Yankees vs. Rangers - 6/3

Hey Everyone. Back here for tonight's game between the Yankees and Rangers at Yankee Stadium. This is the second game of a three-game set in the Bronx. Andy Pettitte (5-1, 4.10) will face Scott Feldman (4-0, 3.91). It'll be interesting to see how Pettitte's back is after it stiffened up on him during his last start. Just a note, it is raining in everywhere basically from Cincinnati, Ohio to Boston, Massachusetts right now. It'll be a miracle if the whole game is played tonight, if anything.

Some notes before the game starts:
*The Yanks have won 2 straight and 16 of their last 20 overall, including 9 of their last 11 at home.

*Derek Jeter has a 16-game hitting streak and has raised his average up to .319.

*Hideki Matsui has 3 home runs in 12 at-bats this season against the Rangers.

*Mark Teixeira was scratched from tonight's line-up with a bruised right ankle. He sustained the injury on his hard slide into 2nd last night to break up a double play. He is listed as day-to-day. For the Yankees, they better hope this is nothing major. Tex has been raking the ball lately and cannot afford to lose him in the middle of their line-up.

Back for the start of the game...if it ever does start. Will update you when I find out information on the weather and start time.

UPDATE (6:45): Swisher will hit second in the line-up with Damon hitting 3rd. Interesting there, but I assume it's because Swish was great in the #2 spot on Monday night. Also, they are apparently getting ready to take off the tarp. Might have baseball after-all. Early runs will be important I'm sure!

UPDATE (6:51): First pitch is at 7:15. Good news there. The bad: There is another big blob of green on the radar, with the east-most point at Scranton, PA right about now. I say there is about a 90-minute window before it starts raining heavy again. That could be about the 5th inning. Again, early runs will be important.

UPDATE (7:32): Underway after a 12-minute rain delay. Rough start for Andy Pettitte. Lead-off walk to Ian Kinsler, who later comes around on an infield single by Nelson Cruz. Marlon Byrd had an RBI fielder's choice, and Chris Davis had an RBI single. Could've been worse if Byrd wasn't gunned down trying for 3rd on Davis' single by a great throw from Melky in right. 3 runs, 3 hits, 2 walks in the inning. We'll see if the Yanks can respond. They lead the majors with 18 come-from-behind wins.

UPDATE (7:41): Yankees get a run back on a double by Swisher and a single by A-Rod. Pettitte needs to settle down and give his offense a chance to get the lead before the rains come.

UPDATE (7:54): Rangers get their run back as Ian Kinsler scores Elvis Andrus. Three more hits for the Rangers and a throwing error by Pettitte on a pick-off attempt. Not a good start for Pettitte. He's been good for the Yanks this year, but his stuff is not intimidating anymore.

UPDATE (8:12): WOW! Andy Pettitte gives up a lead-off walk (again) and a single. 2-on, none-out, and Marlon Byrd interferes with Posada by hitting him on the back with his backswing as the runners were stealing. Instead of 2nd and 3rd with no out, the runners have to go back, and Pettitte proceeds to strike out the side, all swinging, to end the inning. Great job by Pettitte!

UPDATE (8:31): Hard to say this with the way the Yanks come-from-behind, but this doesn't look like the Yanks' night. Feldman walks Gardner, Swisher, and Damon all in the same inning, and sure enough, A-Rod grounds into a 5-3 double play to end the inning with nothing. Bad start by Pettitte so far and lack of a big hit. The good news: It's a 3-run game, and it's the 4th inning. The bad: the rain's a-comin!

UPDATE (8:39): Another stolen base off Jorge Posada. He's got one of the best bats among catchers, but my goodness, everyone is going to steal off of him. He cannot throw anyone out. He is airmailing almost every throw to 2nd. Teams are going to start taking real notice of this. Meanwhile, Andy Pettitte NEEDS to stop walking batters. 3 of the 4 lead-off hitters have walked off him.

UPDATE (8:48): Pettitte walks three more to bring his total in the game to 6 in four innings. He does have 6 K's, but he's had to battle in every inning and has thrown 95 pitches. However, it's still a 3-run game, and the offense needs to start capitalizing against Feldman if the Yanks want this game.

UPDATE (9:00): 9 pitches is all Andy needs to get through the fifth. I was shocked he stayed out there, but he finally has an easy inning. The game is still up for grabs. It's up to the Yanks offense now.

UPDATE (9:06): Another 1-2-3 inning for Feldman. He's retired 8 in a row and has been pretty good all night aside from a few walks. It's an official game now, so if the rains come soon, Texas will have a win. Still plenty of time left, but the Yanks need to start hitting.

UPDATE (9:25): The Yankees fail to capitalize again as A-Rod strikes out and Cano grounds out with Damon on 3rd. A-Rod has left four runners on base himself. Yanks just not in it tonight offensively and seem weak without Teixeira in the line-up. Hopefully, he's not out for an extended period. Give Scott Feldman credit. He has pitched great over 6 innings.

UPDATE (9:45): Jorgie juices one to RF, a Yankee Stadium homer on a line drive to the short porch. 4-2 now in the 8th, should be an interesting finish in the Bronx. I'm surprised the rain has held off this long!

UPDATE (9:51): Brett Tomko comes out of the bullpen and throws three scoreless innings, giving up 2 hits, 0 walks, and striking out 3. The Yanks have him, Aceves, and Hughes all who can go long and be effective in the pen.

UPDATE (10:02): A-Rod strikes out again with Swisher on base. Elvis Andrus with a nice play on a chopper by Cano to end the inning. He has been great at the plate and in the field tonight. Yanks have 3 more outs to try and do something at the dish.

UPDATE (10:33): Yanks don't do anything in the 9th and lose the game 4-2. Tough loss for the Yanks who couldn't get anything going at the plate. Pettitte was shaky at the beginning but kept the team in the game. Good relief again from the Yanks. We'll see if Chien Ming Wang can be effective tomorrow.