Yankees Storm Back but Rain Halts Game

Damn you Mother Nature!

Things looked bleak for the Yanks late Thursday night as the Orioles held a 6-4 lead heading into the eighth.  Then the Bombers found some intestinal fortitude and took an 8-6 lead only to have the game suspended due to rain.  The teams will complete the contest on July 27 at Camden Yards with two outs in the top of the eighth and the Yanks up 8-6.

Since the game isn't over, my good, bad and ugly roundup is incomplete and therefore subject to change.

The Good:

Derek Jeter.  Jeter gave the Yanks the lead with a clutch two-run single in the eighth through the driving rain.  The Captain is 2 for 5 with a run scored and the 2 ribbies.

Melky Cabrera.  Cabrera started the Yankee four-run outburst in the eighth with a run scoring double which cut the O's lead to 6-5.  Melky is 1 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBIs.

Andy Phillips.  Phillips belted his first homer of the season in the third to get the Yanks on the board.  Andy is 1 for 3 with a run scored and the 1 RBI. 

The Bad:

Chien-Ming Wang.  Wang didn't look like the ace of the staff on Thursday night.  He wasn't sharp, but held a 4-2 advantage going into the seventh only to have his sinker and defense fail him.  Bobby Abreu misplayed a ball off the bat of Kevin Millar for a triple and Jorge Posada fired a ball into left field trying to nail Corey Patterson at third.  In all, the O's scored four runs in the inning and Wang's night was done.  His ND looked like this: 6.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 1 K.

The Ugly:

8 1/2 game road trip.  The Yanks were expected to fatten up against the Rockies, Giants and Orioles, but finished the trip 1-7 with Thursday's game still pending.  Disgraceful.

The Yankees return to the Bronx on Friday to take on the Oakland A's.  Mike Mussina will get the honors and the Athletics will send lefty Joe Kennedy to the hill.

Maybe this "almost win" will get the Yankees headed in the right direction.