Game 26 - Yanks Spanked Again

The Yankees lost this game by the fourth batter, with Joba Chamberlain giving up 5 straight hits and 4 runs to start the game.  New Yankee nemesis, Jason Bay, once again summoned the ghost of Manny with a 3-run blast.  He now has 3 HRs and 10 RBIs in 5 games this season against New York.  The Sox would tack on 3 runs against the Yanks weak-ass bullpen in the last 2 innings en route to a 7-3 victory.  

Despite Joba's shaky start, he would settle in and pitch a helluva ball game, recording a career high 12 Ks in only 5 2/3 innings and allowing only one hit after the 1st.  The Bombers pulled within 4-3 in the 3rd inning on Johnny Damon's 3-run blast off of Josh Beckett.  However, they couldn't muster anything the rest of the game and lost their 3rd straight game and 5th in a row to Boston.  

Out of Joba's 12 Ks, 9 were of the looking variety, as the Sox continued their tedious pitch-taking style.  They are brutal to watch.  Perhaps no more brutal then watching the Yankees these days.  These guys have no chutzpah, no bark, and no fight in them.  Their bullpen is a bad cliche.  Brian Cashman - please tell me you are looking into this.  Mark Melancon was worthless tonight.  It was good to see Jose Veras overcome his "Walk the First Batter" disease, retiring both batters he faced.  Phil Coke has been solid, too.  But Albaladejo has shown nothing in his last couple of appearances.  Plus, this bullpen is just worked over.  

Yankee Bomber Doghouse:  Ramiro Pena.  He has shown a tendency to make decent contact, however, he struck out badly on a pitch way out of the zone with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out in the 6th with the team down by 1 run.  That was the last real Yankee threat.  Pena also booted a grounder in the 8th, leading to 2 unearned runs and putting the game essentially out of reach.  Mark Melancon - 3 batters, 3 walks.  Nice work.  What is up with all the walks by the relievers?  It's worse than the swine flu pandemic.

Yankees Record:  13-13 and fading fast