Early Runs, Offensive Struggles Doom Yankees in Tough Rubber Game Loss to Rangers

Hiroki Kuroda tossed 7 innings of three-run ball and Brett Gardner again started the first with a solo home run, but due to another terrible offensive performance the Yankees found a way to drop tonight's rubber game to the Rangers, 3-2.

For pretty much all of his quality outing this evening, Kuroda was everything New York couldn't wanted, only allowing nine hits and a walk while striking out four. 

Still, after a three-run, five-knock performance by Texas' bats in the bottom of the first he ended up getting the loss, a dissapointment that wouldn't have happened had Mark Teixeira turned a slow groundball down the first base line into an out.

No, this defeat doesn't fall completely on Teixeira, but since he did let a Leonys Martin squibber roll foul instead of just picking it up and tagging the runner with two on and two out the Rangers did pick up a third run in the aforementioned frame, with Martin later singling in Adrian Beltre to make it 3-1.

Now really, the contest shouldn't have ended there, especially considering the Yanks came back from a larger deficit yesterday.

Nonetheless, following Jacoby Ellsbury's lining of another solo shot off Colby Lewis (7 IP, 2 ER) in the third and Carlos Beltran's routine hit two batters later the Yanks' offense never again reached base, something you can't help but be amazed by.

Cervelli, Gardner Rally Yankees to Rain-Shortened 2-1 W

Whether you think he's a reliable starter or not, you can't deny that Yankees Pitcher David Phelps has been great lately. 

The 27-year-old right-hander, who joined the rotation in late April when Michael Pineda got hurt, had given up no more than two earned runs in four consecutive outings going into tonight, a big reason why the team's still competing.

Yes, it is in fact true that the young Notre Dame grad's dominated over the last few weeks, an occurance that only continued this evening, with Phelps tossing 5 frames of five-hit, one-run ball as the Yanks won a rain shortened game over the Rangers 2-1.

In this one's top of the third, as expected, Phelps did have his one bump in the road, surrendering a pair of singles to Leonys Martin and Chris Gimenez that led to a run-scoring double play. 

Nonetheless, he'd eventually find a way to get the W, with Francisco Cervelli and Brett Gardner heading a rally in the New York's next turn.

After Cervelli doubled and Brendan Ryan grounded him to third to begin the at-bat, the former scored on a balk by Texas' Yu Darvish (4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, Left With Man On Second), setting up a seemingly stress-free 3-1 pitch to Gardner, which would be skied into the right fields stands to give the Bombers an advantage. 

No, the veteran's tenth homer of the season wasn't hit all that hard, but since it did still reach the fifth row it obviously counted, making it 2-1.

Later on, the now 5-4 with a 3.77 ERA Phelps would escape a man-on-third, one-out jam in the Rangers' half of the fifth, essentially ending the ballgame, with things being called in the bottom of that frame after a 1 hour, 49 minute rain delay.

The Daily Dozen - July 22, 2014

THE DAILY   DOZEN
(Twelve Takeaways from Tonight's Game - July 22nd, 2014)

1. Both teams started with singles and neither pays off.  These teams may be the worst offensive teams in the history of the game.  Yes I am exaggerating, but when is the last time that both of these organizations were this poor at scoring runs or hitting home runs for that matter?

2. Leonys Martin robbed McCann in the 2nd inning.  Just filthy.

YOINK! (Photo Courtesy of MLB.com and My9)

3. Who is this Daniel Robertson guy that keeps getting singles?  I really don't recognize the Texas lineup what with Adduci, Martin, Chirinos, Odor, and Robertson...where did Hamilton and Cruz go? Wink, wink...

4. El Duque was on the My9 broadcast tonight.  Good ol' Orlando Hernandez.  Who wouldn't give their left arm for a pitcher like him in the rotation right now? Or Mike Mussina? I bet either one of those guys could still give the Yanks more than some of these current guys.

Bring Back El Duque!

5. Somehow Chase Whitley became Cy Young since his last start.  Over 6 innings he struck out 6 and gave up 6 singles (and 1 double).  Then Matt Thornton relieves him after a base hit in the 7th after he shut the Rangers out and had the opportunity to lose the game (re: Thorntoned).  Whitley must be pitching out of his mind to protect his place as the best Chase on the team (re: Chase Headley trade).

6. Wheeler is so slow that the ball can bounce off of Beltre and go to Andrus and he will still be out.  In all seriousness that was a great 5-6-3 put out by the left side of the Rangers infield.

7. Paul O'Neill brought up a good point about specialization.  Kids are playing baseball year round and I believe it is resulting in more Tommy John surgeries.  By the time kids make the major leagues they have literally YEARS of wear and tear on those ligaments throwing sliders, curveballs, and cut fastballs.  They don't play other sports and give their arms a rest.

8. I hate the shift...and so does Brian McCann.

9. Isn't it strange how certain players are going on or just coming off the DL?  Guys that the Yankees have reported interest in or that the blogosphere reportedly reports that the Yankees have interest in...Cliff Lee, Troy Tulowitzki...just a thought.

Tulowitzki on the DL with a strained mullet...

10. Who tries to bunt with 2 strikes?  The Texas Rangers that's who!  But seriously, you have to be pretty handy with the stick if you know what I mean...earn your keep...FOUL! Out...Texas is 5-24 in their last 29 games for a reason.  Of course they are 1-0 in their last 1 against the Bronx Bombless.

11.  August 7, 2009.  According to Michael Kay, that was the last date that there was a scoreless game going into the 7th inning at Yankee Stadium.  I can confirm that since I was at that game...it was a Friday night to remember in the Bronx...the kind of night that said "Hey--this team might just win the World Series".  Of course that Yankees team was 67-42 after the win and by the way...Alex Rodriguez was 2 for 7 that night with a walk-off 2-run homer in the bottom of the 15th knocking in Robinson Cano...anyone miss them yet?

Here's Proof (Screenshot Courtesy of ESPN.com)

12. Derek Jeter eclipses Gehrig once again.  He recorded his 535th double in his career surpassing Lou Gehrig for 1st on the Yankees all-time list.  He didn't have an extra base hit in his last 68 at-bats.  Why is he retiring again?

Couple of First-Ballot HOFers!