The New York Yankees lost to the Kansas City Royals by a score of 6-4. Joba Chamberlain started and got a no decision. Phil Coke got the loss and blown save.
Joba Chamberlain struggled with his command and got the ball up in the zone. He got a little out of whack mechanically in a few innings. He was throwing 93-94 mph with his fast ball and topped out at 96. He only gave up 1 earned run.
Joba had a great tempo in the first two innings. After he gave up a home run to John Buck, it looked as though he started rushing a little bit and maybe over throwing. If Nick Swisher didn't make an error in the fourth inning then maybe Joba could of pitched longer in the game and his pitch count wouldn't of been as high.
Overall, Joba had a solid first start because he kept his team in the game. He left the game winning 4-3.
The bull pen broke down today after being so good. They gave up three earned runs in the eighth inning. You can say that the mixing and matching of relievers in the inning could of been micro managing on Joe Girardi's part where he used Demaso Marte for two outs and then using Jose Veras and Phil Coke.
If Veras didn't walk a batter then Girardi wouldn't have had to face the decision of either keeping Veras in the game or bringing in Coke.
Phil Coke allowed the runner he inherited from Jose Veras to score and then the game was tied at 4-4. Coke then let in two more runs.
Phil Coke just didn't have it. He's still a pitcher that the Yankees feel comfortable with.
If Veras got the out then all the Yankees would of had to do was bring Mariano Rivera in for the ninth inning. Marte did a good job and Girardi could of left him in the game instead of bringing in Veras.
All the maneuvering in the bull pen cost the Yankees the game. Also, the 3-2 pitch by Veras that walked the batter was borderline and could of been a strike and the inning would of been over and then the Yankees could of went right to Rivera.
The Yankees have more confidence in their offense that they didn't have last year late in a game. They think they could win when they fall behind. This wasn't the scariest line up the Yankees put out there because of injuries. Cody Ransom has given the team nothing offensive wise.
It looked like the Royals were going to win this game right from the outset the way Gil Meche was pitching. The Yankees had a chance to steal the game but the Royals snatched the opportunity away and stole the game right back. It was a tough loss for the Yankees.
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