Yanks Split 1st 2 with O's, Thome vs. Reggie, Red Bulls vs. Arsenal

Yesterday was a productive day for me. Had a little fun with the nieces, got what I needed at Ye Olde Woodbridge Centre, got my daily allotment of grease at Five Guys, and the Yankees won.

The Yankees didn't win? Well, the other 3 things remain true.

"Five Guys" did not, this time, describe the pitchers the Yankees used against the Baltimore Orioles, in a game delayed nearly 2 hours by rain. They used only 2. Unfortunately, one of them was Bad A.J. A.J. Burnett allowed home runs by Mark Reynolds and Derrek Lee, and Mark Teixeira's 29th homer wasn't enough. Orioles 4, Yankees 2.

WP: Jeremy Guthrie (5-14). Seriously, how do you lose, at home, to a guy with a record of 4-14? LP: Burnett (8-9). SV: Kevin Gregg (17).

Today, an earlier rainout forced a doubleheader. The first game is already in the books.

Bartolo Colon (8-6) started for the Yankees, and was fine in the first 3 innings, but ran into trouble in the 4th. Joe Girardi took no chances, and took him out after 5. Cory Wade pitched 3 innings and was mostly fine.

The Yankees pounded Chris Tillman (2-4), including Nick Swisher's home run in the 4th (his 13th, part of a 3-for-4 day for him). The Yankees led 8-3 going into the 9th.

And that's when Girardi, rather than leave Wade in, brought in...

Oh no...

Boone Logan.

Logan allowed a hit, got 2 outs, then allowed another hit. 1st and 3rd, 2 out, Vladimir Guerrero and his 444 career home runs at the plate. True, Vlad seems to be in serious decline (no more steroids, perhaps?), but I didn't trust him -- or Logan. And Logan went to a full count on him.

If Vlad had gotten out, that would have brought the tying run to the on-deck circle, and it would have become a save situation for a new pitcher. Mariano Rivera began to warm up.

Logan struck Guerrero out. Ballgame over. Yankees 8, Orioles 3. Not much thanks to Logan.

The nightcap is scheduled for 7:05. Ivan Nova and Zach Britton are the opposing starters. Britton has pitched against the Yankees before, most recently on May 18, a good outing for him, although the Yankees won that game in 15 innings.

I uncovered an interesting fact today: In addition to having 596 career home runs -- and, as far as I know, totally clean -- Jim Thome has struck out 2,444 times. Only one player has ever fanned more: Reggie Jackson.

Thome is about to turn 41. He is considerably slowed down. He may only play one more season.

Does he have 154 more strikeouts in him, so he can take this record away from my guy? Don't take this the wrong way, Jim, but I hope so.

Jeter hits 3018 DONE
Rivera saves 585 16
A-Rod homers 626 137
A-Rod hits 2762 238

*

The Red Bulls beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the first game of the Emirates Cup in London, on a goal by Joel Lindpere. Then Arsenal choked away a 2-0 lead against Boca Juniors and escaped with a draw.

Unless Arsenal can beat the Red Bulls tomorrow, an American team will win the Emirates Cup -- Arsenal's own preseason tournament. Think what the English media will say about that!

Bob Bradley was fired as manager of the U.S. national soccer team. No replacement yet named. I hope they hire a better one than the Devils hired.