"Now, what is this site about, how Joe Torre ruined pitchers' arms? Is that it?"
-Michael Kay, August 18, 2009

Monday, August 10, 2009

Letdown: After Boston sweep, Yanks fall to Jays 5-4

(Originally posted for Baseball Digest)

They say momentum is as good as your next day’s starting pitcher. Coming off a dramatic four-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox, Sergio Mitre was tapped to start against the Toronto Blue Jays Monday night at Yankee Stadium. That said, he did not provide much momentum for the New York Yankees, the first-place team in the American League East looking to extend their winning streak to eight games.

Mitre gave up five runs (three earned) over five innings in the team’s 5-4 loss. Though he struck out six and only walked one, he was undone by his own doing. In the top of the fourth, he fielded a comebacker off the bat of Jose Bautista. He then proceeded to throw wildly to second, which allowed a run to score. Though Cano was charged with the error, the throw was wide. That opened the door to a three-run Blue Jays inning.

The Yankees got on the board in the first right off the bat when Derek Jeter led off with a home run. Mitre had struck out the side a half-inning earlier despite allowing two hits. He then struck out two batters in the top of the second and looked to be well on the way to a quality inning. However, he allowed a two-out solo home run in the third to Aaron Hill to tie the game.

New York took the lead right back on Nick Swisher’s sacrifice fly after Jeter took third on catcher Rod Barajas‘ throwing error during a stolen base attempt. But after the top of the fourth, the Jays had a 4-2 lead behind starter Marc Rzepczynski.

Rzepczynski faltered in the bottom half of the frame, allowing back-to-back home runs to Robinson Cano and Jerry Hairston Jr. to start the inning to tie the game at 4.

Despite Mitre’s struggles in the fourth, he was allowed to continue. After recording successive groundouts, he served up a solo home run to Lyle Overbay that hit off the back wall of the Yankees’ bullpen. The bomb gave the Jays a 5-4 lead, the eventual final score.

Alfredo Aceves pitched the final four innings for the Yankees, throwing 42 pitches and only allowing two hits.

Jeter finished with three hits from the leadoff spot with two runs scored. Cano went 2-for-4.

The Yankees will look to rebound tomorrow night with Joba Chamberlain on the hill against Scott Richmond.

Update: According to Yankees.com beat writer Bryan Hoch, the error originally charged to Cano was changed to Mitre.

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