They fell behind 3-1 after 4 innings, and it looked like Phil Hughes was again going to make us freak out. Actually, Hughes (now just 4-12) didn't pitch all that badly. He went 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and only 1 walk. He did allow a home run to Angel 3rd baseman Chris Nelson. (Yes, kids, a home run hit by a 3rd baseman. It used to happen for us.)
The Yankee run was scored in the bottom of the 3rd. With 1 out, Brett Gardner tripled, and our big RBI man lately, Alfonso Soriano, got him home with a single. Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez singled to load the bases with still only 1 out. But Vernon Wells, who looked so good early in the season, is now in the most horrid of slumps, and grounded into a double play. Had he gotten a hit, it would have been 3-3, and we would have been looking at a very different ballgame.
Shawn Kelley pitched a perfect 7th, and it was still 3-1 Angels, largely because C.J. Wilson, as he usually does, pitched well against the Yankees (13-6). But in the top of the 8th, Kelley allowed a leadoff double to Mike Trout.
The next batter was Josh Hamilton. Now, if you've been a Yankee Fan since 2010, you know the last man to bring in to face Hamilton is Boone Logan. Especially since Kelley had allowed only 1 baserunner to this point. The right thing to do would have been to leave Kelley in.
But Joe Girardi, instead of using his common sense, consulted his Binder Full of Strategies, and it said, "Josh Hamilton coming up late in the game? Bring in Boone Logan."
And so, Girardi brought in Binder Boy Boone.
Actually, this time, bringing in Logan to face Hamilton worked: Logan struck Hamilton out. Maybe if he'd done that in the 2010 ALCS, when Hamilton took him deep twice for the Texas Rangers, Logan would not now be seen as such a bum. (Actually, the problem is that he isn't seen as a bum, when he so obviously is one.)
And then, Logan got Erick Aybar to pop out. Hey, maybe he's going to get the job done this time.
But then Girardi consulted the Binder again, and ordered Logan to intentionally walk Mark Trumbo. Made sense, right? Set up the force play at 2nd base.
It made sense until Angel manager Mike Scioscia, who actually thinks for himself instead of consulting a binder, ordered a double steal. Men on 2nd and 3rd. 1st base open. This time, Logan walked Hank Conger -- apparently one of those "unintentional intentional walks."
Nelson came up again, and hit his 2nd homer of the game. A grand slam. 3-1 Angels became 7-1 Angels.
Boone Logan, ladies and gentlemen!
Girardi pulled the bum (those of you from England, no, that phrase has nothing to do with sex), and brought in Joba Chamberlain. Joba allowed a double to Grant Green and a single to J.B. Shuck before striking out Kole Calhoun to finally end the threat.
The Yankees went into the bottom of the 9th trailing 8-1. With 1 out, Brett Gardner walked. Soriano singled him to 3rd. Cano singled Gardner home. 8-2. A-Rod struck out. (Hardly a clutch situation, although it might have been if Logan hadn't fucked up again.) Wells woke up, and doubled home Sori and Robbie. 8-4. Curtis Granderson walked. 1st & 2nd, 2 out, if the next batter hits one out, it's 8-7.
The next batter was Eduardo Nunez. He grounded weakly to 1st. Angels win.
So, Chapter 32 in Logan's Litany of Losing. Don't blame Phil Hughes for the loss: Blame Logan. And Girardi.
And now, we have to go to Boston.
Oy.
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