GAME 56: In a make-up game for an April rainout against the Mariners, David Phelps was fighting to a draw with ‘King’ Felix Hernandez for 6 innings, then all hell broke lose. Although only 2 runs were mustered against Hernandez, there was a moment’s hope that a big inning would happen. It did. It just wasn’t from the Yankees. In the seventh inning, Seattle jumped on every opportunity the Yanks provided, and broke the suspense of a 2-2 tie with four huge runs. Then added another four in the ninth for the finishing touches on a 10-2 beatdown of the New Yorkers.
Even with some horrendous home plate umpiring, King Felix seemed ‘gettable’ tonight. The Yank’s weren’t exactly blistering the ball, and their 2 run fourth inning was the result of a fluke infield hit, but something was in air. Maybe this would be the night the team busts out. No such luck. In the end, it was just a bust. Again.
A rare Derek Jeter mental lapse, base-running blunders, another big inning allowed by the pitching, and the lack of timely hitting all came together for another Yankees home loss — their 10th in the last 14 games.
Couldn’t hit sand if …
At the post-game press conference, manager Joe Girardi had no answers. What could he say? Right now, this team couldn’t hit sand if they fell off a camel. The streaky Alfonso Soriano looks lost at the plate. Girardi probably gambled on using him as DH to help him get going. Not tonight. King Felix or no King Felix, Soriano was swinging at anything and everything. And missing. Jacoby Ellsbury, Kelly Johnson and Yangervis Solarte all had two hits apiece tonight, but none of them scored a run. No one could drive them in.
Here’s the dreaded box score and disheartening recap.
But cheer up. The best team in the American League is coming into town for a three-game set starting tomorrow (Tuesday). What could possibly go wrong? ‘Till then.
