The Bronx Daily

Pregame Quick Hits: Yankees vs. Royals 8/15, 8/16, 8/17

After a dismal 3-7 road trip, losing 5 of their last 6, demoting Melky Cabrera, and putting another starting pitcher on the disabled list, the New York Yankees (64-57) return home to face the Kansas City Royals (54-67) in a 3 game series. The Yankees are 6 1/2 games out of the lead for wild card and are as far out of the payoff race at this time of the season as they have been since 1993.

Pitching Match ups:
8/15 vs. KC Gil Meche, RHP (10-9, 4.24) vs. Andy Pettitte, LHP (12-9, 4.32) 7:05pm
8/16 vs. KC Zack Greinke, RHP (9-8, 4.09) vs. Sidney Ponson, RHP (7-3, 4.27) 1:05pm
8/17 vs. KC Brian Bannister, RHP (7-11, 5.36) vs. Mike Mussina, RHP (15-7, 3.30) 1:05pm

Other Quick Hits

• Johnny Damon's .322 batting average is second highest in the American League.
• Robinson Cano is batting .320 since the All Star break.
• The Yankees are 250-171-1 against the Royals all time.
• They are 132-66 at Yankees Stadium.
• Amazingly 10 hitters on the Yankees roster have career averages above .500 against the Royals.

Pitchers Scouting Report:
8/15
Royals: Meche is 7-1 with four no-decisions over his last 12 starts. He will be looking for better control after issuing seven walks in his last start against the Twins. The seven walks were just one shy of Meche's career high. Still, Meche worked 6 1/3 innings and kept his team within range, allowing four runs on just five hits.

Yankees: Pettitte allowed 10 hits and two walks to the Angels last Sunday, but scattered the baserunners effectively enough to pitch seven innings of three-run ball. That was only good enough, however, for his first no-decision since the beginning of June -- the mark of a pitcher who routinely lasts deep into ballgames. Against the Royals, Pettitte owns a 1-0 record in two starts this season. But in the no-decision, Pettitte allowed 10 runs in his worst outing of the season.
8/16
Royals: Greinke decided to drop the appeal on a five-game suspension handed down by Major League Baseball after Greinke hit Chicago's Nick Swisher with a pitch on Aug. 3. Greinke will therefore be working with six days' rest. In his last start, on Saturday against the Twins, he was solid for five innings before Minnesota knocked him out in the sixth. Greinke allowed six runs (five earned) over five-plus innings. Following that start, Greinke was fifth in the American League in strikeouts with 137.

Yankees: Ponson is coming off what manager Joe Girardi called one of his better starts since joining the Yankees, but it didn't do much good as the Bombers were washed out by the Twins, 4-0. He has pitched better after taking a tough seven-run shellacking on July 27 at Boston, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA over his last 21 innings against the Angels, Rangers and Twins. Ponson will be facing the Royals for the second time this year and his first as a Yankee this season. He saw them on May 1, logging his first win while with Texas by hurling eight innings of one-run, six-hit ball in Arlington.
8/17
Royals: After not giving up a home run in three straight starts, Bannister surrendered three in a loss to the White Sox. Bannister went seven innings, his longest outing since his last victory. That was way back on June 23 against Colorado, eight starts ago. In that period, Bannister is 0-5 with three no-decisions. But he was generally encouraged by his outing against the White Sox, getting seven strikeouts with just two walks and four hits, although three were homers. Bannister has started twice against the Yankees this season, with a win and a no-decision.

Yankees: Mussina was in line for his 16th victory up until the moment that Mariano Rivera served up a three-run homer in the ninth inning to Delmon Young on Wednesday in Minneapolis. Mussina had no choice but to grin and bear the no-decision after the Yankees came back to win. The Yankees are 5-1 in Mussina's past six starts and he is 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA over that span. He will be facing the Royals for the second time this season, having taken a no-decision on June 9 despite hurling eight innings of two-run, seven-hit ball in New York.

Coming Up:
The Yankees head to Toronto and Baltimore.

Pregame Quick Hits: Yankees vs. Twins 8/11, 8/12, 8/13

The New York Yankees (63-55) are in Minnesota to play the Twins (65-52) as they try to rebound from being swept over the weekend by the Angels. It was a dismal weekend where Ian Kennedy earned himself a demotion and the bullpen imploded as nothing seemed to go right.

Pitching Match Ups:
8/11 at Min Sidney Ponson, RHP (7-2, 4.23) vs. Glen Perkins, LHP (8-3, 4.38) 8:10pm
8/12 at Min Mike Mussina, RHP (15-7, 3.27) vs. Nick Blackburn, RHP (9-6, 3.60) 8:10pm
8/13 at Min Darrell Rasner, RHP (5-8, 5.28) vs. Kevin Slowey, RHP (8-8, 4.07) 1:10pm

Other Quick Hits:

• The Yankees lead the American League with a .987 fielding percentage.
• The Yankees have used 92 different lineups this season.
• Today is Melky Cabrera's 24th birthday.
• The Yankees are batting .326 against the Twins this season.
• The Yankees are 316-238-1 all time against the Twins.
• The Bronx Bombers are 73-62 at the Metrodome.

Pitchers Scouting Report:
8/11
Yankees: Though Ponson allowed two runs to the Rangers in the second inning on Wednesday, he settled down to allow only one more run the rest of the way. Ponson lasted 6 1/3 innings and gave up six hits and a walk, achieving his goal of back-to-back solid starts. In three starts against the Twins this season, Ponson is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA -- including a complete game victory at the Metrodome back in May.

Twins: The southpaw appeared to be cruising in his last start against Seattle until he got to the seventh inning. Perkins had allowed just one run through six before giving up a grand slam to Raul Ibanez with one out in the seventh. It ended Perkins' night, having allowed five earned runs on 12 hits over his 6 1/3 innings. Although he has just one loss since May 30 at the All-Star Break, Perkins has struggled a bit in his last three starts. He has given up at least four earned runs in each of those outings. Next up, he will face the Yankees, against whom he is 0-2 this season.

8/12
Yankees: Mussina turned in perhaps the finest outing of his resurgent season last Thursday, blanking a hot Rangers offense for seven innings and leading the Yankees to a victory. Though Mussina allowed base runners in each of the first six innings, he induced two double plays and didn't allow the Rangers to mount a serious threat. He's now won five of his last six decisions, and is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA this season against the Twins, his next opponent.

Twins: The right-hander was forced to work his way out of a few jams in his last start, on Wednesday against the Mariners. Blackburn admitted he didn't have his best stuff in the contest and never "felt good" on the mound. Still, the rookie managed to give up just three earned runs over six innings to a Seattle club that had taken its toll on the Twins' pitching staff. Blackburn will try to see if he can get through his next start a little easier. He'll face the Yankees for the third time this season. He's 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts against New York this season.

8/13
Yankees: Though the Yankees have not made an official announcement on who will replace Ian Kennedy in the rotation, the good bet is Rasner, who pitched in long relief of Kennedy on Saturday. Rasner, recently dropped out of the rotation in favor of Dan Giese, threw 4 1/3 effective innings, striking out four and walking none. If the Yankees need to use him in long relief before Wednesday, however, they will likely turn to Giese on short rest. Rehabbing pitchers Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano are not under consideration, according to manager Joe Girardi.

Twins: Slowey gave another solid effort in a win against the Royals on Friday. He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up just one run. That run didn't come in the first inning, meaning that Slowey had now gone a Twins-record 18 consecutive games without giving up a run in the first. He also didn't walk any batters. A challenge awaits Slowey in his next start. The last time he faced the Yankees, he gave up four runs in just 5 1/3 innings.

Coming Up:
The Yankees return home to face the Kansas City Royals. Hopefully 25 years later there will not be another pine tar incident. No worries George Brett and Phil Niekro are not around.

Pregame Quick Hits: Yankees vs. Rangers 8/4, 8/5, 8/6, 8/7

The New York Yankees (61-50) are in Texas to play the Rangers (58-54) in a four game series. The Bombers finished a four game split with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with a 14-9 win in a slug fest in the Bronx where newcomer Xavier Nady had 6 RBI's.

Pitching Match Ups:
8/4 at Tex Joba Chamberlain, RHP (4-3, 2.24) vs. Vicente Padilla, RHP (12-5, 4.52) 8:05pm
8/5 at Tex Andy Pettitte, LHP (12-8, 4.18) vs. Matt Harrison, LHP (2-2, 7.40) 8:05pm
8/6 at Tex Sidney Ponson, RHP (6-2, 4.23) vs. Tommy Hunter, RHP (0-0, 10.80) 8:05pm
8/7 at Tex Mike Mussina, RHP (14-7, 3.44 vs. Scott Feldman, RHP (4-4, 4.97) 8:05pm

Other Quick Hits:

• The Yankees have won 9 out of the last 11 season series against the Rangers.
• The Yankees are 224-163 all time against the Rangers.
• They are 97-94 in Texas.
• The Yankees are leading the series at Rangers Ballpark 39-25.

Pitchers Scouting Report:
8/4
Yankees: Making his first appearance since he bested the Red Sox in his finest starting performance to date, Chamberlain limited Baltimore to two runs (one earned) over six innings Wednesday to post his second victory in as many starts. The 22-year-old scattered five hits while walking none and striking out six; New York has now won eight of Chamberlain's 11 big league starts. His only start against Texas was rough, a four-inning outing July 1 in which he allowed two runs, five hits and four walks over 91 pitches.

Rangers: Padilla was nibbled on by the Mariners in his last start. In seven innings, he allowed 10 hits -- nine of which singles -- and three runs and earned a no-decision. The outing was Padilla's first without receiving a decision in nine starts, going back to May 22. Since coming off the disabled list on July 20, Padilla is 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA, pitching 20 innings over three starts. His start Monday will be his first this season against the Yankees. Padilla is 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA in only two career starts against New York.

8/5
Yankees: Pettitte completed his evening Thursday charged with nine runs on a season-high 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out two, losing for just the third time in his last 14 starts. In 19 career starts against Texas, Pettitte is 9-7 with a 5.36 ERA.

Rangers: Harrison's starts at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington have been declining. After winning his Major League debut at home, allowing two runs in seven innings to the Angels, he's had more runs allowed than innings pitched in his last two home outings. In his most recent, he allowed six runs -- four earned -- to the Mariners in 4 2/3 innings and he walked five. "I try to concentrate on keeping the ball down here, but you don't want to put it in the dirt," he said. Harrison took the loss, giving him a 12.41 ERA in his two losses this season. Harrison will have the opportunity to improve his home numbers Tuesday in his first career start against the Yankees.

8/6
Yankees: Though he earned a no-decision, Ponson stuck with the Angels' Ervin Santana on Friday and matched him zero for zero through seven innings. Making his sixth start this season since joining the Yankees, Ponson turned in his best performance, shutting the Angels' potent lineup out on two hits with four walks. In 16 career starts against Texas, Ponson is 8-2 with a 5.22 ERA.

Rangers: Hunter's Major League debut was one he should have no problem improving upon. At home against the Blue Jays, Hunter allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks and he struck out four. He found out the hard way just how easily balls can fly out of Rangers Ballpark, allowing a three-run home run to Scott Rolen in the second and a two-run home run to Lyle Overbay in the third. Now that Hunter knows what to expect from his home park and Major League hitters, he'll brave the hitter-friendly elements of Ranger Ballpark again in his next start against a Yankees lineup that doesn't figure to be pitcher-friendly.

Yankees: Mussina limited a red-hot Angels offense to two runs (one earned) and two hits on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. After his team fell to an early 2-0 deficit, the righty retired 16 batters in a row to keep the Halos off the bases and the scoreboard. He effectively mixed in his breaking ball to keep hitters off balance and struck out five with two walks. Mussina also pitched economically, throwing 89 pitches through seven innings. The righty picked up the tough-luck loss in his last start against Texas on June 30, giving up two runs on five hits.

Rangers: Feldman dropped back to .500 in his last start against Toronto as his ERA remained at 4.97. In 5 1/3 innings against the Blue Jays, Feldman allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits and three walks while striking out four. It was the second consecutive start he struck out more batters than he walked. In his three starts leading up to his last two, he registered 12 walks to a mere three strikeouts. Thursday will be Feldman's second meeting with the Yankees this season. The first time around, he earned the victory at Yankee Stadium, allowing just one run in 5 2/3 innings.

Coming Up:
The Yankees travel to Anaheim to take on the Angels in what is sure to be another great series!

For full coverage check out our Texas Rangers page Baseball is My Boyfriend!

Pregame Quick Hits:Yankees vs. Angels 7/31, 8/1, 8/2, 8/3

The New York Yankees (59-49) will host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (60-48) in a four game series at the Bronx. The Yankees are coming off of a tough series with the Orioles where they lost two out of three games.

They lost game one of this series 12-6 as Torii Hunter, Juan Rivera and Vladimir Guerrero each hit three run homeruns.

Pitching Match Ups:
8/1 vs. Ana Ervin Santana, RHP (11-5, 3.57) vs. Sidney Ponson, RHP (6-2, 4.59) 7:05pm My9
8/2 vs. Ana Jered Weaver, RHP (9-8,Y 4.11) vs. Mike Mussina, RHP (13-7, 3.56) 3:55pm Fox
8/3 vs. Ana John Lackey, RHP (9-2, 2.93) vs. Darrell Rasner, RHP (5-8, 4.92) 1:05pm YES, TBS

Other Quick Hits:

• Bobby Abreu has reached base safely in 19 consecutive games.
• Mariano Rivera pitched his 1000 inning against Baltimore and has the fourth lowest career ERA at 2.30 of pitchers with 1000 or more innings. Babe Ruth is third on that list with a 2.28 career ERA.
• Edwar Ramirez has retired 38 of the last 43 hitters he has faced.
• The Yankees are 314-260 all time against the Angels.
• They are 164-108 at Yankees Stadium against L.A.
• Alex Rodriguez is a career .328 hitter with 58 homeruns against the Angels.
• Derek Jeter has a career average of .338 against the Halos.

Pitcher Scouting Reports:
8/1
Angels: Santana suffered his second consecutive loss in his last outing on Sunday in Baltimore. The right-hander has only lost back-to-back starts one other time this season, May 17 and 22. In the first loss of the two most recent, however, Santana was not ineffective -- allowing just three earned runs to the Indians -- but on Sunday he was a bit more accountable, giving up five runs to the Orioles, four within the first three innings. A consistent starter all year, with an 11-5 record, Santana has an overall ERA this season of 3.57 but a slightly higher mark on the road at 3.77. The right-hander has not faced the Yankees yet this season.

Yankees: The righty looks to rebound after his roughest outing in pinstripes. Ponson was tagged for 10 hits and seven runs, all earned, in just four innings, taking the loss in a 9-2 setback to the Red Sox on Sunday night. The four innings matched his shortest stint of the season while it marked the second time he's allowed seven earned runs in five starts with New York. He had not allowed more than nine hits in four previous starts with the Yankees. The loss snapped a personal three-game winning streak, two of which came with the Yankees. He is 7-2 lifetime against the Angels with a 4.67 ERA in 11 career starts, including four complete games and a shutout.

8/2
Angels: Weaver was solid in beating the Red Sox for the first time in his career on Monday night at Fenway Park, going 5 2/3 innings and yielding three earned runs on six hits. He struck out four, including two in a row to leave a runner stranded at third before the Angels rallied with six runs for the win. Weaver had no issues with a shoulder blade knot that had flared up in his previous start. He's 2-0 in two career outings against the Yankees with a 3.27 ERA, both those appearances coming at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees: Mussina had gone three games without a walk before issuing a free pass to Baltimore's Brian Roberts in the first at-bat on Monday. And even though Mussina escaped the first inning with no runs -- Roberts was thrown out at the plate trying to score on Nick Markakis' double -- the Orioles tagged him for four runs in the second. He allowed six runs, the most he's yielded since May 20, in five innings, his shortest outing since May 24. Mussina is 15-9 with a 3.71 ERA in his career against the Angels.

8/3
Angels: Lackey delivered one of the finest efforts of his career at Fenway Park on Tuesday night, coming within two outs of his first no-hitter before Dustin Pedroia banged a curveball for a single and Kevin Youkilis whacked a slider for a homer. The big Texan established his fastball early and mixed the off-speed stuff in later. He said he's had better stuff but was delighted with the location after enduring four substandard outings in a row. He feels he's back in sync in his return to Yankee Stadium, where he's 3-3 in seven career starts with a 3.49 ERA. He is 4-7 with a 4.81 ERA overall against the Bronx Bombers. Yankees: Rasner gave his team a chance to win, but couldn't quite come back from a rough start Tuesday night against the Orioles. He surrendered four earned runs and eight hits, walking three and striking out one. The righty gave up one run in the first inning, but settled down to escape a bases-loaded jam. Rasner said he felt he had to battle from the get-go with his command, but he felt good that he pushed through it to get through six innings plus two batters. He allowed a single and hit a batter to start the seventh inning, and the eventual runs cost the Yankees the lead and gave Rasner the loss.

Coming Up:
The Yankees head to Texas to play the Rangers.

Remember to check out our homepage My Team Rivals and our Mets, Yankees, Rangers, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Yankees Red Sox Rivalry, and Mets Phillies Rivalry page!

Pregame Quick Hits: Yankees vs. Red Sox 7/25, 7/26, 7/27

The New York Yankees (56-45) have fought their way back into the A.L. East race and have a crucial series this weekend with the Boston Red Sox (60-43). The Yankees have won 6 games since the All Star break and now hope to even things up (virtually) by sweeping the Red Sox at Fenway Park. A sweep would give the Sox one more loss than the Yankees and get the Bombers right back in the race.

Pitching Match Ups:
7/25 at Bos Joba Chamberlain (2-3 2.52) vs. Josh Beckett (9-6 3.98) 7:05pm My9
7/26 at Bos Andy Pettitte (11-7 3.86) vs. Tim Wakefield (6-7 3.69) 3:55pm Fox
7/27 at Bos Sidney Ponson (6-1 4.02) vs. Tim Lester (8-3 3.20) 8:05pm ESPN

Other Quick Hits:

• Robinson Cano is hitting .519 since the All Star break.
• The Yankees swept three consecutive series at home for the first time in 10 years (7/1998).
• Yankees starters are 7-2 2.44 ERA in their last 14 games.
• The Yankees are 2089-896-14 all time against the Red Sox.
• The Bronx Bombers are 482-282-4 at Yankees stadium vs. the Beantowners.

Coming Up:
The Yankees return home for a series with the Baltimore Orioles.