Yankees Drop 2nd Game to Split Double Header against Sox

The Yankees were not as lucky in their second attempt at beating the Red Sox in extra innings yesterday as they lost 7-6 when Bill Hall, the same guy who lost the first game in the 10th inning for the Sox, led off the inning with a double and came around to score on a Eric Patterson single off of Ivan Nova.

Here are some highlights:

• A.J. Burnett was mediocre at best. His line: 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR.
• He had a bad 1st inning, but kept the Sox to 1 run and gave up a solo shot to Felipe Lopez in the 3rd.
• Burnett pulled a Chuck Knoblauch in the 4th inning when he appeared to beat Josh Reddick to the bag on a grounder to first base. However, instead of calling time he stood there arguing with the umpire as Daniel Nava continued to round the bases and eventually scored. Reddick made it all the way to third base but didn’t score.
• Burnett left the game tied at 4-4, leaving Joe Girardi to use the B-squad relievers, Sergio Mitre, Royce Ring, and Nova.
• If that was a playoff audition only Mitre passed. Ring was charged with 2 runs after facing 3 batters and Nova was all over the place allowing 7 base runners in just 2.1 innings and blew the game.
• Offensively the Yankees didn’t do much besides draw walks, 10 in total.
• Robinson Cano had 3 hits, Francisco Cervelli 2, and the rest of the Yankees had just 2.
• Brett Gardner did steal 3 bases, scored a run, and drove in another.

Mark Teixeira, who vowed not to sit until the Yankees clinched the division, sat and Lance Berkman botched a grounder that lead Burnett to Knoblauch the play in the 4th inning. If Teix starts, who knows, but maybe the Yankees win this one.

Also, the Yankees have probably eight very strong pitchers. Beyond that though they probably have to take three more with them to the playoffs. If the other pitchers have been auditioning for their spot over the past month, they’ve all failed in just about every chance they’ve been given.

It’s hard to trust Burnett, Nova, and Ring in the playoffs after a night like last night.

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• September 23, 2010 -- Nova, Vazquez, Gaudin, Mitre, and Moseley Fight for 2 Spots
• September 12, 2010 -- Discussion: Yankees Playoff Roster
• August 30, 2010 -- Yankees: Worst Rotation, Best Bullpen Last 30 Days