Yanks drop second straight game

On the heels of a six-game winning streak, the Yanks dropped their second consecutive game to the Orioles. This one — a 10-inning, 5-4 loss — stung a little bit more because it seemed like a game they should have won.

They jumped out to an early 4-1 lead but the offense and bullpen faltered. The team failed to get a hit after the fourth inning and registered just two base runners over that span — a Grandy hit by pitch to lead off the seventh and an A-Rod walk with two outs in the 10th.

They also struck out 11 times as a team and seemed like they didn’t want to be there, which they didn’t. The game was a makeup from late August during Hurricane Irene, and washed away one of their two remaining off days in September. These two teams could have played a doubleheader the day before the game was originally scheduled, but the Orioles ixnayed that (it seemed like they were just doing that to be difficult) and now the Yanks will play 20 games in as many days down the stretch (one off day and one DH).

Frightening note:

Over these two losses the Baltimore bullpen threw 12 innings and surrendered just four hits with 14 strikeouts to three walks. Yikes.

Pitching:

SuperNova started and looked like crap; he wasn’t sharp and got knocked around. His final line was 5 1/3 innings, five hits, three runs and three walks to two strikeouts. He also surrendered his first home run since August 16. He needed 97 pitches (57 strikes) to get through his time on the mound.

The bullpen did Ivan no favors. Boom Boom Boone came in for Nova in the sixth to face Chris Davis with a runner on second and gave up an RBI double (which was charged to Nova) and was promptly yanked for Ayala, who got a hold. Aaron Laffey walked the leadoff hitter in the seventh and was pulled in favor of Wade. So pretty much the two lefty specialists in the Yanks’ bullpen failed to get out the two lefties they were brought in to face.

Wade got out of the inning unscathed (barely) thanks to a little help from the defense, and Soriano gave up the tying run in the eighth. It wasn’t a good outing for So, but he has been quite good since coming off the DL. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, although he’s been shaky recently. Our old friend Scott Proctor blew it in the 10th after stranding two runners in the ninth.

You got Cerv’d:

Although he did go 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and strand five men on base, Frankie Cervelli made some great plays in the field.

Oh well, the Yanks still sit on a two-game division lead with the Sox in action tonight.

Interesting note:

Tex stole a base today, giving him a career-high-tying four (’04, ’05) for the season. He now has 19 career steals against just five caught stealings. In other words: Tex is a 79 percent base stealer, and if he successfully steals two more bases he’ll have the same percent as Rickey Henderson (I know, I know. Just saying).

Other news:

Bartolo Colon was sent ahead to Anaheim prior to the game in preparation for his start tomorrow. Apparently Dellin Betances will also join the team in Anaheim. It’s unclear if Dealin’ will pitch this season, but the team wants him to experience life in the majors. In addition, ManBan, Adam Warren and David Phelps will join the Yankees for the Red Sox series from September 23-25. However, they will not be activated and just get a taste of the MLB lifestyle.

The team will now head to Anaheim for three games with the Halos, then to Seattle for three with the M’s before the final off day of the season next Thursday. The it’ll be three in Toronto before they head home for a makeup game with the Twinkies, four with the Rays, three with the Red Cox and three in Tampa. Hopefully the postseason will follow.