Chaotic Chamberlain Collapse Crushes Champs

This is my 600th blog post. It will be a round-up of---who other than the New York Yankees. Unfortunately for me, the Yankees lost to the Mariners at Safeco Field in Seattle last night. New York tried unsuccessfully to trade for Cliff Lee on Friday afternoon. The Yankees’ starting pitching isn’t the problem. Joe Girardi’s defending champions could have used an eighth inning set-up man last night as Joba Chamberlain gave up a grand slam and a 1-0 lead out of the bullpen. Chamberlain’s disastrous outing wasted a brilliant and scoreless effort from Javier Vasquez and snapped New York’s seven game winning streak.
The Yankees have struggled to score runs in support of Vasquez and last night was more of the same. New York ‘s only tally came in the top of the third off Seattle seven-gamew inning ace, Felix Hernandez. Newly-appointed All-Star, Nick Swisher, smacked his 15th homerun of the year, a solo shot off the 24 year old. Vazquez carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and struck out seven Mariners on the evening. Ichiro Suzuki was first to crack through with an infield single in the sixth. The Yankee hurler got out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh and exited the game with just three hits allowed and a pair of walks. Chamberlain was summoned in relief during the eighth inning and yielded two singles to start the frame. Chamberlain’s wild pitch allowed Suzuki to advance to third base and Chone Figgins to take second. Russell Branyan was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out in the eighth before Chamberlain fell behind in the count to Seattle slugger, Jose Lopez. Lopez drilled the next pitch into the left field seats for a grand slam and 4-1 Mariners edge. The debacle of an inning marked the fourth time this season Chamberlain has given up at least three runs in a frame.
Hernandez finished the game for the home team for his second complete game in eleven days against New York. The Yankees plated pinch-hitter Jorge Posada with one out in the top of the ninth. Posada represented the tying run after Curtis Granderson doubled and Derek Jeter reached safely on an infield single. The Yankee catcher was fanned on a questionable high third strike call for the second out. Brett Gardner ended New York’s threat and the game by striking out looking. Just like that Seattle ended a five game losing skid. Chamberlain took the loss, his first of the season as the Yankees fell for just the 32nd time. The Mariners improved to 35-52, good for last place in the AL West. Today is the last game before the MLB All-Star break. C.C. Sabathia takes the hill for New York against Seattle’s Ryan Rowland-Smith. Sabathia, an All-star, tries to become the league’s second 12-game winner at 4:05 this afternoon.
Parting Points: As always, I’m looking forward to the All-Star game.

Cliff Lee was roughed up in his Texas debut.