Anything that could go wrong seemed - from Andy being squeezed on early calls to some crappola fielding not to mentions failure with risp. With every game crucial, every series a must getting off to a rotten start especially against the dreaded, hated Sux does not bode well. Andy struggled from the first inning when HPU Jim Reynolds refused to give him those close calls, some looked to be right there, when it continued in the 2nd Andy began to rattle. The Yankees or rather Johnny Damon gave him the early lead which he promptly gave up-teammates came back in the bottom of the second to tie it on Molina's rbi. Come the third Andy quickly saw the snowball effect as the Sux took a lead they would not relinquish.

When Andy was replaced after 4.2, the pen held the Sux in check giving up just one run. The problem the became driving in runs. Several shots were pulled foul, a couple more we just got under. But I don't usually single out one player's screwups but perhaps frustration after game you will indulge me. I grew watching some great Yankee 3rd sackers: begin with smooth fielding Andy Carey (yeah he was the Yankee in the wheelchair at OTD) and the slick fielding Clete Boyer in the 50s and early 60's.

After a tough loss Tuesday, Andy Pettitte took the mound in Toronto last night. He hasn't been the stellar go-to guy this year so you wondered which version would come through. Brighter than the hot July sun, Andy's performance with 2 innings of relief from Brian Bruney shutdown the Jays.

The veteran lefty was vintage surrendering one run on five hits while keeping the ball down for the better part of his seven complete innings. Throwing only 86 pitches there was question as to why he was removed after the 7th-but I thought it was the right decision. He was still in command but had shown some signs of tiring as his ball hung up a bit during the run-scoring sixth inning. Bri hadn't pitched since Saturday and needed the work since coming off the DL to sharpen and hone his nasty stuff. Solid D behind these guys kept the Jays off the paths-Giambi made some nice plays at 1st even saving a couple errors for Alex as his throws seemed to sail'n'tail across the rubberized surface.

After a shaky first where he surrendered 3 runs to the Royals, Mike Mussian pitched a perfect 2-6 innings to keep his team in the game. He whiffed 5 while allowing zippo walks while his teammates came through on O and D for the earliest 16th W in his career.

In the bottom of the 1st Alex tied the game with a 3 run rocket and Xman went yard to give Moose a lead he would not give up. Jason Giambi hit a grand salami while Cody Rasmon collected his first Yankee ab, hit and home run in one trip to the plate. Johnny Damon was the only starter not to get at least one hit but worked two walks, scoring both times. Jete took his average to .295 with 4 hits.

New York Baseball Digest Blog Up and Running
Mike Silva, of the independent radio show NY Baseball Digest, has started a blog to interact with the fans of the radio show. As you know, he started out broadcasting on 1240 AM WGBB on Long Island. The show has gone through numerous sponsors, but now Mike has decided to go independent and make it his own brand. The site, www.nybaseballdigest.com , is where athletes, journalist, authors, and bloggers are all on the same playing field. You can catch up with such notables as 1998 World Series MVP Scott Brosius, Dana Brand of Mets Fan Book, and Joe Casale of TheYankees Board.com No baseball topic is too big or small for the radio show. You can hear mike on the internet at Blog Talk Radio and Sunday night’s on 1240 AM WGBB The blog will have daily contributions from writers of all types. You will also be able to read syndicated Mets and Yankees content from Dugout Central. Hope to see you stop by the only site that caters to Mets and Yankees fans, www.nybaseballdigest.com

Every season it comes down to the same fact-the Yankees will go as far as pitching will take us (or any team for that matter). Starting the season with two rookies, Hughes and Kennedy, in the rotations plus the anticipation of Joba making the switch back to starter from top bridgeman - that put a huge barring for the entire season on inexperienced arms. Kenndy & Hughes faltered mightily but falling to the DL with out a single win between them. Joba excelled as the 8th inning go-to guy but by the middle of May was making the transition to starter. By no means perfect Joba tranferred bullpen success into his starter role-a key part was learning to economize on pitch count, strikeouts required more pitches than a quick pop up or grounder. We watched as he improved management of his pitches. Then we watched with bated breath as last week Joba too landed on the DL with shoulder tightness. In true form, Joba insists he will be back to help his team-you have to admire his strength of character and determination.

What a difference in a season-whether there was a nagging injury or discomfort or just a period of adjusting to diminished velocity- Mike Mussina has turned his career around (at least for one more year)enroute to his 15th win. In the top of the first last night in upper degree weather, the Captain stake MOOSE to a 1 run lead that the veteran righty protected for 7 innings. He wasn't perfect surrending 8 hits, 1 walk while whiffing 6 - but (yes Jim Kaat uses this to describe lefties) was a crafty righty inducing DPs toget out of jams. One was a comebacker and Moose ran at the Byrd wandering off 2nd threw to Alex who threw to Wilson who applied the tag and threw to Robbie who applied the tag to the over-zealous Boggs trying to reach 2nd.

On the coolest night so far in Arlington, Sydney Ponson was right at home - returning to pitch against the team he started the season with. For the second consecutive start he went 6+ innings and got some "O" and "D" to back him up. Things looked rather bleak in the 2nd when Ponson surrendered 2 runs and the Rangers had the lead-many times that could have been a knockout punch for the Yankees. Last night they had not yet begun to fight. Robbie Cano was solid on line drives but made a mental lapse ala Chuck Knoblauch in arguing with the umpire before completing the play-could have had a DP instead of just the one out.

The third out in the bottom of the second proved costly as Bobby Abreu made a great throw from right field to home. Pudge caught the ball, blocking the plate as a charging David Murphy collided full force with the veteran catcher-both players rolled on the ground but Pudge held on firmly to the ball for the out. Both left the game with knee injuries. Jose Molina was back behind the plate for the rest of the game but also started a comeback with a single in the top of the third.

The Yankees MIGHT have lost more than a game last night. Taking an early 4-0 lead we watched as Joba surrendered two long balls for 5 runs and the lead we tied but never regained. The question for Yankee fans - has the injury bug struck again? In the 5th inning following a 3 run shot to give the Rangers the lead, Joe G and trainer Steve Donahue headed to the mound-first thought is this a ploy to gain time for a reliever (Dave Roberts was warming)? As Joba could be seen pointing to his right shoulder, thoughts quickly became I hope it's not serious. Joba is headed back to New York for an MRI today.

A balmy Sunday afternoon, get-away day in the Bronx set the scene for the fourth game between the Yankees and the Halos. Darrell Rasner started for the Bombers - really needing a good outing to secure his spot in the rotation. Every game becomes more important as the season dwindles-falter and footsteps from the minors are creeping up behind you-Ian Kennedy at least in AAA is doing well; Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano, barring any set backs, could be on track to be available when the Yankees invade Baltimore later in the month. Unfortunately for Ras, he fell victim to the Halos attack surrendering 5 runs in his brief 4 innings; while his teammates were trying to decipher John Lackey. Normally the way the ball has been bouncing this year, you might chalk it up as another win for the visitors especially when a Bobby Abreu 4th inning brain freeze knocked the wind out a potential rally. With Jeter on 3rd and tagging as Nady flew to left, Breu was tagging to go to 3rd-needless to say, he was a dead duck on the bases before Jete has crossed the plate-3rd out inning over.