Game 1: The bullpen was brutal and the bats didn't do enough as the Yankees walloped the Rays 9-3 in the opener at the Stadium. Alec McInerney left a 1-1 game after going 4.1 5 1 1 2 5 but four different relievers allowed runs, totaling eight, including Chris Hetzel (1-2), who relieved McInerney and gave up 3 runs on 4 hits in only 2/3 of an inning. Jon Morales had 3 singles and Cameron Holly had a solo shot (#3) for the Rays.
Game 2: Another ugly loss in the Bronx for Tampa Bay as the Yankees once again broke it open against the pen and once again the bats were anemic in a 7-2 loss. Rogelio Espinoza (7-5) wasn't great at 4.2 7 3 3 3 3 but for the second straight night every reliever who pitched gave up at least a run as New York pulled away. Jose Lozada was 4-4 with a double, two runs scored and a steal, the only Ray who did anything on offense.
Game 3: A forgettable weekend in New York concluded with the third straight lopsided loss to the Yankees as the Rays fell 6-1 in the finale and were outscored 22-6 in the 3-game series. Melvin Lopez (4-4) was terrible at 4 7 6 6 3 2 although for a change the bullpen didn't give up anything, not that it mattered with the offense only scrounging up one run on Jose Lozada's solo homer (#3) as he was 2-3 today and 6-7 in the last two games while his teammates forgot their bats again.
Team record: 41-19. Amazingly getting swept didn't cost the Rays any ground as Boston was swept too and remained 8 back, although the Sox have now been tied for second by the Yankees.
We did win some monthly awards:
Mastropietro's ERA actually rose during June despite being pitcher of the month which tells you how great a season he's having, and our top pitching prospect is MLB-ready but just needs an opening (although after how we pitched in New York I'm almost ready to bring him up anyway).