Yankees in a Royal Mess

Jeremy Guthrie making the Yankees look foolish

These are the days of the roller coaster Yankees. Win some, lose some, lather, rinse, repeat. The Yankees reeled off five straight victories after a six game slide. They were about to make it six wins a row on Sunday, until Mariano Rivera made for some very bad juju.

I'm not overly superstitious except when it comes to sports. If I played well in an ice hockey game, I'd have the same pre-game meal the next time out. Never stepped on the foul lines taking the field for a baseball or softball game. I've been known to have a lucky seat or two while watching a game at home.

That's why I shook my head when Mariano came on to close out Sunday's game against the Baltimore Orioles with his socks up high in tribute to David Robertson and his quest to be voted into the All-Star game. On top of that, Mo broke in a new pair of spikes. Bad juju all around...moments later the Yankees had lost 2-1 on an Adam Jones home run. A six game winning streak instead was a one game losing streak, which was about to become a two game losing streak.

Monday night Phil Hughes took the mound against Jeremy Guthrie in the start of a four game series with the KC Royals. Hughes gave up a quick home run to Billy Butler (What would a Hughes start be without a home run.) and RBI double to Danny Lough, both in the 2nd inning. Hughes settled down, but the rain clouds didn't and a 59 minute delay ensued.

Hughes didn't return, but Guthrie did and the Yankees couldn't do anything against him. Hell, he didn't even hit anyone, which he tends to do against the Yanks. Adam Warren pitched effectively in 3.2 innings of relief, but the Royals extended the lead to 3-0 before Lyle Overbay hit a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the 7th. The game got out of hand again in the 9th when Preston Claiborne gave up two more for a 5-1 deficit. The bloom has come off the rose for Claiborne, who has been scored upon in four of his last nine outings.

The Yankees brought the tying run to the plate with no one out in the 9th after they loaded the bases on a walk to Overbay and consecutive singles by Luis Cruz and Chris Stewart. But closer Greg Holland, who gave up the hit to Stewart, struck out Eduardo Nunez, Brett Gardner, and Zoilo Almonte to end the game.

Looks like that the roller coaster is in a descent again.

Notes

Michael Kay brought up a good point during the game- why rest guys like Nunez already? He's only 26 years old, had played two games and was 3-6 with three RBI and a run scored. For a team having trouble scoring why sit someone swinging a hot bat?

Travis Ishikawa was picked up on waivers from Baltimore on Sunday and was inserted in the starting lineup at first base to give Overbay a partial night off. Ishikawa struck out his first two times and was booed. Welcome to the Bronx. He also avoided a ball hit between him and Robinson Cano that he should have attempted to field.

David Adams was sent down to Scranton to make room on the 25-man roster for Ishikawa. Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis were both moved to the 60-day DL over the last few days to make room on the 40-man roster.