"They beat the Rangers. Sidney Ponson pitched well. Derek Jeter showed signs of escaping a slump. Mariano Rivera proved his back was OK, and the relievers in front of him were effective.
Yet, there was a thick cloud smothering the Yankees' 5-3 win last night in front of 38,638 at Rangers Ballpark.
Hours before halting a two-game losing streak, the Yankees learned Joba Chamberlain, their best pitcher, was put on the disabled list with rotator cuff tendinitis.
Two innings into the tilt, they watched David Murphy run into Ivan Rodriguez at the plate and leave the recently-acquired catcher on his back with a right knee injury.
Though Pudge only suffered a bruised knee, nobody can predict when Chamberlain will return.
So, the back end of the Yankees' rotation working this weekend against the Angels in Anaheim will be Ian Kennedy tomorrow night and Dan Giese on Saturday - unless the Yankees have interest in Cleveland's Paul Byrd, who has cleared waivers.
"I knew it was going to happen," Rodriguez said of taking a big hit from Murphy, who arrived at the plate behind Bobby Abreu's throw from right field after he fielded Ian Kinsler's single. Murphy, who suffered knee ligament damage and left the game two innings later, was trying to score from second. "I blocked (the plate) and waited for the impact. He hit me pretty good. I have had a lot of plays at the plate but never got my knee."
Rodriguez limped to the dugout and was worried when he couldn't get off the bench to hit in the third.
"I thought something was wrong when I couldn't stand up off the bench," said Rodriguez, whose block of the plate denied the Rangers from extending their lead to 3-0.
Joe Girardi said Rodriguez could play tonight, however, since Jose Molina (2-for-4 filling in last night) has evolved into the personal catcher for tonight's starter, Mike Mussina, Rodriguez will sit.
After giving up a two-run single to Chris Davis in the second, Ponson surrendered one more run - on a homer by Michael Young. "
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Yanks Win As Losses Mount
Yanks Win As Losses Mount
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