Disgraceland

The first 2 games of the 3 game series in Colorado were pathetic. The Yankees didn't hit, didn't pitch, didn't make the defensive plays...you get the idea. Today was all that + 1. The Rockies completed a 3 game sweep with a 4-3 win over the uninspired Yankees.

Roger Clemens had his first pour outing since his return. The Rocket man was a dud, not making it out of the 5th inning. Hideki Matsui belted a 2-run HR, his 8th, in the 2nd inning, but the Yankees managed only 1 run after that. The bullpen - primarily Mike Myers, who has redefined lefty specialist as one who gives up hits to lefties - stunk.

The team was rotten from the Captain right on down to the 25th man. Derek Jeter committed a very rare base blunder that killed a potential scoring opportunity. Jeter lead off the 6th with a double to extend his hitting streak to 15 games. But Bobby Abreu (2-10) struck out and then Alex Rodriguez hit a little dribbler to the left side. Jeter mistakenly took off for third and was easily out. Jorge Posada then singled, but reliever Jorge Julio came on to strike out Matsui.

Handed a 2-0 lead, Clemens gave it right back in the bottom of the 2nd, allowing home runs to Garrett Atkins (#8) and Troy Tulowitzki (#4). Clemens escaped a 2-on, 1 out jam in the 4th, but wouldn't be so lucky in the 5th.

With one out Kaz Matsui singled and promptly stole 2nd. Would it be too much to ask for Yankees pitcher to keep a runner close at 1st? Teams are running at will! One common theme throughout this series was pitching to Matt Holliday, the Rockies best and hottest hitter. With an open base, the Yankees chose to pitch to Holliday again and he burned them again with an RBI single for a 3-2 lead. That was it for Clemens, who threw 90 pitches in his brief 4 1-3 innings appearance.

Another mistake was then made by bringing Mike Myers. This guy CANNOT get anyone out on a consistent basis. His mere presence in a Yankees uniform sends me off into a rage. Myers once again failed, giving up a base hit to the left-handed hitting Todd Helton. Holliday easily made it to 3rd on Johnny Damon's weak throw. We won't even get into why the injured Damon is in the lineup instead of the DL! Scott Proctor replaced Myers and gave up a sac fly to Atkins for the Rockies final run.

Robinson Cano doubled in the 7th and scored on a Melky Cabrera pinch-hit sac fly, but that was it for the Yankees. They went down in order in the 9th to closer Brian Fuentes- was there any doubt Andy Phillips would strike out- and the sweep was complete.

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Jeter was also thrown out in the 1st inning when either he saw a hit and run sign that didn't exist or Abreu missed it. Cano was also doubled off 2nd in the 5th inning on Damon's line drive to 3rd.

The Rockies have won 20 of 27 and showed that the Yankees are a very flawed team, especially when playing a good team. The Yankees streak of 9 straight and 11 of 12 was accomplished against poor teams or good teams going through a bad stretch (i.e. Mets). The series cost the Yankees 2.5 games in both the AL East and wild card races. Despicable.