Sunday, July 23, 2006
Sidney Ponson, Not What We Need
Sidney Ponson didn't do much to cement his status as the Yankees' fifth starter, as the Blue Jays lit him up early and often on Sunday.
New York dropped the series finale, 13-5, losing to Toronto for the third time in the last four games. The Yankees now hold a two-game edge on the Jays for second place in the American League East, as they trail the Red Sox by three games.
Ponson was hit for six runs in just 2 1/3 innings, while Kris Wilson and Shawn Chacon were tagged for seven more runs in relief.
Vernon Wells homered twice and drove in four runs, while Troy Glaus, Eric Hinske and Reed Johnson each homered in an eight-run third inning for the Blue Jays.
The Yankees don't need a fifth starter again until Aug. 5 in Baltimore, so Ponson could be skipped the next time through the rotation.
Ponson served up a two-run home run to Wells in the first, giving the Blue Jays a quick 2-0 lead. But unlike his last start, Ponson couldn't settle down after allowing an early homer.
He managed to work out of a jam in the second, and the Yankees rewarded him in the bottom of the inning. Jorge Posada ripped a three-run home run off starter Shawn Marcum, putting the Yankees ahead, 3-2.
That didn't last long.
After Glaus drilled a two-run homer to make it 4-3, Lyle Overbay singled and Ponson walked Gregg Zaun, which was all that manager Joe Torre could bear to watch.
Ponson was lifted for Wilson, but that didn't work out much better for New York. Wilson's second pitch left the yard in a hurry, as Hinske bashed a three-run shot to right field. The next two batters reached on singles, setting up Johnson's three-run shot, boosting the lead to 10-3 with an eight-run inning.
Chacon started the fifth inning for the Yankees, promptly joining the fun by allowing a solo homer by Wells, his second of the game.
Marcum earned the win, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk, striking out four.
The Yankees tried to scratch their way back into the game with two runs in the sixth, but Toronto's bullpen shut New York down the rest of the way.
Don't forget about our 100 BE caption contest!
Posted by Steve Kenul at 4:38 PM
posted at 6:28 PM
You guys in NYC have fun with our Baltimore rejections!
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