Myers, Phils Edge Yankees 4-2

Burrell Loves New York

Pat Burrell showed last night that he likes to feast on all New York pitching not just that of the Mets. Burrell's 2-run double was the key hit in the Phillies 4-2 win over the slumping Yankees. Randy Johnson pitched an effective 7 innings for the visitors, allowing 3 runs and limiting the Phillies to 5 hits. But despite some control problems, Brett Myers (5-3) out performed the Unit, striking out 11 in a 6 innings stint to pick up the victory. Tom Gordon stuck it to his old teammates by retiring the side in order. Gordon punctuated the inning by firing a 95 mph high fastball past Jason Giambi to close it out. The loss was the Yankees third in a row and eighth in the last eleven games played.

The Yankees held the lead briefly when Giambi blasted his 19th home run into the upper deck in right field to lead off the 4th inning. The Yankees had a chance for more when Alex Rodriguez followed with a double and Myers issued one of his six walks to Jorge Posada. But Myers bounced back, striking out Robinson Cano, Bubba Crosby, and Johnson to escape the threat.

Johnson (8-6) faced the minimum 10 hitters (Aaron Rowand reached on a single, but was caught stealing) through the first 3 innings, but the Phillies answered right back at him in the bottom of the 4th. Shane Victorino's one-out bouncer up the middle was thrown wide of first by Cano. The play was generously scored a hit and an error with Victorino reaching second. Chase Utley followed with a walk to bring up Burrell who has made quite a reputation for himself against the Mets (35 career HRs). Burrell came in hitting just .192 (5-26) against the Yankees, but ripped a Johnson pitch into the right field corner. Burrell cruised into 2nd with a stand up double as both runners scored to put the Phillies on top 2-1.

The Yankees tried to get one back in the top of the sixth, but the Phillies middle infield defense began saving the night. 2nd Baseman Abraham Nunez made a diving stop on a ball hit up the middle by Johnson, robbing the Unit of an RBI single. The Phillies took advantage of their sixth inning opportunity. Aaron Rowand built up a reputation last season as a Yankee killer with his glove when he was a member of the Chicago White Sox. Rowand showed that he swings a pretty good bat as well when he doubled in Victorino with two out in the 6th to extend the lead to 3-1.

The Yankees had a chance to pull even in the 7th when they loaded the bases with two down. Johnny Damon led off with a single and Myers issued back-to-back two-out walks to Giambi and A-Rod to earn a trip to the showers. Phillie's manager Charlie Manuel sent for veteran Rheal Cormier to have the switch-hitting Posada turn around to the right side. This time it was shortstop Jimmy Rollins's turn to come up big. Posada hit a hard grounder in the hole between short and third, but a diving Rollins stopped it. Though he had no play on a runner and Damon scored, it prevented the tying run from coming home. Cormier than retired Cano on a ground out to preserve the lead.

The Phillies added an insurance run in the eighth after loading the bases against the erratic Kyle Farnsworth. Farnsworth struck out David Bell for what would have been the third out, but the ball skipped under Jorge Posada to score Rollins from third and keep the inning going. Tom Gordon (20th Save) came on in the 9th and the game was over in a flash.

Last night marked the first time that Tom Gordon faced the Yankees since September 22, 2003. Gordon was the winning pitcher that day in a 6-3, 10 inning victory by the White Sox. Bartolo Colon was the starter for Chicago with David Wells going for the Yankees. Magglio Ordonez hit a game winning 3-run shot off of Jeff Weaver. Sometimes it's not good to look back.

Whether or not it was a result of off days for his bad back, Kyle Farnsworth appeared to have no clue where his pitches were going. Come to think of it, it's usually that way when his back feels fine.

Jorge Posada had trouble all night getting on the same page with Randy Johnson and it continued with Farnsworth.

Robinson Cano has quickly cooled off, going hitless in his last 8 at-bats.