After great starts in Detroit and Citi Field and getting a relief win against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, I was looking forward to this start for Javier Vazquez.  I had a lot of faith that he would work forward to excelling in pinstripes.  Unfortunately, this was not the case last night in Minnesota.

Javy (3-5) pitched 5.2 innings, allowed 8 hits and gave up 5 runs (all earned; one a HR), allowed 3 walks and only struck out 2.  Watching him pitch was a lot worse than looking at these numbers.  Even Francisco Cervelli seemed a little frustrated behind the plate when Vazquez was constantly missing his targets.

The star player for the Twins last night was Jason Kubel.  Kubel blasted a solo HR and a three run HR and had an RBI double driving in five runs altogether.  This ended a long skid for Kubel.  “It just hasn’t been consistent,” said Kubel.  ”Hopefully I can keep this feeling.”

Nick Blackburn pitched 7 innings, allowed 9 hits but only 2 runs.

On the Yankees side, the bats are still having trouble driving in runs with RISP leaving 13 base runners stranded.  Mark Teixeira is very slowly getting out of a slump going 2 for 4 last night.  Though his bat may be up and down, his defense never changes.  Teixeira made some incredible plays at first base including a line drive and a double play that kept Minnesota from scoring many more runs.

Alex Rodriguez is still struggling at the plate as of late.  He went 1 for 4 last night, getting that one hit in his last AB of the game.  He left four base runners stranded on the night.  Robinson Cano had the best night at the plate going 2-4 driving both of the Yankees runs.

Since coming off the DL, Chan Ho Park has struggled.  He pitched just a third of an inning and allowed two hits and two runs.  Damaso Marte came in and got the job done by getting the next out.  Chad Gaudin came into the game after making his first appearance in pinstripes since the 2009 postseason.  He pitched very well giving up just one unfortunate mistake which was the three run homerun to Kubel.  Other than the homerun he struck out 3 in 1.2 innings.

Despite the loss, the Yankees look to move forward by coming home to face the Cleveland Indians in a four game set.  Curtis Granderson is expected to be back today in the opening game of the series which is good news for the Yankees and the fans.  Phil Hughes is pitching tonight looking for his sixth win of the season.

The New York Yankee take the field tonight trying to recover from an abysmal weekend performance against there cross town rivals the New York Mets. The starting pitching as of late has been a big problem for the Yankees. AJ Burnett tonight’s starter was knocked around his last time out by the Tampa Rays. He managed to pitch 6 and 2/3 innings giving up 6 runs while walking 4 and striking out 4.  Before that outing AJ faced this vary twins team managing 6.2 innings but only giving up 3 runs (2 earned) while walking 4 and striking out 4.  Offensively the Yankees have not struggled to score runs despite injuries to Curtis Granderson, Jorge Posada, and Nick Johnson. Tonight Juan Miranda, Francisco Cervelli,  and Kevin Russo try to continue there hot hitting as replacements for the above mentioned injured Yankees. The Yankees have been slipping in the standing the past 2 weeks now stand 5.5 games behind the AL East leading Rays but more pressing is the Blue Jays only a half game behind them and the Red Sox who are only 1.5 games behind. The Yankees are 10-11 in the month of May and have not been able to keep pace with the  Rays who are not showing no signs of slowing down.

(26-18)	NY Yankees 26-18 (Road: 13-12) 8:10pm ET Minnesota 26-18 (Home: 14-7) TV: WWOR, FSNO	(26-18)