Game 95 notes: Yankees lose 14-4

As you can tell by the 14-4 score, today was not a good day for the Yankees' pitchers. Mike Mussina couldn't get out of the fifth inning and Edwar Ramirez couldn't retire a batter. Mussina gave up six earned runs over 4 2-3 innings. He walked three and struck out five. Ramirez gave up three earned runs and walked four.

B.J. Upton hit two home runs for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, including one that went into the left field upper deck. Dioner Navarro hit a grand slam off Ramirez in the fifth inning. In total, the Devil Rays had 13 hits against the Yankees' pitching.

Edwin Jackson, who came into the game with a 1-9 record and a 7.14 ERA shut out the Yankees over six innings of work.

Some notes from the game:

• Ramirez threw 19 pitches. Only two of those 19 pitches went for strikes. He hadn't pitched since July 6.
• After Mussina gave up three runs in the top of the third inning, the Yankees only saw five pitches in the bottom of that inning.
• Andy Phillips hit a home run and a double tonight. He has two home runs and 12 RBIs this season.
• Shelley Duncan was called up before the game and was the night's starting designated hitter. He got his first career hit and RBI in the eighth. Kevin Thompson was optioned out and Doug Mientkiewicz was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.
  
• Brian Bruney did not make a case to regain his old spot in the bullpen. He gave up three runs and two walks in his 1-3 inning of work.
• Scott Proctor gave up a solo home run to Upton in the ninth inning.
• Hideki Matsui went 0-5, snapping his 14-game hitting streak.
• Johnny Damon was 0 for his last 20 before he singled in the ninth inning.
• Mussina was undefeated as a Yankee against Tampa Bay at home before tonight's game.
  

The Yankees have now lost two games in a row following their five-game winning streak. Their record stands at 48-46.

The Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox by a score of 10-3 tonight. Their lead over the Yankees in the AL East is now at eight game.

The Yankees have a doubleheader tomorrow. Game one begins at 1:00, as Matt DeSalvo will take the hill. Kei Igawa will start game two. It is not outrageous to think that the Yankees could be back at .500 after tomorrow's games.

(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)