Yankees Can't Beat Good Teams

Yankees 4 8 0
Angels 5 9 2

WP: Lackey (4-4)
LP: Sabathia (8-6)
S: Fuentes (26)

PLAYER OF THE GAME: John Lackey. He outpitched CC Sabathia in a battle of the aces and did what he needed to do to winthe game.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Darren Oliver's LUCKY catch and double play in the eighth inning. Swisher ripped the ball up the middle and Oliver just stuck his glove out and made the catch and doubled off the runner at first to end the inning.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: Tex and A-Rod failing to come through with the bases loaded inthe seventh inning. Bases loaded no one out, with the money these two guys are getting paid, one of the has to get a hit in that situation.

GAME NOTES:

• Jim mentioned it last week and I'll say it again, when they get behind in the game they CANNOT let the other team put tack on runs later pn into the game. Although it was not as bad today as other days, that extra run they got in the seventh came back to haunt the Yankees as the lost by one.
• CC Sabathia did not pitch like an ace today. Five runs in 6.2 IP is not what the Yankees wanted out of him today.
• The Yankees head into the All-Star break 3 games out of first, but ahead in the wild card. Their record against teams that are .500 or better is 23-25, seven of those wins came against the Twins, who are 1 game over .500. Though the Yankees may make the playoffs, the fact that they cannot beat good teams is worrisome. They face the Tigers right out of the gate after the break so maybe the come out with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.

Home Run Derby Tommorow 8 p.m. ET on ESPN

We'll still have some posts up during the break, including our Mid-Season Awards and some more Michael Kayisms.