The Yankees could not get anything going today, and provided no run support for Andy Pettitte, today, as he was looking to extend his seven game win streak, in as many starts. He ran into a team, in the Tampa Bay Rays, that wanted it pretty badly.
Let’s not forget the bad blood that was started in the pre-season, in spring training, when a Ray drove into our rookie catcher and broke his wrist. Or the game following when Shelly Duncan slide hard into second, making contact with their second baseman, clearing the benches, and mayhem ensued.
Pettitte just could not seem to get relaxed out there today. He was avoiding danger well in the first three innings. It wasn’t until the 4th inning, that things seemed to come unravelled. He gave up 4 more earned runs in that inning, bringing his total to 5 for the game. That was the last inning of action he would see today, and he took the loss, going only 4 innings, with 8 hits, 5 earned runs, and 2 walks against him.
Garza for the Rays, on the other hand, pitched a wonderful game, going 7 innings, giving up NO runs, and only 5 scattered hits. He pitched very well today, and kept the power in the Yankee lineup silent.
A positive, though was that the 5 hits came from the #’s 6, 7, 8, and 9, hitters in the lineup. Just no run support, or enough hits together to do any harm.
With this loss today the Yankees fall into 4th place in the division, behind Baltimore, Tampa Bay, and Boston. They are behind the league leader, Boston Red Stockings, by 4 games. Their record, again, drops below .500 to 19-20.
