Chacon and bullpen hit hard in rout

Yankees can't counter as Indians hit six home runs

 

CLEVELAND -- The Indians put on a fireworks display on Tuesday night at Jacobs Field, celebrating the Fourth of July in style.

 

Unfortunately for the Yankees, it was at their expense.

 

Cleveland pounded New York, 19-1, in the second game of the four-game series. The Tribe scored seven runs in the first two innings against Shawn Chacon, then crushed the Yankees' bullpen for nine runs in the fifth, blowing the game wide open.

 

"You know they're a good-hitting team," Joe Torre said. "If you don't pitch well enough, they're going to kill you, and they did tonight. It's a helpless feeling."

 

Travis Hafner and Jhonny Peralta each homered twice, as the Indians belted six balls out of the ballpark, the most allowed by the Yankees in a game in almost three years. Hafner and Ronnie Belliard drove in four runs each, while Peralta and Victor Martinez had three RBIs apiece.

 

The loss was the most lopsided for the Yankees since Aug. 31, 2004, when the Indians posted a 22-0 shutout at Yankee Stadium. The last time the Yankees allowed as many as 19 runs in a road game was July 19, 1987, when they lost, 20-3, to the Rangers in Arlington.

 

"It's not fun," Alex Rodriguez said. "They were hitting the ball hard, soft, medium -- it didn't matter, they were all hits. You feel for the guys on the mound and you just want to get the day over with.

 

"It happens once or twice a year," Rodriguez added. "We did it to the Mets the other night, but it's not any fun when you're on the other side."

 

For the second night in a row, the Yankees couldn't capitalize on a Red Sox loss, as the Devil Rays beat Boston again at Tropicana Field. New York remains four games behind the first-place Sox.

 

"We certainly are better than this," Torre said. "We need to be better than this if we're going to stay in this race."

 

After the Yankees scored a run in the top of the first, Chacon served up a pair of two-run homers in the first, as Peralta and Martinez gave the Indians a 4-1 lead. Peralta hit an 0-2 pitch while Martinez hit an 0-1 pitch, which frustrated Chacon even more.

 

"My pitches were up in the zone from the beginning of the game," Chacon said. "Even when I got ahead, I tried to make the put-away pitches and they were up. I paid for it."

 

Hafner added the first of his two homers in the second, blasting a three-run shot to make it a 7-0 game. Chacon left after one more batter, charged with seven runs on six hits and three walks, falling to 4-3 on the season.

 

"I didn't have anything," Chacon said. "I was garbage. I set the tone for the rest of the game."

 

Since returning from the disabled list on June 11, Chacon is 0-2 with a 12.11 ERA in four starts.

 

Even worse, Torre hinted after the game that Chacon's spot in the starting rotation may be in jeopardy. Chacon is still scheduled to start Sunday against the Devil Rays, but that could change in the next day or two.

 

"We're going to talk about a lot of things," Torre said. "It's a concern. At this point, I'm not sure what the answer is. We'll have to figure something out and see what that answer is."

 

"I'm not worried about it, because it's not my decision," Chacon said. "At this point, I really haven't done anything to keep the spot. Every opportunity I'm given to pitch, I have to go out and take advantage of it."

 

Ron Villone, who threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, could get the start Sunday should the Yankees decide not to use Chacon.

 

"If it happens, it happens. I don't need any notice; part of my job is to be ready," Villone said. "Chac is a whole lot better than his results were. Bouncing back is a part of the game; you have to pick your head up and hold it high."

 

"There's never any quit in me," Chacon said. "I take these games and wash them off, get ready to get the ball in the next game and make it better. Tonight, I think for all of us, is just one of those games you want to forget about."

 

Cleveland put up a nine-spot in the fifth, scoring six against T.J. Beam and three against Mike Myers. Belliard hit a two-run homer against Beam in the inning, while Peralta drilled his second of the game just three pitches later.

 

Torre gave Beam a few encouraging words as he removed him from the game, telling the young right-hander to keep his head up despite his bad outing.

 

"I wanted to let the kid know that this didn't mean anything," Torre said. "He has pitched well in close games, and that's basically what I told him. I wanted to make sure that he knew that I appreciate the things he's done in more competitive games."

 

"It was good to hear," said Beam, who also received a pep talk from A-Rod. "As soon as I leave the ballpark, it will be out of my head. Of course, I'm going to see it on 'SportsCenter' about 30 times, but it's just going to make me better. I have to move on. That's the bottom line."

 

Jake Westbrook, a former Yankees farmhand, allowed one unearned run over seven innings to improve to 7-4.

 

The Yankees will try to put this game behind them Wednesday, as they send Mike Mussina to the mound against Paul Byrd.

 

"The starting pitcher changes the momentum," Torre said. "I don't think there's going to be any hangover, team-wise, from this. We have too much experience for that to be the case."

source

On the Boss' birthday nonetheless. :lol

 

 

 

It's a beautiful thing. Didn't the Janks get routed like 23-0 last year at Yankee stadium by the Indians?

 

Oh yeah. Found the picture....

 

 

 

Classic!

gotta love watching a team with the highest payroll in baseball by far getting murdered in a game...love it...love it

ouch take that

The best part was that it happened on Steinbrenner's birthday :lol .

The best part was that it happened on Steinbrenner's birthday :lol .

 

Happy 76th George!! :lol

The best part was that it happened on Steinbrenner's birthday :lol .

 

Happy 76th George!! :lol

At least he had cake :whistle

Steinbrenner sucks because he spends money!

They responded quite well, I'd say.

 

The Moose = Stopper