As I listened to the final two innings of the Yankees 3–1 loss to the Angels today, I allowed myself to daydream. I dreamed of a setup man who could pitch 2 innings on a Friday night, then come back and throw another inning the next afternoon. This is obviously a daydream because the Yankees eighth inning guy, Kyle Farnsworth can neither pitch two innings, nor pitch on back-to-back days. Scot Shields, however, closed out the Angels’ 10–6 win last night, and provided the bridge to closer Francisco Rodriguez today.
It’s depressing, to be sure, but still only a minor flaw in this team which is showing so many these days. I can remember a time where the Yankee pen was automatic after the seventh. Those were the days.
Today’s game was decided in the first inning when Chien-Ming Wang gave up three runs. From that point on, he shut the Angels out for seven innings allowing only 3 hits, 3 walks and striking out 5. Mo came in and pitched an over-powering ninth.
The Yankee bats were silenced by Kelvim Escobar, Shields and K-Rod. The biggest disappointment of the day coming when Bobby Abreu struck out looking with the tying run on first base to end the game. You can’t let the game end with the bat on your shoulder, you just can’t.
The Yanks send Mike Mussina to the hill against John Lackey tomorrow afternoon to try to salvage one game of this series. Let’s just say I’m less-than confident.
Player of the Game: Doug, 1 for 3 with a clutch two-out RBI (his second in as many games) for the Yanks’ only run.
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