Oakland 5, Yanks 4: Tough Extra-Inning Loss

Kyle Farnsworth is officially f’ing four eyes from now on. The Yanks lost on a little dribbler in the bottom of the eleventh tonight, but it was Farnsworth’s inability to hold a lead, again, that sank this ship.

It’s not fair to blame a loss on a single player, but this game was in hand, and the pen was lined up to lead to Mo’s first save of the year when Farnsworth took the hill. He fell behind 3–0 to the first two hitters, somehow got them out, but couldn’t walk the tight rope any longer when Nick Swisher came to the plate. Swisher took him deep for his first bomb of the year, tying the game 4.

Neither team could scratch a run across until the eleventh, when Travis Buck hit a one-out triple, and following a couple of walks Bobby Kielty hit a dribbler to first. Doug dove, grabbed the ball, then did a sort of belly flop while trying to make the throw home, but it was nowhere near the plate. Game over.

The Yanks blew a golden opportunity to win this game. In the top of the eighth they had second and third with no outs, then bases loaded with one out, and Posada and Doug, respectively, spit the bit.

All told, it was a long night. Igawa wasn’t bad, and probably deserved better. Proctor looked OK, Bruney looked good, but probably shouldn’t have been stretched for the fateful eleventh. Vizcaino was solid, holding down the fort for an inning and two-thirds.

When Pavano turned in the first quality start of the season for the Yanks, I said he earned one pass. One time I wouldn’t rip him to shreds for some transgression. Well, it didn’t take him long to use it. Pavano will miss tomorrow’s start with tightness in his forearm, or a knot in his forearm.

Moment of silence while I hold my tongue…

Player of the Game: Luis Vizcaino. Tough call, but he gave the Yanks two shots to win the game with solid relief work. He deserves it.