Fourth of July lineup

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Andruw Jones LF
Russell Martin C
Jayson Nix 3B

SP: RHP David Phelps

All Around Sloppy game

What started as a 2-0 Yankees lead in the top of the first inning ended as a btutal 7-4 Yankees loss against a team that doesn't have one hitter who scares a pitcher. The Rays have gotten their way with the Yankees this year, especially at Tropicana Field where the Yankees have now lost their last nine games! Nova pitched relatively well despite control issues. His defense let him down tonight, specifically Russell Martin. Martin had a game that he would like to forget. Once again, he went hitless and he made two costly errors that cost the Yankees several runs. Martin's season average now stands at a measly .182. Any other player who was hitting that low halfway through the season would have gotten sent down but Martin is a catcher so he gets a little more slack from management because most nights, his defense is spectacular. Tonight when you add the errors along with the low average, it doesn't equal something the Yankees and their fans would like. Also, the Yankees cost themselves another run when third base coach Rob Thomson sent Cano around to score on an Ibanez double. Cano ended up getting tagged out by a mile and there were now two outs instead of runners on second and third with one out. At that point, the game was over and the Rays were on their way to winning another one against the Yankees. It's mind boggling how the Rays manage to beat the Yankees every night with a laughable lineup.

Yanks lose a Heartbreaker

The Yankees entered tonight's game against the Rays having lost seven straight games at Tropicana Field dating back to last year. They got out to an early lead against lefty Matt Moore in the first inning. After that inning, the bats would quiet, along with some critical GIDP's throughout. Freddy Garcia gave the Yankees a strong 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on a BJ Upton solo home run then a Carlos Pena blast in the sixth inning. The Yankees would manage to manufacture a run in the seventh inning without the benefit of a base hit. They took a temporary lead that would only last until the bottom of the same inning when the Rays scored two runs against Robertson. The go-ahead run was scored because of an error by Mark Teixeira. Teixeira picked a bad game to make his first error of the season. You can't get on him because he plays such flawless defense day in and day out. Robertson should have gotten Brooks Conrad out instead of giving up the double to him that scored the tying run. The Yankees lose another one without hitting a home run and have lost their eighth straight game at Tropicana Field.

Tomorrow, Ivan Nova is looking for his tenth win of the season against James Shields who has struggled against the Yankees in two starts this year. The Yankee losses are giving the Rays more ground in the standing and with a sweep of the Yankees, the Rays would be right back in it. The Yankees do not want that to happen against them.

Lineup, Wade to Minors

Cory Wade has been optioned to AAA Scanton-Wilkes Barre to work out his problems. Wade had a terrible June, giving up runs at a crazy pace. Qualls has replaced Wade on the 25 man roster and has already joined the team in Tampa to face the Rays.

Derek Jeter DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Andruw Jones LF
Jayson Nix SS
Chris Stewart C

SP: RHP Freddy Garcia

Hughes on a Roll

Phil Hughes came into today's game against the White Sox with a mission: to give the Yankees a split in the series. They lost the first two games to Chicago painfully. They rebounded yesterday and today with a series split. Hughes' first inning was shaky. He gave up two runs on three hits before the Yankees even stepped to the plate. After that inning, he settled down and delivered seven more innings of shutout baseball. Hughes' ERA now stands at 4.29 after beginning the season with an earned run average of about seven. He hasn't necessarily been the Hughes of the first half of 2010 in the streak, but he has come close to that. He has been striking out batters at an exceptional pace, whiffing eight batters today. Soriano came in to earn his eighteenth save of the season. After a bad start to his Yankee career, Soriano has been a godsend to the Yankees after the Rivera injury. He has stabilized the bullpen and has provided stellar relief in the closer role. He has a Mo-like ERA of 1.78 this season.

Cano continued his hot hitting today with another home run as well as a single. He accounted for half of the Yankee runs. Eric Chavez hit his sixth home run of the year today to account for the other half. Eric Chavez has been an invaluable part of the Yankees this year. He plays brilliant defense and he can still hit with pop. Knowing Chavez is there makes Girardi more comfortable with resting A-Rod.

The Yankees are going into Tampa for a three game series against the Rays starting tomorrow night. Freddy Garcia is getting the start tomorrow opposite Matt Moore, who the Yankees have not seen yet this year. They remember him from last year when he pitched brilliantly against them at the end of the season at Yankee Stadium.

The starting lineup for the All-Star game was announced earlier today. Three Yankees made the cut including Jeter, Cano and Granderson. CC Sabathia was also selected to the game but won't pitch because of his injury.

Phillies trade Qualls to Yankees

RHP reliever Chad Qualls has been traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Yankees for cash considerations or a player to be named later. Qualls was originally the set-up man for closer Jonathan Papelbon but his struggles forced the Phillies to let him go.

Also, Jon Heyman has reported that the Phillies are heavily calling teams to gauge interest in LHP Cole Hamels. Hamels is having a sensational year and the Phillies want the farm for him. I don't see the Yankees making a move unless they are confident they can re-sign him at the end of the season. It's beginning to look like the Phillies are in full selling mode after losing their fifth straight game today. They traded Jim Thome to the Orioles yesterday. Their season record is now 36-45 and they have not even gotten Howard back yet.

Old Timers Day Yankee Lineup

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Raul Ibanez DH
Eric Chavez 3B
Russell Martin C
Dewayne Wise LF

SP: RHP Phil Hughes