Despite their efforts, Yankees win game

The Yankees wanted to lose this game.  They tried and tried, but fate woul not allow it.  Nor would the Devil Rays.  Two baserunning errors by Tampa Bay kept the Yankees in the game early, especially Brendan Harris in the first inning.  I think that mistake kept the Rays from scoring at least 1 more run, maybe 2 or 3.  Then later the guy (I forget who) that was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.  Again it probably saved a run.

Yankee pitching gave up 16 hits.  That's a ton of hits.  But Mussina wouldn't let the Yankees lose, either.  He let 13 guys get on base (11 hits), but only 3 could manage to cross the plate.  When the chips were down, Mussina was at his best today.  He didn't have his best stuff.  He didn't even have very good stuff.  But he had enough to hold down the fort for 6 innings.   And if it weren't for bullpen ineptitude, he could have had the win. 

The bullpen tried perhaps harder than anyone to lose the game.  First Villone pooped the bed giving up the two-run homerun.  Then Farnsworth showed why he really is honestly and completely worthless.  Two doubles while recording one out is not good.  Then, Dioner Navarro came to the plate.  Already 2 for 2 on the day, Navarro was probably feeling like a stud.  Unfortunately for him, he's not a stud.  In fact I heard Thursday or Friday during the game that he has the lowest average in the major leagues for those over 200 at-bats.  I haven't looked it up to confirm, but it doesn't mater if the fact is accurate.  He's hitting .179.  And it was worse before today.  Farnsworth, however, had given up an RBI single to right to the guy.  Andy Philips, however, refused to let the Yankees lose.  He made a GREAT play, snaring the hard liner.  Then, with Cano's prompting, made a heads-up throw to double off the runner.  It is this play, the play that made it possible for the Yankees to win, that puts Andy Philips into the Mile High Yankees Club.  Oh yeah...did he mentioned he had an RBI triple to go with it?  And is now batting over .300 again?

Andy Philips
July 15, 2007
2-4
2 Really Big Ice Creams
Awesome play in the 8th to preserve the win.
Yankees win 7-6

Even Jorge Posada tried to lose the game with his catcher's interference in the ninth.  But, as usual, Mo would not allow it, inducing the double play and then the popup to save his 13th of the year.  The Yankees climbed back over .500 for the first time since Colorado.  They won the series, their 3rd consecutive.  And, most importantly, they gained a game in the standings as Toronto was able to earn a split with Boston.  9 games back is better than 10, and I think this was a good start to the second half.  The Yankees head home to face Toronto for 4 and then the Rays for 4 more.  It would be great to see them take 3 of 4 in each of those series(es).....we'll see.

Go Yankees!