A.J. Burnett Struggles with Command, Yankees fall to Rockies 4-2

You can't win baseball games if you don't score runs, especially when the opposing team has their ace on the mound. Ubaldo Jimenez kept the Yankees in check over seven innings of work, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks, three of which came to Curtis Granderson. 

In the first, back to back walks to Granderson and Mark Teixeira set up first and second with one out for Alex Rodriguez, who laced a double down the left field line to plate Granderson. With second and third and only one down, Robinson Cano hit a line drive right to second baseman Chris Nelson, who flipped to Troy Tulowitzki to double off A-Rod and end a promising inning.

The Yankees played small ball for their only other run of the game. Granderson walked, stole second base, advanced to third on Texieira's fly out, and scored on A-Rod's sac fly. From then on, Jimenez settled down, and allowed only three more Yankees to reach base. 

In the eighth, Matt Reynolds pitched a 1-2-3 inning. In the ninth, Nick Swisher singled with one out to bring the tying run to the plate, but Huston Street got Jorge Posada and Russell Martin to fly out for his Major League leading 23rd save.

A.J. Burnett struggled with his command, and it hurt him. Burnett tossed 6.1 innings, allowed 4 runs, 7 hits, walked 5, and struck out 5, including 4 in the 6th inning.

In the second inning, a poorly placed fastball to Jason Giambi ended up ten rows deep into section 203, a homer Michael Kay called one of the longest he had ever seen. In the third, Burnett loaded the bases via a walk, double, walk, and single, but escaped further damage when Troy Tulowitzki hit into an inning-ending double play.

In the fourth, Burnett again played with fire. He walked Giambi to start the inning, and then allowed a double before an RBI ground out from Ty Wiggington brought in the Rockies' third run. Following the ground out, Burnett walked the bases loaded, but again escaped further damage by getting Chris Nelson to ground out. 

Burnett's final run allowed came off the bat of Troy Tulowitzki, who hit an opposite field homer.

Boone Logan came on in the seventh inning to relieve a clearly frustrated Burnett, and struck out Giambi and Seth Smith to end the inning. He came out to start the eighth and got two quick outs, but in typical Boone Logan fashion, walked Chris Iannetta and allowed a double to Carlos Gonzalez.

Luis Ayala came on to replace Logan and got out of the jam by getting Chris Nelson to ground out. Outside of a single to Giambi, he pitched a clean ninth.

This wasn't a very good game for the Yankees. Only Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher reached base more than once, and the pitching was not very good. Fortunately, CC Sabathia will take the ball tomorrow with hopes of tying this series up.

Box Score.

Play of the Game: Troy Tulowitzki's inning-ending double play decreased the Rockies' chances of winning by over 14%. The positive play belonged to the Centaur's RBI double. 

Comment of the Game: Jedi