NOT VERY (G)LOVELY
Critical errors by Jeter, Cano led to Yanks downfall




By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
April 6, 2006

Somebody needs to tell these Yankees it isn’t all about offense.

They’re expected to play a little defense too.

After building a 4-0 cushion on the Oakland Athletics, on the strength of Hideki Matsui’s solo bomb and Gary Sheffield’s three-run laser shot, Chien-Ming Wang went back to work in the bottom of the 4th inning with a comfortable lead. That’s when the wheels to Wang’s covered wagon came off.



Wang retired the first batter, Mark Ellis, with a ground out to shortstop Derek Jeter. Eric Chavez followed with a single and then the Yankees’ fortunes turned for the worst. Frank Thomas hit a ball to Jeter, as Chavez was closing in on second base. Jeter fumbled with the ball and made a poor transition to second baseman Robinson Cano, who dropped the ball. Instead of an inning ending double play Wang was no faced with two on and one out. Wang walked Dan Johnson to load the bases. That brought troubled Milton Bradley to the plate, and he singled home Chavez and Thomas. Oakland’s Jay Payton singled to left sending Johnson to third and Bradley to second. Jason Kendall then hit into a fielder’s choice when third baseman Alex Rodriguez took the grounder and forced out Payton at second. Johnson scored on the play making the score 4-3. Wang avoided further damage by striking out Marco Scutaro to close out the inning.

Unfortunately for the Yankees the offense was done for the night. They could only manage two hits after the sixth inning, and that’s after starter Dan Haren left the game.

Wang, obviously bothered by the play behind him, took the mound in the 5th inning and he fell apart. He gave up a lead off single to Kotsay, then got Kotsay at second on a force play when Ellis grounded to third. Chavez singled off Wang sending Ellis to third. Designated Hitter Frank Thomas struck out, but Wang walked Johnson and Bradley in succession to score Ellis from third.

Wang’s night was done as Joe Torre had seen enough and replaced his embattled young right-hander with Tanyon Sturtze. Sturtze did his job getting Jay Payton to pop out to first baseman Jason Giambi to escape further harm.

With the score tied at four the Yankees couldn’t muster a single hit as they went down in order in the 6th and 7th innings. They managed one hit on Sheffield’s single in the 8th, but couldn’t cash in when he stole second with one out as Rodriguez struck out (second time) and Giambi flew out to right.

In the meantime, the Yankees’ defense wasn’t through contributing to Oakland’s scoring runs.

In the bottom of the 8th, facing Jaret Wright, Milton Bradley led off the inning with a solid triple to left-center field as Johnny Damon ran out of real estate and the ball bounced off the wall and back out onto the field. By the time the relay went from the outfield to Rodriguez waiting at third Bradley was sliding into the bag. Cano was involved in the next costly defensive miscue as he booted a ball hit to him by Jay Payton allowing Bradley to score. Wright gave up singles to Kendall (Payton taking third), and Scutaro, who scored Payton from third. Myers replaced Wright and got Kotsay to strike out. Farnsworth replaced Myers and walked Ellis to load the bases before inducing Eric Chavez to pop out to first base.

With two outs DH Frank Thomas came to the plate. He showed everyone why he’s nicknamed the “Big Hurt.” Thomas took Farnsworth’s first pitch and doubled to left field clearing the bases in front of him. Ron Villone relieved Farnsworth and got Johnson hit a grounder for the third out.

The Yankees, waving the white flag, went meekly in the 9th inning, leaving Oakland taking the series two games to one.

The road doesn’t get any easier for the Yankees as they use Thursday as a travel day to head down the coast to Anaheim where the Los Angeles Angels await them. The Angels, having their own problems in Seattle, are looking forward to a little home cooking and getting well against a team they have had their way with during the Torre era.

The series in Anaheim begins Friday at 10:05 EDT/7:05 PDT. The Yankees will have Shawn Chacon facing the Angels’ Kelvim Escobar. The Yankees are hoping for better results than they had there last October. Aren’t we all?



© 2006 Yankees Talk Shop @ ezboard.com

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