Angels Weave Another Victory

Yankees vs. Angels. Who do you think won? The Yankees preferred to keep Ian Kennedy in the minors, but injuries forced them to bring him up for last night's game. Only two innings in, the front office was probably already ruing their decision. Kennedy did no better than his previous starts this season, getting hammered for 5 runs in two official innings. He actually faced five batters in the third inning, but retired none of them and the Angels went on to a 10-5 victory.

The Yankees closed the gap to within 6-5, but Darrell Rasner and Brian Bruney let the game get out of reach again and there would be no comeback like last Sunday's improbable Yankees win over the Angels.

Kennedy remains a conundrum. He rocketed through the Yankees farm system last year, and perhaps that was the problem- getting to the majors too quickly. This year he's been like an amateur golfer who can't put two good shots in a row together.

Singles by Eric Aybar and Vlad Guerrero put two men aboard with two outs in the first inning and both runners scored on a Torii Hunter double. Hunter's career numbers against the Yankees are mediocre, but this season he's homered twice and driven in 8 runs in just three games.

The Yankees managed to briefly hold the lead, 3-2 after Alex Rodriguez belted a solo home run, his 25th, in the second inning, and the Yankees loaded the bases in the third. Jason Giambi drew a bases-loaded walk from Jered Weaver and Xavier Nady reached on an infield single. With a chance to do more damage, Robinson Cano continued his poor hitting with the bases loaded by bouncing into an inning-ending ground out.

The lead would be short lived as the Angels jumped on Kennedy in the third, sending him to an early shower. A Mark Teixeira double followed by a Guerrero single tied the game, and consecutive singles by Hunter, Garrett Anderson, and Howie Kendrick brought home two more for a 5-3 lead. None of the balls were hard hit, but they were hits nonetheless.

Trailing 6-3 in the sixth, the Yankees made it a game again when Nady hit his 5th home run in 13 games in Pinstripes. It was also his 13th RBI as a Yankee. Cano followed with a triple and scored on a Melky Cabrera ground out to cut the Angels lead to 6-5. But there would be no more joy in Anaheim for the Yankees.

Hunter opened the seventh inning with a home run off of Rasner and the Angels piled 3 more runs on in the inning to finish off the Bombers. But really they were finished off when Ian Kennedy took the mound.


News and Notes

Howie Kendrick, 4-5 last night, is batting .507 (36-71) in 18 career games against the Yankees. He's also sporting a 1.263 OPS.

Joba Chamberlain said he'd be ready to go the first week of September, but Joe Girardi is taking a much more conservative approach, mainly so Chamberlain doesn't try to rush back.

Alex Rodriguez's home run was the 548th of his career.

The Yankees dropped to 6.5 games back in the AL East after Tampa beat Seattle 5-3. Boston lost to Chicago, so the Yankees remain 3 back in the Wild Card.

Angels Weave Another Victory

Yankees vs. Angels. Who do you think won? The Yankees preferred to keep Ian Kennedy in the minors, but injuries forced them to bring him up for last night's game. Only two innings in, the front office was probably already ruing their decision. Kennedy did no better than his previous starts this season, getting hammered for 5 runs in two official innings. He actually faced five batters in the third inning, but retired none of them and the Angels went on to a 10-5 victory.

The Yankees closed the gap to within 6-5, but Darrell Rasner and Brian Bruney let the game get out of reach again and there would be no comeback like last Sunday's improbable Yankees win over the Angels.

Kennedy remains a conundrum. He rocketed through the Yankees farm system last year, and perhaps that was the problem- getting to the majors too quickly. This year he's been like an amateur golfer who can't put two good shots in a row together.

Singles by Eric Aybar and Vlad Guerrero put two men aboard with two outs in the first inning and both runners scored on a Torii Hunter double. Hunter's career numbers against the Yankees are mediocre, but this season he's homered twice and driven in 8 runs in just three games.

The Yankees managed to briefly hold the lead, 3-2 after Alex Rodriguez belted a solo home run, his 25th, in the second inning, and the Yankees loaded the bases in the third. Jason Giambi drew a bases-loaded walk from Jered Weaver and Xavier Nady reached on an infield single. With a chance to do more damage, Robinson Cano continued his poor hitting with the bases loaded by bouncing into an inning-ending ground out.

The lead would be short lived as the Angels jumped on Kennedy in the third, sending him to an early shower. A Mark Teixeira double followed by a Guerrero single tied the game, and consecutive singles by Hunter, Garrett Anderson, and Howie Kendrick brought home two more for a 5-3 lead. None of the balls were hard hit, but they were hits nonetheless.

Trailing 6-3 in the sixth, the Yankees made it a game again when Nady hit his 5th home run in 13 games in Pinstripes. It was also his 13th RBI as a Yankee. Cano followed with a triple and scored on a Melky Cabrera ground out to cut the Angels lead to 6-5. But there would be no more joy in Anaheim for the Yankees.

Hunter opened the seventh inning with a home run off of Rasner and the Angels piled 3 more runs on in the inning to finish off the Bombers. But really they were finished off when Ian Kennedy took the mound.


News and Notes

Howie Kendrick, 4-5 last night, is batting .507 (36-71) in 18 career games against the Yankees. He's also sporting a 1.263 OPS.

Joba Chamberlain said he'd be ready to go the first week of September, but Joe Girardi is taking a much more conservative approach, mainly so Chamberlain doesn't try to rush back.

Alex Rodriguez's home run was the 548th of his career.

The Yankees dropped to 6.5 games back in the AL East after Tampa beat Seattle 5-3. Boston lost to Chicago, so the Yankees remain 3 back in the Wild Card.

The Daily Yankeeland - 8/8

The Yankees open a three game series with their nemesis Los Angeles Angels this evening. One late night start tonight, followed by a FOX 3:55'er on Saturday and a 2:30 start on Sunday.

We certainly didn't expect to see Ian Kennedy and Dan Giese starting the first two games. Andy Pettitte gets the nod on Sunday.

Kennedy, who faces Jered Weaver tonight, told pitching Dave Eiland that he now understands the mental approach he must have in the majors.

"He admitted to me," Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland said, "'When I'm down here (in the minors), I know I can get these guys out.' I said, 'You've got to have the same mental approach when you're here."'

"His command's been a little bit better," said Eiland, who watches video of the Triple-A pitchers. "And he's commanded his slider a little bit more, it's more consistent, with the tilt to it. He's not hanging as many, he's more consistent, he's got a better feel for it. That just comes with repetition."

Giese will oppose John Lackey and Pettitte goes up against Joe Saunders.

Ivan Rodriguez thinks he will be able to make his expected start tonight. Rangers outfielder David Murphy wasn't so lucky. He was placed on the DL and sat on the bench last night sporting a black eye.

Bobby Meacham is away from the team for two days for his daughter's wedding. Tony Pena is coaching third base in his absence with bp pitcher Mitch Seoane taking over the duties at first.

Carl Pavano on his rehab from Tommy John surgery: "I'd like to contribute," Pavano said. "But I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. That doesn't do me any good." Just shut up.

Dave Brown of Yahoo Sports has an amusing Q & A with Mike Mussina.

Q: You finished your degree in 3 1/2 years. Did you not drink a single beer in college?

MM: Um... how do I answer that? Yes I did, "drink a single beer."

Dan Graziano has a piece on the importance of guys like Phil Hughes and Kennedy down the stretch run.

Roger Clemens and Rusty Hardin aren't giving up on the Rocket's anti-defamation lawsuit. Interestingly, Hardin is also now representing Victoria Osteen, wife of tele-vangelist (that translates to con artist in our dictionary) Joel Osteen, who is being sued by a flight attendant that alleges Mrs. Osteen attacked her on a flight in 2005.

Hideki Matsui took bp and ran yesterday, but has not been cleared for a rehab assignment.

The Daily Yankeeland - 8/8

The Yankees open a three game series with their nemesis Los Angeles Angels this evening. One late night start tonight, followed by a FOX 3:55'er on Saturday and a 2:30 start on Sunday.

We certainly didn't expect to see Ian Kennedy and Dan Giese starting the first two games. Andy Pettitte gets the nod on Sunday.

Kennedy, who faces Jered Weaver tonight, told pitching Dave Eiland that he now understands the mental approach he must have in the majors.

"He admitted to me," Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland said, "'When I'm down here (in the minors), I know I can get these guys out.' I said, 'You've got to have the same mental approach when you're here."'

"His command's been a little bit better," said Eiland, who watches video of the Triple-A pitchers. "And he's commanded his slider a little bit more, it's more consistent, with the tilt to it. He's not hanging as many, he's more consistent, he's got a better feel for it. That just comes with repetition."

Giese will oppose John Lackey and Pettitte goes up against Joe Saunders.

Ivan Rodriguez thinks he will be able to make his expected start tonight. Rangers outfielder David Murphy wasn't so lucky. He was placed on the DL and sat on the bench last night sporting a black eye.

Bobby Meacham is away from the team for two days for his daughter's wedding. Tony Pena is coaching third base in his absence with bp pitcher Mitch Seoane taking over the duties at first.

Carl Pavano on his rehab from Tommy John surgery: "I'd like to contribute," Pavano said. "But I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. That doesn't do me any good." Just shut up.

Dave Brown of Yahoo Sports has an amusing Q & A with Mike Mussina.

Q: You finished your degree in 3 1/2 years. Did you not drink a single beer in college?

MM: Um... how do I answer that? Yes I did, "drink a single beer."

Dan Graziano has a piece on the importance of guys like Phil Hughes and Kennedy down the stretch run.

Roger Clemens and Rusty Hardin aren't giving up on the Rocket's anti-defamation lawsuit. Interestingly, Hardin is also now representing Victoria Osteen, wife of tele-vangelist (that translates to con artist in our dictionary) Joel Osteen, who is being sued by a flight attendant that alleges Mrs. Osteen attacked her on a flight in 2005.

Hideki Matsui took bp and ran yesterday, but has not been cleared for a rehab assignment.