(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)At least Max Scherzer has good stuff, I'll give him that, but yesterday was still yet another example of the Yankees looking like a bunch of minor leaguers against a pitcher they've never seen before.
The Tigers right-hander overpowered the Yanks over six innings, holding them to just two hits and two walks.
Meanwhile, for the Yankees, Javier Vazquez struggled from the start. He didn't get hammered, allowing just two runs on a Ryan Raburn two-run homer, but he needed 106 pitches to get through four innings and had to turn things over to the pen in the 5th. With his velocity down in the mid-to-high 80's he had no put away pitch and had to work very hard for every out he got, obviously leading to a very high pitch count. Clearly the guy needs a rest.
Still, Yankees were in the game and thanks to a nice effort from the bullpen remained in the game until the end.
Sadly, not only couldn't the Yanks figure out Scherzer, but relievers Phil Coke and Ryan Perry kept the Yankees bats silent as well. They had a few chances over the first eight, but nobody came through with a big hit. Then, when Joba Chamberlain allowed a solo homer to Miguel Cabrera in the top of the 9th to extend the Tigers lead to three, the Yankees chances looked even bleaker.
But they would have their chance in the 9th when Jose Valverde basically handed them the game on a silver platter.
Robinson Cano started the inning with a walk, then, after Jorge Posada grounded into a fielder's choice, Curtis Granderson picked up his third hit of the game and Francisco Cervelli walked to load the bases. Valverde still couldn't find the plate and would then walk Brett Gardner to force in a run and put the tying run in scoring position with only one out for Derek Jeter. Last year I might have been pretty confident in this situation, but not this year, not with Jeter swinging the bat the way he has this year. Unless Jeter drew a walk, I think deep down we all knew how this one was going to end. After running the count full, Valverde got Jeter to hit a weak grounder to short, and even with Gardner basically taking off Carlos Guillen's leg with a hard slide at second, the Tigers were still able to turn the game ending 6-4-3 doubleplay.
Another painful loss in what has been a very rough month of August for the Yanks. Not only did they lose the game, but both Nick Swisher and Alex Rodriguez had to leave the game with injuries, though neither seems too serious.
To make matters even worse, down in Tampa, the Rays came from behind to beat the Rangers, so the division race is all tied up once again, and if the Yankees keep playing like this, a tie for first will be something us fans can only dream of.
Game two of the series is tonight with CC Sabathia taking on Justin Verlander. First pitch is 7:05 pm and the game will be on MY9.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Max Scherzer (W, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K)
HONORABLE MENTION: Ryan Rayburn (1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, R)
GOAT OF THE GAME: The Lineup.... Again
