MORE OF THE SAME
Yankees offense is again lifeless in Anaheim




By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 8, 2006

ANAHEIM, CA – Orlando Cabrera’s two-run home run off Shawn Chacon in the bottom of the first inning was all the offense the Los Angeles Angels needed as the Halos went on to beat the New York Yankees 4-1 before a packed house of 44,221 fans.

Picking up again from their defeat of the Yankees in the 2005 playoffs the Angels demonstrated their mastery over a team that inexplicably continues to show no life in their bats. The loss dropped the Yankees to 1-3 on their road trip.

Halos starter Kelvim Escobar dominated New York’s line up and was particularly effective against the heart of the order. Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, and Hideki Matsui went a combined 4 for 11 while Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi went hitless in twelve at bats.



Sheffield was especially abysmal in his at bats.

In the first inning Derek Jeter singled with one out and was stranded by both Sheffield and Rodriguez as Sheffield flied out and A-Rod grounded out to end the inning. In top of the third Jeter, with two out, singled again and then put himself in scoring position by stealing second. That brought Sheffield to the plate and grounded to third to close out the frame.

The Yankees caught a break in the top of the fourth inning when Alex Rodriguez was ruled safe by first base umpire Joe West after West determined first baseman Casey Kotchman’s foot came off the bag while trying to corral a wide throw by shortstop Cabrera. Replays showed Rodriguez was actually out as Kotchman’s foot stayed on the bag. However, the Yankees couldn’t take advantage of the break as Matsui, Giambi and Posada all made outs.

The Angels added a run in the fourth to make the score 3-0.

In the top fifth the Yankees had a chance to make things happen only to fall short again. With one out Bernie Williams singled and was doubled home by Johnny Damon to make the score 3-1. Jeter grounded to second moving Damon to third where he was stranded as Sheffield flied out to left field.

The Angels added another run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 4-1.

The Yankees last, best hope to climb back into the game came in the seventh inning when reliever J.C. Romero replaced Escobar. After Robinson Cano struck out swinging Romero walked Williams and Damon. Halos manager Mike Scioscia brought in Scott Shields to face Jeter. Shields walked Jeter to load the bases. The sparse number of Yankee fans in the crowd began chanting ‘Let’s go Yankees’ as Gary Sheffield strolled to the plate. However, in the blink of an eye the Yankee rally was killed as Sheffield grounded into an inning ending double play. For the night Sheffield left six men on base.

The Angels sent the Yankees down in order in the eighth and ninth innings to record the win. It was their second of the new season as evened their record to 2-2.

For whatever reason, the Yankees just seem powerless to do anything positive against the Angels. Manager Joe Torre stated the obvious, “We’re flat right now.” Even making a good pitch to Cabrera only earned Chacon a 2-0 deficit on the scoreboard. Chacon threw a sinker that ran in on Cabrera, but somehow Cabrera muscled it enough to get it over Matsui’s head in left field and into the first row behind the left field wall. Every bounce seems to go the Angels way, and they aren’t complaining. The Angels’ victory now gives the club a 50-48 record against the Yankees since Joe Torre took the helm as manager.

Saturday the Yankees will send Randy Johnson (1-0, 1.29) against Ervin Santana (0-0, 0.00). Game time is 10:05 EDT.



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