This is Getting Sad: Yanks blanked by K.C. 4-0

The Yankees fell to 4-5 on the year with a 4-o loss to the Royals tonight at Kauffman Stadium.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
N.Y. Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	7	0
Kansas City	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	X		4	8	0

With Ian Kennedy being scratched from his start due to the possibility of rain (Girardi apparently didn't want to risk starting Kennedy and using him for an inning, and then losing him to a rain delay, I can't fault him for this move), Brian Bruney got the start and pitched very well. He pitched two scoreless innings, allowed just one hit and a walk, while striking out four. Bruney really has been impressive so far this year. I was most impressed by his second inning; after giving up a leadoff double to Billy Butler, Bruney struck out Alex Gordon, Ross Gload, and John Buck in order to end the inning.

Billy Traber then pitched and didn't allow a run. In one inning he allowed, one hit and a walk, with one strikeout. Kyle Farnsworth then came in a pitched a good first inning, but in his second inning of work gave up 2 runs, including leadoff blast off the bat of John Buck.

Ian Kennedy finally made his appearance, and was shaky at first. In his first inning of work he walked Alex Gordon, and then gave up a double to Ross Gload that Hideki Matsui misplayed in left - I STILL CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE IS EVER ALLOWED TO PLAY THE FIELD - that scored Gordon. Gload later scored on a ground out. Kennedy did settle down, pitching a scoreless 7th and 8th. I wouldn't make too much of Kennedy's appearance. His whole day was screwed up.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Bruney	2.0	1	0	0	1	4	0	0.00
Traber	1.0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0.00
Farnsworth (L, 0-1)	2.0	4	2	2	2	1	1	5.06
Kennedy	3.0	2	2	2	2	3	0	13.50

ROYALS PITCHING

The Yankees offense was missing yet again. Seven hits was all they could muster against the mighty Royals and starter Zack Greinke. The only Yankee with more than one hit was Alex Rodriguez who went 2-for-4.

The Yankees did try to rally in the 9th getting two men on with one out, but couldn't take advantage. Jason Giambi was batting and the Royals brought in Jimmy Gobble, a lefty, and for some reason Girardi allowed Giambi to hit when he had the right-hand hitting Morgan Ensberg wasting away on the bench. Giambi then popped out. Was he afraid to hurt Giambi's feelings? Oh, and did I mention Giambi is hitting .056? Anyway, the next hitter was Jose Molina and he struck out to end the threat, and the game.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, DH	3	0	1	0	1	2	2	.212
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.194
Abreu, RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.333
Rodriguez, 3B	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	.303
Matsui, LF	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	.333
Giambi, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	.056
Molina, C	4	0	1	0	0	1	2	.278
Cabrera, CF	3	0	1	0	0	0	1	.300
Gonzalez, SS	3	0	1	0	0	0	2	.333
Totals	31	0	7	0	3	3	14
BATTING 2B: Molina (3, Greinke), Rodriguez (4, Greinke), Gonzalez (1, Greinke), Damon (2, Greinke). TB: Damon 2; Cano; Rodriguez 3; Molina 2; Cabrera; Gonzalez 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Damon 2; Giambi; Cano; Molina. GIDP: Cano; Abreu; Gonzalez. Team LOB: 7.

ROYALS HITTING

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Zack Grienke (8 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K)

Oh, by the way, they're still not doing the little things. In the 3rd inning Jose Molina led off with a double, Melky Cabrera then came up, his job is to do one thing; move Molina to third. And at first, that's what he was trying to do. On the first pitch he bunted, but he popped it foul. Then, for some reason, Girardi took the bunt sign off. Two pitches later Cabrera popped out. Alberto Gonzalez then flied out and Johnny Damon struck out, and Molina remained on 2nd.

So far this season they're 11 for 66 (.167) with runner in scoring position, ugh.

If it's any consolation, the Red Sox also lost tonight, and have the same record as the Yankees.

The Yankees look to salvage one game of this three game series tomorrow with Andy Pettitte on the hill. Left-hander John Bale starts for the Royals. First pitch is 8:10 p.m., and the game can be seen on YES, and heard on WCBS 880.