After an eleven-game road trip, the Yankees were hoping a little home cooking would help get them back on track. Instead, they were completely shutdown by the Texas Rangers in the first game of a three game set tonight, losing by a score of 6-1.
“We’re in a slump,” Manager Joe Torre said. “And now we’re going to have to fight our way out of it.” (via NY Times)
Texas starter Ken Hill threw a complete game, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out six. “Ken Hill had all of his pitches,” Torre said. “He got people out with fastballs and splitters. If we’d given Kenny [Rogers] some run support, maybe things would have been different.” (via NY Times)
On the other hand, Kenny Rogers wasn’t sharp again, allowing five runs over seven. He served up a pair of two-run home runs to a powerful Rangers lineup – one to Juan Gonzalez in the third – and the other to Dean Palmer in the sixth.
The Yankees’ lone run came on a two-out RBI single by Joe Girardi, which scored Ruben Sierra in the second inning. Rogers, looking for a shutdown inning, allowed a three spot in the top of the third and the Rangers were on their way. “I think I can pitch better,” Rogers said. “Maybe next time I will.” (via NY Times)
The Yankees have now lost six of their last eight games, and currently stand at 58-39. The lack of offense recently has been a mystery. “When we have hitters like we do and nothing happens, it’s frustrating. You have your ups and downs,” said Darryl Strawberry, who went 0 for 4 tonight (via NY Times).
Dwight Gooden, who’s coming off a start in which he allowed 10 runs (five earned) with eight walks, gets the start tomorrow night against Roger Pavlik.
Box score and current stats
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Rangers 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 1 6 11 0
Yankees 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0
Batting AB R H RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG
Boggs 3B 4 0 1 0 0 1 .322 .395 .404
B.Williams CF 3 0 0 0 1 0 .309 .390 .533
ONeill RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 .312 .432 .461
Strawberry DH 4 0 0 0 0 2 .208 .356 .417
Martinez 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 .288 .345 .456
Sierra LF 3 1 0 0 0 0 .262 .332 .413
Duncan 2B 3 0 1 0 0 0 .312 .331 .450
Girardi C 3 0 1 1 0 1 .301 .364 .375
Jeter SS 3 0 1 0 0 2 .287 .357 .402
2B:Boggs (17, off Hill). RBI:Girardi (27). Baserunning: SB:Girardi (10, 2nd base off Hill/Valle).
Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Rogers L (6-5) 7 8 5 5 1 6 2 4.59
Nelson 1.2 3 1 1 1 2 0 4.56
Mecir 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.07
