With the New York Yankees leading just 3-2 after seven innings, Esmerling Vasquez entered the game to relieve Haren, but Vasquez gave up five runs on just 12 pitches and never recorded an out. Game all but over.
The Yanks wound up with a 9-3 win, a day after the D-Backs hammered New York 10-4.
Derek Jeter hit Vazquez's first pitch for an infield single. On his third pitch, Nick Swisher doubled. On his sixth pitch, Mark Teixeira singled home Jeter. On his 10th pitch, Alex Rodriguez was walked to load the bases. On his 12th pitch, Robinson Cano singled home Swisher. Then, the equally terrible reliever Chad Qualls came in for Vasquez, but Qualls eventually allowed Teixeira, Rodriguez, and Cano to score. Vasquez's earned-run average now stands at 6.00, and Qualls' is 8.87. Ouch.
Haren, meanwhile, did it all for the D-Backs. After giving up a first-inning two-run homer to Rodriguez (the 592nd of his career, 17 behind Sammy Sosa for sixth on the all-time list), he settled down and pitched a solid game, going seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits. He struck out eight Yankees and walked only one. He also drove in the D-Backs only two runs with a bases-loaded single in the second inning. Haren now has a six-game hitting streak and is batting an amazing .452 on the season.