Yanks Drop Second Straight to the Sox

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	0		6	12	0
N.Y. Yankees	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1		4	6	1

With two on and two out and the Yankees leading 3-1 in the 3rd, Kevin Youkilis launched a shot to deep left. Johnny Damon appeared to have made a spectacular inning-ending catch at the wall, but the ball popped loose, literally sat on the wall for a few seconds, and dropped onto the field for what turned into a game tying 2-run triple. The play completely changed the game, and with Damon having to leave the game with a contusion of the left shoulder, may have changed a lot more than just today.

Darrell Rasner gave up a 3-run homer to Mike Lowell in the 5th and the Red Sox took a 6-3 lead, and that would be all they'd need to win their second straight at The Stadium.

Rasner may have started his last game for a while for this team. He's struggled very much lately, and today was no different. He allowed 6 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings pitched; he also walked 3 and struck out 2. Rasner was 1-5 with a 6.42 ERA in June and July has started off even worse. It may be time for Jeff Karstens to get a chance, because Rasner just ain't cutting it.

One positive was the bullpen, which was once again very good. Billy Traber and Jose Veras both pitched a scoreless inning each, and Edwar Ramirez was very impressive in his two scoreless innings. Ramirez also struck out 3 of the 6 batters he faced.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Rasner (L, 4-7)	5.0	10	6	6	3	2	1	4.94
Traber	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	5.06
Veras	1.0	2	0	0	0	1	0	2.63
Farnsworth	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3.89
Ramirez	2.0	0	0	0	0	3	0	2.90

RED SOX PITCHING

Things started off very well for the Yankees offense, and you thought, even if it was for just a moment, that yesterday's meeting may have actually woken up this team. After blasting the team in the newspaper, Johnny Damon put his money where his mouth is, and led off the game with a double. Three batters later Alex Rodriguez ripped a 2-run double, A-Rod moved to third on the throw to home and then scored on a Jason Giambi sac fly, so after 1 inning of play the Yanks were ahead 3-0.

Like most losses this season Yankees had and squandered a chance to tie or take the lead in this game. With the score 6-3 in the bottom of the 7th the Yankees had the bases loaded with one out and Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez coming to the plate. But once again the Yanks could not come through. Abreu popped out to second base, and A-Rod grounded to third to end the inning.

Thanks to a horrible call by the third base umpire the Yanks had a second chance to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th. With nobody on and two out Brett Gardner worked a walk, and then Derek Jeter lined a ball to center that Coco Crisp caught for the final out, but somehow the ump missed it, said Crisp trapped the ball, and the Yanks had 1 on with 2 out in a 6-4 game (Gardner scored on the play). Bobby Abreu stepped to the plate and once again failed in a big spot. He did hit the ball hard, but he hit it to the deepest part of the ballpark, and Crisp made the catch on the warning track in center to end the game.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	.319
Gardner, LF	3	1	0	0	1	2	2	.077
Jeter, SS	4	0	2	1	1	0	1	.282
Abreu, RF	4	1	0	0	1	0	5	.277
Rodriguez, 3B	4	1	2	2	0	0	4	.319
Giambi, 1B	2	0	0	1	1	0	1	.263
Posada, DH	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.281
Cano, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	3	.248
Cabrera, CF	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	.246
Molina, C	2	0	0	0	1	0	3	.230
a-Betemit, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.256
Totals	31	4	6	4	6	4	20
a-Flied out for Molina in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Damon (23, Beckett), Rodriguez (18, Beckett), Jeter (16, Papelbon). TB: Damon 2; Jeter 3; Rodriguez 3; Cabrera. RBI: Rodriguez 2 (49), Giambi (53), Jeter (36). 2-out RBI: Jeter. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Molina 2; Rodriguez 2; Abreu. SF: Giambi. GIDP: Cano. Team LOB: 8.

RED SOX HITTING

The loss was the Yankees fifth in their last six games. They now sit 6 games behind the Red Sox in the Wild Card race, and with the Rays winning 7-0 right now, will probably fall to 9 games out of first in the AL East. Baltimore is also winning their game, and will move into a tie with the Yanks for 3rd in the AL East with a win.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mike Lowell (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, R)

HONORABLE MENTION: Josh Beckett (6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)

GOATS OF THE GAME: Darrell Rasner and Bobby Abreu

Game three of this four game series is tomorrow afternoon in the Bronx. Mike Mussina starts for the Yankees, and Justin Masterson will get the ball for the Red Sox. Game Time: 3:55 p.m. - TV: FOX - Radio: WCBS 880