BOMBERS BOMB OUT AT PLATE
Alex Rodriguez was ahead on the count, 3-1, against Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth inning last night, and the Angel closer responded with a curveball and a changeup – the latter catching Rodriguez completely off guard as he struck out looking.
“I think I’ve faced him 30 to 40 times and that is the first time he threw me a changeup,” Rodriguez said. “So I tip my cap.”
Actually, Rodriguez has only faced the Angels closer a dozen times, but that didn’t change the result – for A-Rod or the Yankees. The lack of productivity led to a 1-0 loss in The Bronx.
The Yanks mustered just five hits and went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position as they dropped their fifth in six games after slipping into some of the bad habits that plagued them during the first half of the season.
All of that was particularly evident on a night when starter Sidney Ponson pitched better than anyone could have expected.
“Regardless of who’s pitching or how well they’re pitching, we’re better than no runs,” Rodriguez said.
Not last night, for which the Yankees were quick to credit the nasty stuff thrown by starter Ervin Santana and by Rodriguez.
Like A-Rod, Jason Giambi came up empty in the ninth (flying out to center) after Mariano Rivera had surrendered the game’s only run in the top of the inning.
“The last [pitch] was a changeup,” Giambi said. “I just missed it.”
He had plenty of company last night, as the team’s bats went south after Johnny Damon walked and Derek Jeter singled to start the game. It didn’t take long for Santana to settle down.
“He threw the ball . . . as good as any pitcher has thrown against us all year,” A-Rod said. “It’s very frustrating.”
That’s especially true against the Angels, who consistently find ways to beat the Yankees.
“We know how good they are,” Giambi said. “So we really have to capitalize on chances against them when he can. We didn’t do that.”
