Game 61 Wrap-Up: KC 8 NYY 4

(Courtesy of the AP)

There was a lot of good in the Yankees' series-opening win in Kansas City on Friday night.  They got a stellar 7-inning start from the consistently overachieving Chase Whitley, they didn't have to burn through their best bullpen guys for multiple innings as a result of that start, and they got a big hit from Brian McCann as he continues to put things together at the plate.  They were going to need more from McCann and the 'pen last night to support the consistently inconsistent David Phelps on the mound.  They were also going to need more than the 1 XBH they had on Friday night (McCann's).  Phelps had one of his bad nights, McCann got the night off, and there wasn't enough help from anywhere to make up for it.

Game Notes:

- It didn't take long for Phelps to get into trouble.  Back-to-back doubles to lead off the 2nd put 1 Royal run on the board.  3 more singles sandwiched around a failed sac bunt made it 3-0.

- The Yanks had nothing to show for a pair of singles and a pair of walks through 5 innings against Danny Duffy.  A Derek Jeter single got things started in the 6th, with Carlos Beltran doubling him home for the team's first run and a Yangervis Solarte single plating 2 more to tie the game.

- Given new life, Phelps promptly went out in the bottom of the 6th and gave the game back to KC.  Walk, walk, 3-run home run was how the first 3 batters of the inning went and Phelps exited after allowing another run to score for a 7-3 KC lead.

- Solarte doubled to start the 9th and eventually came around to score, but there was no real rally by the Yankees after the 6th.  They shot their wad tying the game at 3 and Phelps' meltdown the next half-inning was a deathblow.

- Jose Ramirez made his second Major League appearance, finishing up the 7th and handling the 8th.  He struck out 1, walked 1, and did not give up a hit.


F*ck Yeahs:

- Solarte: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB.  Being asked to contribute from a more important run-producing spot in the lineup lately and he answered the bell yesterday.

- Jacoby Ellsbury: 2-4, 1 LOB.  Another 2-hit day.  Hitting streak up to an even dozen games.

Oh Nos:

- Phelps: 5.2 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.  So hittable as a starter.  So, so hittable.  The more a lineup sees him, the easier it gets for them to beat him.  Didn't help his cause by having a customary loss of command in the 3rd and walking the first 2 batters of the inning.  You can't do that kind of stuff and expect to be a good Major League starter.

- Alfonso Soriano: 0-3, 2 K, 2 LOB.  You know you suck when old man Ichiro and his noodle bat are pinch hitting for you late in games.

Next Up:

Game 3 of this 4-gamer is this afternoon.  Veteran pitching matchup on the docket between Hiroki Kuroda and James Shields.