Swisher takes blame for bad bunt
Photo credit: Getty Images | The Yankees' Nick Swisher walks back to the dugout after popping out on a bunt attempt in the ninth inning of the Yanks' 10-9 loss to Texas.
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What had the makings of an inspired ninth-inning comeback fell just short last night and Nick Swisher shouldered the bulk of the blame for the Yankees' 10-9 loss.
Heading into the ninth inning trailing by five runs, the Yankees rallied for four runs before the Rangers had the chance to record an out. With runners at first and second, Swisher popped up a bunt to third baseman Michael Young in foul territory.
The game ended four pitches later, as Melky Cabrera lined into an unassisted double play to end the game.
Had it not been for his failed bunt attempt, Swisher said, the game could've been much more interesting.
"I would've loved to see what would've happened if I put that bunt down," an agitated Swisher said. "I knew what I had to do and I just didn't get it done."
After the game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he had confidence in Swisher's ability to lay one down in such a crucial situation - he's had three successful sacrifice bunts this season.
"We were trying to get the tying run to third base," Girardi said. "Nick's been a good bunter for us. Unfortunately, he popped it up."
Before Swisher popped out, the Yankees' offense surged to pull within a run of the Rangers. Johnny Damon led off with a single, and Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez worked walks to load the bases. The Yankees then got three consecutive base hits. Hideki Matsui drove in the first run on a line single to right, and both Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano singled.
Just as quickly as the Yankees' spurt began, however, it was thwarted by the double play, with shortstop Elvis Andrus just barely beating Jerry Hairston Jr. to the bag at second. "I don't know, it was pretty close," Hairston said. "It was a bang-bang play. It could've gone either way."
While the game also could've swung easily for either team, the five-run deficit put the Yankees in a difficult, but not insurmountable, hole.
"We had a chance. We put ourselves in a position [to win]," Derek Jeter said. "It's tough to score five runs in an inning, but we had our chances."
