Game 44 - Yanks Blow Another Walkoff Opportunity

The Yanks had a chance today to send the Phillies and their fans home disgruntled again, tying the game in the bottom of the ninth, but wasted their opportunities and lost 4-3 in 11 innings.  Ina much anticipated pitcher's duel between Phillies' Cole Hamels and CC Sabathia, they didn't disappoint, as Hamels allowed 2 runs in 6 innings and CC surrendered 3 runs in 8 innings.  Neither pitcher allowed a free pass.

The Phils struck first, scoring 2 runs in the top of the 3rd.  After retiring the first 2 batters of the inning (and first 8 of the game), CC gave up 3 straight hits.  The Yanks got one run back on a Johnny Damon double in the bottom of the frame.  Both teams would swap runs in the 6th, with Mark Teixeira hitting a broken bat HR to left field, providing more evidence that the new house that Ruth wish he built is a launching pad.  Yankee announcer, John Flaherty, said he never saw a ball go as far as Teixeira's shot after hit bat practically disintegrated upon contact.  

The score remained 3-2 till the Yanks final at-bat in the bottom of the 9th.  Robinson Cano would lead off with a single and Ramiro Pena came in to pinch run for him.  Pena would still second while Melky Cabrera failed laying down a sacrifice twice.  However, the Melk-man is still delivering, knocking in Pena with a game-tying single.  With a chance for the win, Matsui, who has been God-awful and finally knocked down to 7th in the lineup, struck out on 3 pitches.  Melky would steal second and move to 3rd on a groundout, but with 2 outs, Brett Gardner weakly grounded out to first.  

The Yanks had one more golden opportunity to win this game in the 10th inning.  Jeter and Damon would lead the inning off with back-to-back singles, giving the Yanks with runners on first and second.  Mark Teixeira, who's been the team's best hitter since the return of ARod and has risen his batting all the way to .268, hit into a demoralizing double play, leaving Jeter on 3rd with 2 out.  ARod was intentionally walked because Pena, who had run for Cano in the 9th, was on deck.  He would end the inning, and the Yanks best chance to win the game.  

The Phils would mount a 2 out rally in the top of the 11th, with newest Yankee killer, Carlos Ruiz, knocking in Chase Utley for the go ahead run.  Ruiz, Philadelphia's back up catcher who hit a blistering .219 last year, tore the Yanks up in this series.  He went 6-8 with a HR and 3 RBIs, essentially leading the Phils to both wins in the series.  He also gunned down Melky and Gardner attempting to steal second base.  The Yanks finished their homestand at 8-2 and are trailing the Red Sox by 1 game.

Other notes:  Toronto has lost 6 straight games and only lead the Yanks by .5 game for the wild card.  They are being exposed after beating up on the AL Central for the early part of the season.  

Yankees Record:  25-19

Blown Games:  3