Twins Down Yankees, Take Series in Finale

The New York Yankees lost their series against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon, losing 4-2.

Darrell Rasner started for the Yankees. He went five innings and gave up three runs (only two of them earned) on four hits. Rasner walked one and struck out four.

Kevin Slowey took the hill for the Twins. He lasted six innings, and gave up one run on three hits. Slowey walked one and struck out one.

The Yankees scored first and put a run on the board in the top of the first inning. After Alex Rodriguez doubled, Jason Giambi hit a long single off the baggie in right field to score Rodriguez, and put New York up, 1-0.

The Twins were kept off the board until the bottom of the fourth, but Delmon Young did some yard work, a three-run homer, his seventh of the year and second in as many games. The Twins led 3-1 after four innings.

The Twins scored again in the bottom of the sixth. Brian Buscher hit a sacrifice fly to score Joe Mauer, and the Twins went up 4-1.

Yankee catcher Ivan Rodriguez was less than happy, as he felt Buscher should have been out on strikes.

Home plate umpire Mike Winters had to leave the game during Buscher's at-bat as a result of a foul ball that struck Winters. Angel Campos took over behind the plate, and called a ball on a borderline pitch that would have been a called strike three if the call went the Yankees' way. After that pitch, Buscher hit the sac fly. 

The Bombers managed to put another run on the board in the top of the eighth. Bobby Abreu struck out, but reached first base on a wild pitch from reliever Dennys Reyes. Ivan Rodriguez scored on the wild pitch, and the Yankees cut the lead to 4-2.

The Yankees missed an opportunity to score more in the inning. With runners on the corners and two out, Alex Rodriguez flew out to centerfielder Carlos Gomez, swinging on a 3-1 pitch.

In the top of the ninth, Joe Nathan came in to retire Giambi, Xavier Nady, and Ivan Rodriguez to end the game.

Slowey picks up the win and moves up to 9-8, and although he did not pitch all that poorly, Rasner lost and is now 5-9.

Craig Breslow, Dennys Reyes, and Jesse Crain all recorded holds, and Nathan nailed down his 32nd save this year.

The Yankees made a number of mistakes this afternoon. For example, in the sixth inning with two out and Giambi batting, Abreu took off for second base from first base on a 1-2 pitch, and was caught stealing to end the inning. The pitch that Mauer nailed Abreu on was inside on Giambi, and ball two in the count.

The Yankees not only made base running mistakes, they made blunders on defense. In what could have been a force out at second base, Robinson Cano failed to touch the bag, and the runner was called safe.

"We played a poor game defensively, and we didn't hit" said manager Joe Girardi after today's loss. "We had a terrible road trip, and we have to make up for it."

"We could have won a whole bunch of ball games on this trip. We could have won up in Anaheim. It's tough," said Rasner after today's loss.

"It's a frustrating loss, it's a frustrating road trip, and we need to do better," stated Johnny Damon after the game. Damon's 12 game hit-streak was snapped this afternoon, as he went 0-4 at the plate.

The Yankees went 3-7 on the ten-game road trip, scored an average of 4.2 runs per game, and had an overall batting average of .266.

In some other Bombers notes, Yankee Captain Derek Jeter sat out today, resting a sore foot. Jeter fouled a ball off the instep of his left foot in the fourth inning of Tuesday night's game. However, he will more than likely be back in the lineup Friday.

Dan Giese pitched in relief on Wednesday, and had to leave the game with shoulder stiffness. Giese will go to the doctor tomorrow to be evaluated.

After a much needed off-day tomorrow, the Yankees will head home for three games to play the Kansas City Royals before heading back out on the road.

On Friday night at 7:05 ET, Andy Pettitte (12-9, 4.32 ERA) will take on Gil Meche (10-9, 4.24 ERA) from Yankee Stadium.