Yanks Drop First Series at Stadium in Two Months

(REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
TEX	0	0	0	3	0	0	3	1	0		7	6	0
NYY	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0		2	6	0

WP - Jason Grilli (2-3)
LP - A.J. Burnett (10-8)
Things looked promising at the start; the Yankees took a 1-0 lead after the first, and A.J. Burnett had his electric stuff working, retiring the first eleven batters he faced, including 7 on strikeouts. But then he walked two straight batters and allowed a three-run homer to Ian Kinsler to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead. Amazingly, that would be all they'd need on the day.

The Yanks came back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning on Mark Teixeira's second RBI single of the day, but that would be it for the Yanks offense.

Burnett remained sharp after the homer, putting up two more zeros in the fifth and sixth. The two walks and the homer were his only mistakes in what was a pretty decent outing. In six innings he allowed three runs on just two hits, walked three, and struck out a season-high 12 batters.

Phil Coke came into the game to relieve Burnett and got roughed up for three runs on three hits in just two-thirds of an inning. Chris Davis had the big blast of the inning, a three-run homer into the seats in right.

The Rangers would add one more run, when Kinsler hit his second homer of the day, a solo shot off David Robertson in the top of the eighth.

After Teixeira's RBI single in the fourth the Yankees could only muster up two more hits and a walk against the Rangers bullpen, which was dominating. Jason Grilli, C.J. Wilson, and Frank Fancisco combined to throw 5.1 scoreless innings, allowed just two hits, walking one, and striking out seven.

The three relievers had very good stuff today and sometimes you just have to tip your cap, but the Yankees should have beaten up Rangers' starter Dustin Nippert. Over the first four inning they let him off the hook time and time again, going 1-for-9 with RISP (1-for-12 for the game). He allowed four hits and walked seven batters in just 3.2 innings but somehow gave up just two runs. That's why the Yankees lost yesterday.

However, by the end of the night losing probably wasn't the worst thing in the world. Boston lost their game up in Fenway to the White Sox so the Rangers win pulled them to within 1.5 games of Boston in the wild card race.

The Yanks look to get back to their winning ways with CC Sabathia on the mound tonight as they open up a three-game set with the White Sox in the Bronx. Mark Buehrle will start the opener for Chicago.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jeter, SS	4	1	0	0	1	1	1	.331
Damon, LF	3	1	2	0	2	1	1	.288
Teixeira, 1B	5	0	2	2	0	1	2	.287
Rodriguez, A, 3B	4	0	1	0	1	2	5	.267
Matsui, H, DH	3	0	0	0	2	2	4	.268
Swisher, RF	3	0	0	0	1	2	4	.243
Cano, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	5	.314
Cabrera, Me, CF	3	0	1	0	1	1	0	.266
Molina, J, C	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	.239
Totals	33	2	6	2	8	10	24
BATTING TB: Damon 2; Teixeira 2; Rodriguez, A; Cabrera, Me. RBI: Teixeira 2 (97). 2-out RBI: Teixeira. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano 3; Damon; Rodriguez, A; Swisher; Matsui, H. GIDP: Molina, J. Team RISP: 2-for-12. Team LOB: 12. BASERUNNING SB: Cabrera, Me (7, 2nd base off Nippert/Teagarden), Damon (10, 2nd base off Nippert/Teagarden), Jeter (22, 3rd base off Nippert/Teagarden).

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Burnett, A (L, 10-8)	6.0	2	3	3	3	12	1	4.10
Coke	0.2	3	3	3	0	0	1	5.05
Robertson, D	1.1	1	1	1	0	2	1	3.58
Aceves, A	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.06

Pitches-strikes: Burnett, A 105-63, Coke 12-8, Robertson, D 30-20, Aceves, A 13-9.

RANGERS STATS

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Ian Kinsler (2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R)

HONORABLE MENTION: The Rangers Pen (5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K)

GOAT OF THE GAME: Phil Coke

Tomorrow's Game

Yankees vs. White Sox

Game Time: 7:05 p.m. TV/Radio: My9, WCBS
LHP CC Sabathia (15-7, 3.59) vs. LHP Mark Buehrle (11-7, 3.92)