bunt for Monroe in the 8th. b-Walked for Macri in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Young 3 (10, Pettitte, Pettitte, Farnsworth), Macri (1, Pettitte), Cuddyer (7, Farnsworth). HR: Mauer (1, 7th inning off Pettitte, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Gomez; Casilla; Mauer 5; Cuddyer 4; Monroe; Young 6; Harris; Macri 2. RBI: Young 3 (18), Casilla (14), Monroe (19), Mauer (22). 2-out RBI: Young; Mauer. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Harris; Morneau; Casilla; Macri 2; Gomez. S: Punto. Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING CS: Young (3, 3rd base by Farnsworth/Moeller). FIELDING Outfield assists: Cuddyer (Jeter at 2nd base). DP: 2 (Harris-Morneau, Casilla-Harris-Morneau).

Minnesota	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hernandez	6.0	13	5	5	1	1	1	4.81
Reyes	0.1	0	0	0	1	0	0	2.50
Guerrier (W, 3-1)	1.2	1	0	0	0	1	0	3.00
Nathan (S, 15)	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.46

Hernandez pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

WP: Hernandez, Reyes.
Pitches-strikes: Pettitte 94-64, Farnsworth 21-13, Hernandez 107-65,
Reyes 12-6, Guerrier 20-13, Nathan 11-8.
Ground outs-fly outs: Pettitte 15-4, Farnsworth 1-0, Hernandez 9-8,
Reyes 1-0, Guerrier 3-0, Nathan 2-1.
Batters faced: Pettitte 31, Farnsworth 6, Hernandez 31, Reyes 3,
Guerrier 5, Nathan 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Reyes 1-1, Guerrier 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Gary Darling. 1B: Jerry Meals. 2B: Bill Miller.
3B: Chris Tiller.
Weather: 70 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 2:54.
Att: 20,168.

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Yankees Not Very Offensive

We apparently erroneously felt the Yankees offense was coming around after saving Chien-Ming Wang on Saturday. Yesterday, Darrell Rasner had his first bad start and the Yankees offense was nowhere to be found. The Yankees knocked starting pitcher Nick Blackburn out of the game in a manner no one wanted and reliever Scott Patterson made an inauspicious debut. The outcome was a 5-1 Twins victory, snapping the Yankees 3-game losing streak, and sent the Yankees back to .500.

The outcome seemed meaningless after Bobby Abreu's line drive hit Twins starting pitcher Nick Blackburn in the face. Thankfully, Blackburn only ended up with a bloody nose and bruises. There was nothing broken and he even returned to the Metrodome after going for X-Rays. A much relieved Abreu even spoke with Blackburn after the game.

Rasner ran into trouble right from the start. Carlos Gomez reached on a bunt single, and although Chad Moeller threw him out stealing, the Twins offense continued their 1st inning attack. Alexi Casilla doubled and Mike Redmond followed with a double. Justin Morneau bounced back to Rasner to freeze the runners, but Michael Cuddyer lined a 2-run single to center and the Twins would never trail.

The Yankees loaded the bases against Blackburn in the 3rd, but Alex Rodriguez struck out and Hideki Matsui grounded out. The Twins added to their lead in the 4th when Morneau doubled and eventually came around on Mike Lamb's sac fly for a 3-0 lead.

Derek Jeter belted a solo home run, his 3rd of the season, with one out in the 5th to get the Yankees on the board, and then Abreu reached on his dangerous comebacker. While Blackburn was the one injured, the Yankees seemed to be most shaken up by it, going down weakly the rest of the game.

The Twins added two more runs in the game on RBI triples by Morneau and Cuddyer. The latter coming against Patterson who allowed a run on 2 hits and a walk in 1.1 innings in his major league debut.

News and Notes

Johnny Damon extended his hitting streak to 10 games, while Hideki Matsui's 0-4 ended his streak at 9 games. He still leads the AL with a .330 average.

Michael Cuddyer is 6-14 in the series with a home run, triple, and 6 RBI.





June 1, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Yankees	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		1	8	1
Minnesota	2	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	X		5	9	0

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	.290
Jeter, SS	2	1	1	1	2	0	0	.271
Abreu, RF	3	0	1	0	1	1	1	.299
Rodriguez, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	1	4	.287
Matsui, DH	4	0	0	0	0	0	6	.330
Betemit, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	.237
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.220
Moeller, C	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.255
a-Giambi, PH	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.245
Cabrera, CF	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.265
Totals	33	1	8	1	3	6	15
a-Singled for Moeller in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Damon (17, Blackburn), Moeller (3, Blackburn). HR: Jeter (3, 5th inning off Blackburn, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 2; Jeter 4; Abreu; Rodriguez; Cano; Moeller 2; Giambi; Cabrera. RBI: Jeter (26). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Matsui 3; Cabrera. GIDP: Moeller; Damon. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING E: Cabrera (2, throw).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Rasner (L, 3-2)	5.1	8	4	4	2	5	0	2.67
Patterson	1.1	1	1	1	2	2	0	6.75
Britton	1.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.50

Minnesota	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Gomez, CF	4	0	1	0	0	1	3	.282
Casilla, 2B	4	1	1	0	0	1	0	.333
Redmond, C	3	2	1	0	1	0	0	.235
Morneau, 1B	4	2	2	0	0	1	3	.308
Cuddyer, RF	4	0	3	3	0	0	0	.245
Kubel, DH	2	0	0	0	2	0	2	.238
Young, LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	3	.264
Lamb, 3B	3	0	0	1	0	1	2	.250
Harris, SS	3	0	0	0	1	2	2	.249
Totals	31	5	9	4	4	7	15
BATTING 2B: Redmond (3, Rasner), Morneau (9, Rasner). 3B: Morneau (2, Rasner), Cuddyer (2, Patterson). TB: Gomez; Casilla; Redmond 2; Morneau 5; Cuddyer 5; Young. RBI: Cuddyer 3 (25), Lamb (24). 2-out RBI: Cuddyer 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Kubel 2; Harris; Gomez 2. SF: Lamb. Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING CS: Gomez (6, 2nd base by Rasner/Moeller). FIELDING DP: 2 (Harris-Casilla-Morneau, Crain-Harris-Morneau).

Minnesota	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Blackburn	4.1	5	1	1	3	3	1	3.32
Bass (W, 2-1)	1.2	1	0	0	0	0	0	5.35
Crain (H, 4)	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3.68
Nathan	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	1.52

Pitches-strikes: Rasner 111-72, Patterson 40-21, Britton 14-9,
Blackburn 71-45, Bass 13-7, Crain 23-14, Nathan 18-11.
Ground outs-fly outs: Rasner 6-4, Patterson 2-0, Britton 3-1,
Blackburn 6-4, Bass 4-1, Crain 4-1, Nathan 1-0.
Batters faced: Rasner 25, Patterson 7, Britton 4, Blackburn 21,
Bass 5, Crain 6, Nathan 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Patterson 2-0, Britton 1-0, Bass 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Chris Tiller. 1B: Gary Darling. 2B: Jerry Meals. 3B: Bill Miller.
Weather: 69 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 2:53.
Att: 27,479.

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Friday Hot Stove

With reports of the Yankees close to tying up Robinson Cano with a long term deal, the Twins are doing likewise with Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau. Cuddyer inked a 3-year, $24 million deal, and Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP, will get $80 million over 6 years.

The Yankees are close to a minor signing with veteran utility man Chris Woodard.

The A's added Jeff Fiorentino off of waivers from the Reds. The A's are Fiorentino's 3rd team in 3 weeks. The once highly thought of prospect, who's still just 24-yrs old, was released by the Orioles on January 2nd.

Buster Olney says that the Giants and Mariners are the favorites to land veteran 1st Baseman Tony Clark.

The Rocky Mountain News is claiming the Mets are close to signing Livan Hernandez. It would be great to see him as a teammate of his brother, El Duque.

Rod Barajas was supposed to be the Blue Jays starting catcher last year, but free agent talks broke down at the last moment. This time around Barajas has signed on with Toronto as a back up to Greg Zaun. Had Barajas' deal gone through last year, the Jays would have let Zaun go.

The Braves have signed reliever Rafael Soriano to a new 2-yr, $9 million contract. Atlanta decided to buy out Soriano's 1st year of free agency, by paying more than he requested in arbitration.

If the Orioles can't find themselves a closer to replace the injured Chris Ray, Andy MacPhail indicated that Greg Aquino may be the 1st option.

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