One Bad Inning

Oh, if it wasn't for those single bad innings... outside of the 3rd, Randy only allowed 1 run in 8 innings. In that 3rd inning, he really made only 2 bad pitches, both of which accounted for the 3 runs. At least he went the distance to further rest the pen.

The Yanks had lots of chances, and Cano getting picked off 1st with none out may have been the turning point. Later in the inning, with the bases full and 2 out, Damon hit a liner to left, but Chris Snelling ran it down.

Or the turning point could have been Bloomquist's squibber that couldn't be rolled any better that allowed him to reach first. Johnson should have escaped unscathed, because he had both Jose Lopez and Richie Sexson 0-2 before allowing their hits.

Ichiro may have saved Seattle 2 runs. The first instance came when he tracked a deep fly off Abreu's bat to just left of center, holding Jeter at second with a strong throw and 1 out. The second instance came in the top of the 7th, when Nick Green lined a ball deep to center, Ichiro ran straight back at full speed and caught it with his arm extended. Damon followed with a solo HR (which set a new season high for him with 21 by the way).

How do we go from taking 5 straight from Boston to dropping 2 of 3 to Seattle? I was worried about a let-down. Hopefully it's out of the system now, and they'll win the series in Anaheim.

4-2 Seattle

2*: Damon, 2-3, HR, bb
1: Jeter, 2-4, 2b, rbi
1: Randy, CG, 8 ip, 4 er - marred by one poor inning

Phil Hughes went tonight: 5 ip (his limit), 0 h, 1 bb, 9 k! Trenton won 18-0! I can't wait to see him in the Show.