Game 29: Yankees lose 6-2

Despite early struggles, Detroit Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman was able to rebound and beat the Yankees 6-2 at Yankee Stadium Wednesday night.

Bonderman (2-2) loaded the bases with no outs to start the first inning, as Johnny Damon doubled, Derek Jeter singled and Bobby Abreu walked. Hideki Matsui hit a shallow fly ball that was not enough to score Damon. However, Jason Giambi was able to hit a deep enough fly ball for the sacrifice fly and Melky Cabrera hit a clutch, two-out single to score Jeter.

That was all Bonderman would give up on the night. He only gave up five hits in his 7 2-3 innings, and three of those came in the first inning.

Andy Pettitte was not as successful. After retiring the side in order in the first inning, the Tigers were able to scratch across a run in the second. Magglio Ordonez walked and Miguel Cabrera singled. After a sacrifice bunt, Edgar Renteria grounded out to short to score Ordonez to cut the Yankees' lead to 2-1.

The Tigers weren't done there. With one out in the top of the fifth inning, Marcus Thames hit a ball just over a reaching Damon in left for a two-run home run to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

They scored twice more in the sixth. After Placido Polanco led off with a home run, Sheffield and Ordonez singled. Cabrera then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play that advanced Sheffield to third. Carlos Guillen then hit a ground ball down the third base line that Alberto Gonzalez couldn't bare hand to score the Tigers' fifth run.

Pettitte was done after six innings. He allowed those five earned runs, as well as seven hits and two home runs in his start. He also struck out three batters and walked one. LaTroy Hawkins pitched a scoreless seventh inning, throwing 20 pitches while walked one and striking out one.

Kyle Farnsworth was not as successful as he had been in his last three outings. Polanco hit his second home run of the game off Farnsworth in the inning. Farnsworth allowed another hit but struck out two. Edwar Ramirez pitched a scoreless ninth inning to keep the Tigers at six runs.

Clay Rapada pitched the final 1 1-3 innings to close out the game. As with most of the season, the bats obviously didn't show up tonight. With Pettitte allowing five runs in his outing, the bats need to pick up the slack. It hurts that Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada are on the disabled list, but guys like Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano are killing the lineup.

The Yankees fall to 14-15 with the loss, while Detroit improves to 13-15. Ian Kennedy will face Nate Robertson tomorrow night, as the Yankees look to avoid getting swept at home.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)