Final
Yankees hope to overcome injuries in second half
Jul 18, 2008 - 10:11 AM Oakland (51-44) at NY Yankees (50-45) 7:05 p.m. EDTBRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees have struggled to compete in the tightly contested American League East due to key injuries. They resume their quest to challenge on Friday when they host the Oakland Athletics.
New York is in third place in the AL East, six games behind the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox. However, the second half will begin as the first ended for the Yankees - with several important players on the disabled list.
Left fielder Hideki Matsui has been out since June 23 with an ailing arthritic left knee and may require season-ending surgery. Johnny Damon, who was playing in left for the injured Matsui, is currently experiencing his first career stint on the DL due to a strained left shoulder. He is due back sometime next week.
Also, staff ace Chien-Ming Wang isn't expected to return until September at the earliest after suffering a partial tear of a tendon in his right foot.
Despite being bitten hard by injuries, general manager Brian Cashman isn't making excuses.
"I know right now we're not one of the top four teams," he said. "We can be, despite all of the injuries. Injuries are part of the game. ... That's part of championship-caliber DNA; you fight through that stuff. That's not the issue. The issue is finding a way to get through it."
Friday's starter Mike Mussina (11-6, 3.61 ERA) is just one player that has stepped up. The 39-year-old righthander has allowed two runs or less in each of his last three starts, posting a 1-1 record over that span.
Rookie Greg Smith (5-7, 3.43) takes the mound for the Athletics in place of Joe Blanton, who was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for three minor leaguers on Thursday.
Smith was outstanding in his last time out, pitching six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out two. He did not factor in the decision as the A's rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on July 10.
The lack of run support was nothing new for the 24-year-old lefthander. Oakland has failed to score with Smith on the hill in seven of his 17 starts and have scored just one run on three other occasions.
- AL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 1
NY YANKEES 1 0 3 2 0 1 0 0 x 7 10 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: OAK - GREG SMITH, JERRY BLEVINS (4TH), DALLAS BRADEN (6TH), ANDREW
BROWN (7TH), LENNY DINARDO (8TH) AND KURT SUZUKI
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA, DAVID ROBERTSON (7TH), EDWAR
Jul 18 9:55 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ (20) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 6TH OFF DALLAS BRADEN.
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1, NY YANKEES 7
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.270, 0-FOR-1, 2 BB)
Athletics 1, Yankees 7 Bot 6, 0 OutsJul 18 9:15 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ SCORED BOBBY ABREU.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A RODRIGUEZ ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
NY YANKEES 6 BOTTOM, 4TH
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.270, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Athletics 1, Yankees 6 Bot 4, 0 OutsJul 18 8:38 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY BOBBY ABREU SCORED DEREK JETER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B ABREU ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
NY YANKEES 5 BOTTOM, 4TH
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.314, 1-FOR-1, BB)
Athletics 1, Yankees 5 Bot 4, 0 OutsJul 18 8:37 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY ROBINSON CANO (7) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 3RD OFF GREG SMITH SCORED ALEX RODRIGUEZ AND JORGE POSADA.
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1, NY YANKEES 4
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.244, 1-FOR-1)
Athletics 1, Yankees 4 Bot 3, 0 OutsJul 18 8:14 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RICHIE SEXSON SCORED BOBBY ABREU.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R SEXSON ON FIRST, A RODRIGUEZ ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
NY YANKEES 1 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: R CANO (.246, 6 HR, 38 RBI)
Athletics 1, Yankees 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsJul 18 7:33 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 1 1 3 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - GREG SMITH
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.284, 5 HR, 42 RBI)
B ABREU (.274, 10 HR, 59 RBI)
A RODRIGUEZ (.312, 19 HR, 53
Athletics 1, Yankees 0 Bot 1, 0 OutsJul 18 7:20 PM
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