These are games a first place team shouldn't lose. These are the series that a postseason contender shouldn't lose. Three hits off of Hector Noesi is unacceptable for any team. The Yankees had their chances tonight, but they left the tying run 90 feet away in the bottom of the ninth with their best hitter at the plate. Saying it was unbelievably frustrating would be selling the frustration short.
Andy Pettitte was trying for the 250th win of his career, but he had to leave the game after 4.2 innings with a tight left trapezius muscle. This is more of a slept funny injury than a baseball related injury, so the Yankees dodged a bullet with one of their best pitchers there. Andy worked himself into trouble, but limited the damage to two runs for the offense to overcome. Shawn Kelley came on in relief and struck out five batters in two innings, but he allowed a home run to Michael Morse, who went 7-12 in this series. Three runs would ultimately prove too much for the Yankees to surpass.
The offense was led by three hits from Curtis Granderson in only his third career appearance as the DH. David Adams picked up another RBI with a double that tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning. The only other Yankee run came when Robinson Cano beat out an infield single that scored Ichiro Suzuki, who broke a 0-22 hitless streak with a single.
Mariners closer Tom Wilhelmsen needed only to retire Austin Romine, Brett Gardner, and Jayson Nix to nail down the save. Romine was in the game after Chris Stewart appeared to injure his groin running the bases, which could spell trouble if he needs to spend any time on the disabled list. His replacement could very well be Bobby Wilson, who is inspiring even less confidence than you might have in Stewart or Romine down in Triple-A. The replacement catcher swung at what was likely balls four and five to get himself out before Gardner managed a single. With Jesus Montero catching, Gardner was able to steal second and third base with only one out. Jayson Nix did the things that Jayson Nix normally does and swung around like he was drunk and/or blind. Gardner reached brought Cano to the plate, but his battle against Wilhelmsen came up short as he grounded out to end the game.
As I said in the game thread, the Yankees really needed this game with three straight series against divisional opponents coming up over the next week. They've exceeded our expectations so far, but these kind of losses still sting. The team will try to wash away the stench of defeat against Mark Buehrle and the Blue Jays tomorrow at 7:05. If there is any kind of justice in the world, it will be without Bobby Wilson. Being afraid of losing Chris Stewart. This is what it's come to.
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