Rays raze Yanks’ division lead

The Yanks got smoked by the Rays, 5-1, tonight and now trail America’s Team by 1/2 game in the AL East. It wasn’t one to remember, as the offense looked flat and Cy Colon looked like trash.

The hitters went 0-for-8 with RISP and scraped together just six hits, while the lone run came on a Robbie Cano home run (15) in the sixth. Jeter had a double (1-for-5) and is now two knocks away from 3,000. Bank on him getting 3K on Saturday because I’m going tomorrow and I have the worst luck with milestones.

There is a lot of good coming from Captain these days, as he now has an extra-base hit in three straight games for the first time since May 23-26 of 2010. He had seven doubles in his first 264 at-bats this season but now has three in his last 13 ABs. However, he did have a couple of weak grounders tonight.

In news that makes me sad: Posada tied Mattingly for ninth place on the franchise’s games-played list with his 1,785th game.

A-Rod went 0-for-4 and now hasn’t homered in 85 at-bats, the longest single-season streak of his career. It gets worse: his right knee might keep him out of the All-Star game. In Yankees-not-going-to-the-All-Star-game news, Mo (sore right triceps) will pass on the mid-summer classic as well. He said He could’ve pitched tonight but doesn’t want to go to the ASG if He’s not 100 percent. Angels closer Jordan Walden will take His spot on the AL’s roster.

As for Colon (6-4), he pitched like crap but hung in there and gave the team 5 2/3 innings. Over that span he was tagged for five runs on 10 hits with four walks and a strikeout. He had walked two or fewer batters in nine of his first 11 starts and walked just three in his previous four starts — and entered tonight’s tilt with 78 K and 18 BB in 84 1/3 innings — but walked four and fanned none through the first four frames tonight.

He was touched for two homers tonight, bringing his total to 11 in 90 innings on the campaign. However, nine of those were solo jaunts.

Whatever. He was due for a clunker. I’ll take it with the way he’s pitched throughout the season.

In other injury news, SuperNova was hit on his left foot by a grounder at Triple-A tonight. He doubled over in pain in front of the mound before limping to the dugout. It’s a shame, not only because you hate to see guys get hurt but also because he was dealing: 7 2/3 innings, six hits, two runs, 10 strikeouts and 0 walks. As soon as I get an update I’ll let you know.

Fabulous Freddy will go tomorrow (weather permitting) against Jeremy Hellickson at 7:05 in the second contest of this four-game set.

LET’S GO YANKS!!!