Yanks Blowing Big Chances

As you may have noticed, I don't like the Tampa Bay Rays. And I certainly don't like losing to them.

On Monday night, the Yankees began a series against them. CC Sabathia pitched his best game in ages, and it wasn't enough. He pitched into the 7th inning, allowing no runs, 3 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 6.

But into the 8th inning, the Yankees still hadn't touched Erasmo Ramirez for a single hit. Alex Rodriguez drew a walk in the 4th, Brett Gardner another in the 7th. That was it.

Carlos Beltran led off the 8th with a single, rookie callup Rico Noel pinch-ran for him and stole 2nd, and he advanced to 3rd on a sacrifice fly. But the Yankees couldn't get him home, and when Justin Wilson allowed a run in the bottom of the 8th, it looked like the Yankees would lose 1-0, like it was a soccer game.

But with 2 out in the top of the 9th, Gardner walked, and stole 2nd. A-Rod doubled him home to tie the game. Brian McCann was intentionally walked to set up the force play at 2nd.

Mistake. Slade Heathcott slammed a home run to left, his 2nd of the season. In the space of 5 batters, the Yankees' chances of winning the game went from 3 percent to 96 percent. Andrew Miller struck out the side in the bottom of the 9th, to make it 100 percent.

Yankees 4, Rays 1. WP: Caleb Cotham (1-0), the 1st major league win for the 27-year-old righthander from Tennessee, wearing Phil Hughes' old Number 65. SV: Miller (33). LP: Brad Boxberger (4-10).

Attendance: 11,940. Wow, the Rays can't even get 12,000 against the Yankees anymore. Move to Montreal, already!

*

In last night's game, the Yankees weren't so lucky. They had a chance to close to within 2 games of the Toronto Blue Jays, who lost, but blew it.

Adam Warren was given the start, but Joe Girardi pulled him after just 4 innings, even though he hadn't pitched badly: 2 runs on 6 hits and no walks. A-Rod homered in the 1st inning (his 32nd of the season), and Greg Bird did so in the 4th (his 6th), to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

But Nick Rumbelow gave up a home run to Nick Franklin in the 6th, and the Yankees never recovered. It ended 6-3 Rays, and this one can be laid squarely on the shoulders of Girardi and his mincemeat approach to pitching. WP: Jake Odorizzi (8-8). SV: Brandon Gomez (1). LP: Rumbelow (1-1).

Attendance: 13,539. Not much of an improvement.

The Yankees go into tonight's series finale 3 games behind the Jays with 18 to play. Luis Severino starts against Jeremy Archer.

Come on, Yankees, we need runs!