So Much For Momentum: Yanks End Road Trip With Another Disappointing Loss

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

What a moron I was for expecting the momentum from last night's game to carry over into today's game. I should have known better with this team. Today they lost 4-2 to the Twins, and head home after an ugly road trip that saw them lose seven of ten.

Darrell Rasner started and didn't pitch great, but he wasn't terrible either. He gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits in five innings pitched, while striking out four and walking one. His only mistake came against Delmon Young who hit another three-run homer, his second in two days.

Rasner wasn't helped at all by his defense, specifically Robinson Cano who missed the bag on a force play at second. I don't know if he was scared of contact or what, but he should have been on the base. Two batters later Delmon Young hit his three-run homer.

Dan Giese relieved Rasner in the sixth and gave up two walks and a hit before leaving the game with a shoulder injury. He will see a doctor tomorrow to see just how bad the injury is. I would say his start for Tuesday is doubtful.

David Robertson then came in a got out of a bases loaded and nobody out jam with only one run scoring. He stayed in the game and pitched a scoreless 7th.

Billy Traber and Brian Bruney combined for a scoreless 8th.

The problem today was not the pitching, as it has been on most days the problem was the Yankees bats. This team just cannot hit at all, and I'm really starting to wonder how Kevin Long still has a job.

Two runs on five hits were all the Yankees had in them today. Things started off well, the Yankees scored a run in the first inning to take an early lead after A-Rod doubled with two out and Jason Giambi followed with an RBI single off the baggy in right. But after the Yanks got one run on two hits in the first, one run on three hits was all they'd get in the final eight.

They did have a couple opportunities to either tie the game or take the lead - In the 8th the Yankees had runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out but the only run they could score came on a two out strike out that got past the catcher. A-Rod ended the inning with a fly out to center with runners on first and third.

They also had the tying run at the plate with two outs in the 9th, but Ivan Rodriguez struck out to end the game. How bad has he been, both hitting and behind the plate?

At this point (8:07 p.m.) the Red Sox are beating the Rangers 6-0 in the bottom of the 3rd inning, so the Yankees will probably be 6 out of the Wild Card by the end of the night.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF-CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	.322
Abreu, DH	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	.288
Rodriguez, A, 3B	4	1	1	0	0	0	3	.312
Giambi, 1B	4	0	1	1	0	1	0	.257
Nady, RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.329
Cano, 2B	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	.262
Rodriguez, I, C	4	1	1	0	0	1	1	.292
Betemit, SS	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	.258
Cabrera, CF	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.242
a-Sexson, PH	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	.221
Christian, LF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Totals	32	2	5	1	2	5	10
a-Struck out for Cabrera in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez, A (26, Slowey). TB: Rodriguez, A 2; Giambi; Rodriguez, I; Betemit 2. RBI: Giambi (68). 2-out RBI: Giambi. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, A. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING CS: Abreu (9, 2nd base by Slowey/Mauer).

TWINS OFFENSE

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Rasner (L, 5-9)	5.0	4	3	2	1	4	1	5.18
Giese	0.0	1	1	1	2	0	0	2.58
Robertson	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	6.05
Traber	0.1	1	0	0	0	0	0	5.84
Bruney	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.70

TWINS PITCHING

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Kevin Slowey (6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)

HONORABLE MENTION: Delmon Young (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, R)

GOATS OF THE GAME: Robinson Cano (wake up moron!)

Luckily for all us fans we don't have to deal with this pathetic team tomorrow because they have a day off. They begin a three game series with the Kansas City Royals on Friday at The Stadium. Andy Pettitte starts for the Yanks, and he will go against the Royals' Gil Meche. Game Time: 7:05 p.m. - TV: My9 - Radio: WCBS 880