New York Yankees Turn Tables on Arizona Diamondbacks in 9-3 Win

Dan Haren nearly matched Andy Pettitte for seven innings, but once again, it was the Arizona Diamondbacks' bullpen that let it get out of hand. 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...

By Jay Bennett

June 23, 2010

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Dan Haren nearly matched Andy Pettitte for seven innings, but once again, it was the Arizona Diamondbacks' bullpen that let it get out of hand.

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.

It almost seems impossible to give up five runs on 12 pitches, but here's how it happened:

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.

Was it Haren's last home start in a Diamondbacks uniform? Several trade rumors around baseball have Haren being pursued by teams such as the Los Angeles Angels, the Minnesota Twins, and even the Los Angeles Dodgers. The D-Backs obviously would want two or more highly regarded prospects in return for Haren, who is consistently one of the best pitchers in baseball.

The three-game series with the Yankees wraps up tonight at 6:40 at Chase Field. The scheduled starting pitchers are Javier Vazquez (6-6, 5.01) for the Yanks and Dontrelle Willis (2-2, 4.78) for the D-Backs. TV: Fox Sports Arizona. Radio: KTAR 620 AM. More info: www.dbacks.com.

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