It was a struggle from the start for the Yanks last night at the stadium last night as they fell to the Red Sox 6-4. The loss drops the Yanks record to 33-25, and was the Yanks' fifth straight loss to the Sox, who they're now just 1-6 against this season.
Freddy Garcia had absolutely nothing and the problems started with the very first batter, Jacoby Ellsbury, who led off the game with a solo homer. A walk to Pedroia, an RBI triple by Adrian Gonzalez, and a sac fly by Youkilis made it 3-0 Sox before the Yankees saw a pitch.
Lester also knocked out the Yankees hottest hitter in the inning, when he drilled Mark Teixeira on the knee with a cutter that cut way too much. If you're wondering, I don't believe it was intentional. Lester was pretty wild all inning and it did look like that one just got away. Luckily for the Yanks, the X-rays came back negative and Tex should be back in a few days.
In the top of the 2nd, the Sox would push their lead back up to three on a Dustin Pedroia double. Garcia would stay in the game to intentionally walk Gonzalez, but would then make his exit after just 1.2 innings (4 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 K). Luis Ayala replaced Garcia and held the Sox off the board in the 3rd and 4th as the score remained 4-1 until the top of the 5th.
Hector Noesi came in to replace Ayala. Noesi would walk Gonzalez to start the inning and two batters later David Ortiz made it 6-1 with a two-run homer into the seats in right. Noesi would settle down and end up throwing six solid innings, allowing two runs on just three hits. The only problem is that those two runs would prove to be the game winners.Swisher cut into the Sox lead in the bottom of the 5th with a two-run double scoring Jorge Posada and Martin. Posada, who came into the game to pinch run for Tex, had a rare great night at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI.
The Yanks wouldn't really have another scoring opportunity until the bottom of the 9th against Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. Brett Gardner started things off with a walk and would eventually steal second and score on Posada's two-out RBI single. The single also brought A-Rod to the plate as the tying run, but Papelbon quickly got ahead 0-2 and would eventually strike out A-Rod to end the game.
I know it's only June, but the Yanks need a big start from A.J. Burnett tonight. This is a very good Red Sox team who have already played their worst baseball of the season, the last thing you want to do is give them any more confidence than they already have. After getting swept last time Boston came to town, the Yanks must avoid letting this team come into the Bronx and win another series, or even worse, sweep another series.
(BOX SCORE)
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Adrian Gonzalez (1-for-2, 2 BB, 3B, RBI, 2 R)
HONORABLE MENTION: David Ortiz (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI)
GOAT OF THE GAME: Freddy Garcia
