Too little, too late for Yanks in ninth

The Yankees (78-47) rallied for four runs in the ninth, but fell one short to the Rangers (70-54) in a 10-9 loss.

Quick ‘Cap:
The Yanks had the tying run on second base with no out in the ninth for Nick Swisher, after already rallying for four runs in the ninth. Swisher proceeded to pop up a sacrifice bunt attempt to third base, and then Melky Cabrera lined out to shortstop Elvis Andrus, who doubled up a leaning Jerry Hairston Jr. at second base. Game over.

This was a back-and-forth game all night, starting with a four-run lead after the first inning, and being down as many as five in the ninth. Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano both homered and had three RBI each. Joba Chamberlain took the loss after allowing seven runs in four innings. Full box score here.

Thoughts:
What a heartbreaker. Then again, the Yankees didn’t deserve to win. Nine of the Rangers’ runs came after the first two batters of the inning were retired. That is downright awful, and is becoming a nagging problem for the Yanks in the past week.

Much will be made over Joe Girardi’s decision to bunt Swisher in the ninth. "He's been a good bunter all year, and I was trying to get the runners over,” Girardi said afterward. Same story as usual for me. If Swisher lays down that bunt and Melky wins the game with a single, Girardi looks like a hero. Unfortunately, the worst possible scenario occurred, and Girardi looks like an idiot.

Line of the Night:
Derek Jeter: 2-for-3, 2 BB, 2B. On base four of five times. Is he human?

Up Next:
The Yanks look to even the series Wednesday night with Andy Pettitte (10-6, 4.25) on the hill. He will face Derek Holland (7-7, 4.72).