June 15, 2009, New York Yankees-New York Mets sidebar for Metro (NY) Newspaper
Ace is low
Bombers pound Santana for nine early runs
MLB.
Unlike Johan Santana’s last start, there was no defiance, no anger and no proclamations dripping with machismo.
For Santana yesterday, there was nothing at all. The Yankees torched the Mets’ ace left-hander for a career-high nine earned runs in three-plus innings in a 15-0 rout to take the Subway Series.
“It was a bad day, one of the worst in my career,” Santana said. “It’s going to happen; it’s just a matter of time when it’s going to happen. There’s nothing you can do. [It] was a rough day.”
The fourth inning was the roughest part. Trailing 4-0, Santana walked leadoff hitter Nick Swisher and the next batter, Hideki Matsui, crushed his 10th homer of the season to make it 6-0. Derek Jeter’s RBI single pushed the lead to 7-0 and pushed Santana out of the game.
“I think, at least the last two outings, it just looks like he’s left some pitches up,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel, eluding to Santana’s last start, when he gave up five runs on four homers to the Phillies. “You leave pitches up and you [face] good hitting clubs, it’s going to cost you.”
Unlike that start against Philadelphia, where Santana shouted he wanted to stay in the game, he exited yesterday’s contest without a word.
His stats this month aren’t screaming, either. Santana has been roughed up for 24 hits (included six homers) and 17 runs in 16 innings. That’s a 9.56 ERA — he ended May at 1.77.
"I think I'm fine. You start the season with those numbers
and everybody expects you to (continue) that way," Santana said. "I'm trying, but it is not
easy. I'm trying to be consistent and that's about it."
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 2:28 PM
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