Yankees Phall Phlat

If the Yankees are looking for any positives after losing two of three from the Philadelphia Phillies, they just have to look back at last year's results. The Yankees captured just one contest in a three game series with the Phillies last May before topping the two time defending NL champs in the World Series.

It may be the only thing that helps Joe Girardi feel good about his squad after the last two games. After being baffled by the slower than slow pitching of Jamie Moyer, the Yankees could muster only a single run against Kyle Kendrick, who entered the game with a 4.80 ERA. The Yankees went 9-62 (.145) in the two losses combined.

Andy Pettitte (8-2) was sharp and didn't allow a base runner until the 4th inning when the Phillies scored an unearned run. But Shane Victorino pulled a Pettitte cutter into the left field seats for a 3-0 lead.

The Yankees finally got to Kendrick in the 6th on Robinson's Cano RBI single and had two on with two out. But third baseman Placido Polanco leapt onto the tarp to snare Nick Swisher's foul pop to end the inning.

The Phillies blew the game open in the 9th against an ineffective Joba Chamberlain and Damaso Marte.

Notes

Andy Pettitte made some history passing Ron Guidry for second place (1,779) on the franchise's all-time strikeout list. It came 32 years to the day that Louisiana Lightning struck out 18 California Angels. Pettitte also passed Bob Shawkey for 5th place on the team's career innings list. He should pass Lefty Gomez for 4th place in his next start.

The Yankees and Mets play the second half of the Subway Series beginning tomorrow (Friday) night. Hisanori Takahashi squares off with Javier Vazquez in the opener.

photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports