Phillies putting a world of hurt on Yankees

The defending world series champion Phillies got off to a slow start, but a four run sixth inning against Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang and reliever Brian Bruney has put them ahead, possibly for good. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Phillies lead it 8-2.

Wang had a 2-1 lead after five innings, but left trailing 3-2. Bruney then allowed a 2-run home run to Matt Stairs to give the Phils a 5-2 advantage.

Dan Giese, battling for the long man spot, has gotten roughed up in the seventh. He's allowed three runs, including a home run by former Yankee Miguel Cairo.

UPDATE - 4:18 PM

It's a final- Phillies 8 Yankees 3

John Rodriguez brought home the Yankees final run in the ninth inning with a pinch-hit RBI single.

Box Score

Wednesday Hot Stove

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Orioles and Mariners in serious talks about Erik Bedard. The M's are thought to be willing to part with top prospect Adam Jones.

K-Ros also reports that the Marlins are interested in free agent outfielder Luis Gonzalez.

The Chicago Tribune's Phil Rogers believes that an Orioles-Cubs trade for Brian Roberts will happen, and it's just a matter of time.

The Rockies have signed Marcus Giles to a minor league deal, and the Mariners have inked former Yankee Miguel Cairo to a deal. Cairo will try to push Jose Lopez for the starting 2nd Base job.

The Braves are thought to be talking to the A's about centerfielder Mark Kotsay.

Matt Mantei is trying to make a comeback, with the Detroit Tigers showing interest.

Tony Pena and Brandon Lyon are the front-runners for the Diamondbacks' closer job.

Wednesday Hot Stove

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Orioles and Mariners in serious talks about Erik Bedard. The M's are thought to be willing to part with top prospect Adam Jones.

K-Ros also reports that the Marlins are interested in free agent outfielder Luis Gonzalez.

The Chicago Tribune's Phil Rogers believes that an Orioles-Cubs trade for Brian Roberts will happen, and it's just a matter of time.

The Rockies have signed Marcus Giles to a minor league deal, and the Mariners have inked former Yankee Miguel Cairo to a deal. Cairo will try to push Jose Lopez for the starting 2nd Base job.

The Braves are thought to be talking to the A's about centerfielder Mark Kotsay.

Matt Mantei is trying to make a comeback, with the Detroit Tigers showing interest.

Tony Pena and Brandon Lyon are the front-runners for the Diamondbacks' closer job.

Yankees Bobble One Away

Baseball is about chances. Taking advantage of those that come along. The Yankees didn't make it happen yesterday and the Angels took advantage of sloppy play by the home team to pull out a 2-1 win 13 innings.

Howie Kendrick lead off the 13th win a line double to the left wall off of Luis Vizcaino (4-2). Jose Molina failed to put the sacrifice bunt on and quickly fell behind 0-2. With the count evened up, Jorge Posada made a curious choice of pitch location. Molina was obviously trying to hit the ball to the right side to move Kendrick to 3rd. So why was Posada set up outside? Vizcaino did his job hitting the target, but Molina stuck the bat and hit a sharp grounder to the right side. Miguel Cairo made a diving stab, but bobbled and lost the ball as he got up. His hurried flip was well behind Vizcaino and rolled to the Yankees dugout, allowing Kendrick to score easily from 3rd. Cairo was given a double error on the play, his 2nd and 3rd of the day, and boosted the team total to 5 on the afternoon.

The Yankees had a chance to come back against Francisco Rodriguez (2-2) in the bottom of the 13th, but this game was about failed chances. With one out, Cairo attempted to redeem himself by ripping a single to left and stealing 2nd. A high fastball eluded Molina and went to the backstop for a passed ball, allowing Cairo to reach 3rd. Johnny Damon walked to put runners on the corners with just one out.

But Melky Cabrera was clearly overmatched against K-Rod and struck out for the 5th time on one of the right-hander's tough breaking pitches. Joe Torre may have been second guessing himself after the game for choosing not to put on a squeeze play, safety or otherwise. That left it up to the Captain, but Jeter grounded out to Kendrick to send the fans, who had arrived early for old-timers day, home unsatisfied.

The Yankees took a 1-o lead off Angels' starter John Lackey on 2nd inning doubles by Hideki Matsui and Bobby Abreu. But the Angels quickly tied it up against Yankees' starter Roger Clemens when Garret Anderson doubled and came home on a couple of ground outs, Jeff Mathis picking up the RBI.

....

Clemens went 8 innings for the 2nd straight start. In those 16 innings, he's allowed just 7 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and has struck out 7.

Lackey struck out a career high 11 batters. The Yankees struck out 14 times in all.

Alex Rodriguez, who went 0-4 with a walk and 3 strikeouts, announced after the game that he would be attending Tuesday's All-Star game in San Francisco and hoped to play.

After Friday's 14-9 scorefest, the two teams went just 16-90 and left 33 men on base.

Yankees Bobble One Away

Baseball is about chances. Taking advantage of those that come along. The Yankees didn't make it happen yesterday and the Angels took advantage of sloppy play by the home team to pull out a 2-1 win 13 innings.

Howie Kendrick lead off the 13th win a line double to the left wall off of Luis Vizcaino (4-2). Jose Molina failed to put the sacrifice bunt on and quickly fell behind 0-2. With the count evened up, Jorge Posada made a curious choice of pitch location. Molina was obviously trying to hit the ball to the right side to move Kendrick to 3rd. So why was Posada set up outside? Vizcaino did his job hitting the target, but Molina stuck the bat and hit a sharp grounder to the right side. Miguel Cairo made a diving stab, but bobbled and lost the ball as he got up. His hurried flip was well behind Vizcaino and rolled to the Yankees dugout, allowing Kendrick to score easily from 3rd. Cairo was given a double error on the play, his 2nd and 3rd of the day, and boosted the team total to 5 on the afternoon.

The Yankees had a chance to come back against Francisco Rodriguez (2-2) in the bottom of the 13th, but this game was about failed chances. With one out, Cairo attempted to redeem himself by ripping a single to left and stealing 2nd. A high fastball eluded Molina and went to the backstop for a passed ball, allowing Cairo to reach 3rd. Johnny Damon walked to put runners on the corners with just one out.

But Melky Cabrera was clearly overmatched against K-Rod and struck out for the 5th time on one of the right-hander's tough breaking pitches. Joe Torre may have been second guessing himself after the game for choosing not to put on a squeeze play, safety or otherwise. That left it up to the Captain, but Jeter grounded out to Kendrick to send the fans, who had arrived early for old-timers day, home unsatisfied.

The Yankees took a 1-o lead off Angels' starter John Lackey on 2nd inning doubles by Hideki Matsui and Bobby Abreu. But the Angels quickly tied it up against Yankees' starter Roger Clemens when Garret Anderson doubled and came home on a couple of ground outs, Jeff Mathis picking up the RBI.

....

Clemens went 8 innings for the 2nd straight start. In those 16 innings, he's allowed just 7 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and has struck out 7.

Lackey struck out a career high 11 batters. The Yankees struck out 14 times in all.

Alex Rodriguez, who went 0-4 with a walk and 3 strikeouts, announced after the game that he would be attending Tuesday's All-Star game in San Francisco and hoped to play.

After Friday's 14-9 scorefest, the two teams went just 16-90 and left 33 men on base.