Yankees blow 9th inning lead to Rangers after 3.5 hour rain delay

In a Yankees season full of disappointing defeats, Monday night’s crushing loss to the Rangers might go down as the worst — if not the longest.

With New York leading 6-5 and a Texas runner on first base following a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth inning, the game entered into a three-hour, 35-minute rain delay, beginning at 10:40 p.m. with play resuming at 2:15 a.m. before finally ending Tuesday morning at 2:45 a.m..

After the early morning locker room wake-up call, Kirby Yates entered the game to pitch for the Yankees and couldn't get his second career save, allowing a two-run single to Adrian Beltre and an RBI single to Elvis Andrus as the Rangers went on to stun the home team, 9-6.

At 2:25 am ET, the #Rangers take a 7-6 lead on Adrian Beltre's 2-RBI singe. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/04ysiAiplP

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) June 28, 2016

Joe Girardi — who successfully lobbied for a rain (which never came) delay to suspend the game 20 minutes at the start — got the tarp on the field once again after the leadoff walk (which the Yankees manager later denied) in the ninth.

The choice to delay the game belonged solely to crew chief, first-base umpire Paul Nauert, not Girardi or Rangers manager Jeff Banister. Being that the game had lasted longer than five innings, it was reasonable that Nauert could have called the game then, but he elected not to, leading to the extended delay later in the ninth.

Prior to that, when the rain did come in the 5th inning, umpires decided to let the teams play through the soggy conditions. Rangers fielders had trouble fielding some balls, slipped a couple of times and overall had a tough time with the slick grass, but the game pressed on until the ninth.

Before the stoppage, the Yankees broke out offensively with 15 hits. Mark Teixeira provided the big blast, smacking the Yanks' first non-single of the day, a home run to lead off the seventh inning that extended the Yankees' lead to 6-4. But it was the Yankees bullpen which let them down.

Happily for the Rangers, their 50th win of the season was worth the wait.

As for the Yankees, they might be glad to know the stands were empty and TVs off by the time they blew the game. 

If the Yankees-Rangers game resumes and no one sees it, does it still count? https://t.co/Ampxyn60Zz pic.twitter.com/PN4Qc75tZA

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) June 28, 2016

Maybe if Girardi didn't call for that bogus pre-game suspension things might have ended differently for the Yankees — well, at least a whole lot earlier.

Minor league team plans to honor Miss Colombia with "Runner-Up Night'

In honor of Steve Harvey's colossal Miss Universe Pageant flub Sunday night, the Frisco RoughRiders, a Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, announced plans to salute plenty of other all-time great second-place finishers with “Runner-Up Night” at Dr Pepper Ballpark this spring.

Seeing a silver lining inside the universally ridiculed mishap, the RoughRiders are planning to promote an evening celebrating Miss Colombia and all other fantastic second-place finishers the world has known on April 26.

Mark your calendars: April 26 we honor #MissUniverse2015 flub w/ "Runner-Up Night" Details ➡ https://t.co/0kNxD9Ej3S pic.twitter.com/AtW2ZgzMlj

— Frisco RoughRiders (@RidersBaseball) December 21, 2015

“Although it may appear that Miss Colombia has lost, she really has won,” said RoughRiders Executive Vice President and General Manager Jason Dambach. “In a world in which everyone competes to be first, we have decided to honor how special a second-place finish can be. It’s something to be proud of and celebrated.”

Although most of the hoopla surrounding the legendary goof will probably be a memory by baseball season, the Riders have extended an invitation to other famous second-placers including both Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, members of the Buffalo Bills during their four-year stretch of runner-up finishes in the Super Bowl (1991-1994) to attend the event. 

The team will celebrate other second-place finishers including Brittney Spears and Christina Aguilera (runner-up on Star Search); Adam Lambert and Clay Aiken(American Idol); Carrie Underwood and Michelle Obama (High School salutatorians); Al Gore and Mitt Romney (2000 and 2012 presidential elections); and Cowboys running back Darren McFadden (two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up).

Like all Riders home games, fans will have the chance to participate in on-field games, but on Runner-Up Night, prizes will be awarded to the second-place, not first-place, finishers. Other in-game promotions include a seat upgrade to the "Second-best seat in the house."

The club also plans to host an in-park beauty pageant throughout the game. Any fan that can prove a second-place finish in a beauty contest or pageant at any level will receive a free ticket to the game between the RoughRiders and the San Antonio Missions.

Just remember to check the spelling on the invites.

After trailing 5-0, Yankees score 21 unanswered runs to beat Rangers

Chris Capuano was awful Tuesday night. The Yankees starter issuied five walks in the first inning that resulted in the Texas Rangers scoring five quick runs, but thanks to a slew of even more awful Texas Rangers pitchers, it didn’t matter.

And Capuano's fail only set up what was to be an astonishing 21-5 Yankees win at Globe Life Park. A weird game that included an 11-run inning, position players pitching and a Triple-A call-up throwing 5 1/3 hitless and scoreless innings for his first big league win.

The Yankees' bats weren't the only things that were hot during the bizarre game. The lop-sided victory was witnessed by a crowd of 28,403 that withered like the Rangers — thanks to a game-time temperature of 98 degrees.

“I don’t know if I have ever been part of that,’’ manager Joe Girardi said after his barnstorming club won for the 13th time in 16 games and remained seven games ahead of the second-place Orioles in the AL East. “Give up five in the first, don’t give up a hit and score 21 runs.’’

From 11-run innings to infielders pitching, the @Yankees and @Rangers played one of 2015’s weirdest games: http://t.co/bbMNakz2Q8

— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 29, 2015

And while Yankees hitters were having their way, pitcher Diego Moreno was just a hair less than perfect after the hole his team dug. Moreno — a Yankees pitcher promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier Tuesday and part of the 2012 A.J. Burnett deal with the Pirates — worked 5 ¹/₃ hitless and scoreless innings for his first big league win in three games.

“I am happy about the opportunity and to be part of the win,’’ said Moreno, who walked Shin-Soo Choo with two outs in the third. It was the only base runner the Rangers had after the first inning.

The 11 runs in the second inning were the most by the Yankees in an inning since July 30, 2011 against Baltimore. The 21 runs are the most by the Yankees since a 22-9 win over the Athletics on Aug. 25, 2011.

Chris Young led the season-high 19-hit attack with a third-inning grand slam and an RBI double in the sixth. Brett Gardner added a two-run homer in the ninth off infielder Adam Rosales, who was on the mound, and Didi Gregorius contributed a career-high four hits and had a three-run triple in the second.

The only Yankees starter to not get a hit was Mark Teixeira who went 0-for-3.

Furious Mark Teixeira blasts third base coach for giving him green light (VIDEO)

Mark Teixeira was so angry with third-base coach Joe Espada telling him to ease up while attempting to score from second base in the eighth inning of Monday night's game against the Rangers, he threw equipment and a garbage can around in the Yankees dugout.

“He said, ‘Easy, easy’ ’’ twice,’’ said the irate Teixeira, who was thrown out at the plate by center fielder Leonys Martin for the final out of the inning after fielding Chase Headley’s single. 

“That can’t happen. I can get hurt not expecting a play at the plate. That’s a big run. There are a lot of reasons that can’t happen. I love Joe Espada, he apologized and it’s over but it was a big mistake.’’

Espada, who is in the first year replacing Rob Thomson as the third base coach, took full responsibility for the play that luckily didn’t get the Yankees slugger injured.

“It was my call. I told him to take it easy. I wasn’t expecting the throw,’’ Espada said. “It was my fault. I try to take care of their legs. There was two outs and he got a good jump. I thought he would score easily.’’

And when Headley saw Teixeira get thrown out he also slammed his helmet to the ground between first and second.

“It was frustrating, I got caught in the moment,’’ said Headley, who had three hits. “It was miscommunication and I reacted. In 162 games it happens, no big deal.’’

Don't mess with Tex.

Oakland A’s Brett Lawrie strikes out four times on just 12 pitches (VIDEO)

The Texas Rangers pitchers made short order of Brett Lawrie's plate appearances Tuesday night. Really short.

The Oakland A's third baseman had a night he'd probably rather forget after striking out four times on just 12 pitches. That's right — 12 pitches. Meaning four times he strolled to the plate and each time he headed back to the dugout after three straight pitches.

And it seemed only fitting that he fanned for the final out on what had to be a long night.

"One of those games," Lawrie said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "I felt I went in there with a good approach, I just didn't attack early and they ened up getting ahead offspeed early. So just one of those days."

The embarrassing Oh-fer dropped his batting average to .125. Lawrie, a career .264 hitter, was traded to the A's in the offseason after four seasons with the Blue Jays.

The good thing? Still 160 games to go. The bad? Still 160 games to go.

Angels celebrate Mike Trout's big night with a rosin bag beaning (VIDEO)

Angels outfielder Mike Trout had himself a pretty good night on Saturday against the Rangers. The MVP candidate went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run home run and a triple.

So how did Trout's teammates honor their teammate? No post-game Gatorade shower or shaving cream pie for this group. Nope. They just hit him in the back of the head with a rosin bag during an interview:

Speaking of heads, Trout even touched Adrian Beltre's noggin without the Rangers third baseman blowing his top:

Trout's Jersey Guy seems to be rubbing off on the rest of his West Coast teammates — who are a pretty loose group of players as they head into the playoffs.

Miss Texas may have thrown the worst first pitch of all time (VIDEO)

One sure thing we found out about beauty queen Monique Evans before Friday's Angels-Rangers game — throwing baseballs isn't in the Miss Texas 2014's repertoire of talent.

While the pageant winner's form looked pretty good from this angle, it seems like the ball was just a little bit outside.

I'm sure she'll do better in the bathing suit competition.

Arencibia lands nutshot to Astros mascot from on-deck circle (VIDEO)

Most major leaguers know about the Houston Astros mascot's penchant for distracting opposing batters warming up before stepping up to the plate, but J.P. Arencibia wasn't having any of it Saturday night.

While Orbit loomed behind the on-deck circle, the Rangers first baseman decided to take matters into his own hands, so to speak, by using his bat to poke the annoying alien in his green fuzzies.

Orbit had the last laugh though — albeit in soprano — when Arencibia's tainted lumber whiffed for a strike three.

If you won't wear any pants Orbit, at least put on a cup.

Yu Darvish shows off zany batting swings during rain delay (VIDEO)

There was a lot of down time at Yankee Stadium during Wednesday night's extended rain delay after the grounds crew had a hard time covering the infield during a downpour and left the basepaths a little soggy.

Rangers starter Yu Darvish took the extra time to show his teammates some exaggerated batting swings to keep things light during the nearly two-hour wait.

I'm not sure if he is mimicking some of the Yankees' previous at-bats or getting ready to take some cuts as the DH, but his imaginary rips are pretty funny.

The Yankees slogged away with a 2-1victory in the rain-shortened game because the stadium grounds crew had such a difficult time pulling a weighted down tarp across the diamond during the deluge.

That was pretty comical too.

Shane Greene adds a few more 'E's to his name (VIDEO)

Shane Greene apparently needs to work on his underarm toss.

Greene had a really rough night on the field during the Yankees' 4-2 loss to the Texas Rangers Monday night after contributing three errors to his 5.2 inning pitching line.

As you can see from this clip below, the Yankee rookie's second 'E' would probably get him benched from your company picnic's Cornhole team:

Things would only get worse after Greene became the first pitcher since 1988 to record three errors in a game but, to his credit or luck, none of those three errors led to a run for the Rangers.

Carlos Pena's first home run of season lands in tray of brisket (VIDEO)

First home runs of the season usually taste pretty good but Carlos Pena's first dinger of the year had a little bit of mouthwatering Texas flavor to boot.

Pena, called up June 24 after bouncing around MLB for 14 years, celebrated his return to the Rangers by smacking an enormous home run in Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

And if he longed for his old Lone Star State cooking, it showed. The ball went over the right field fence and directly into a tray of BBQ beef brisket.

And this tasty Texas tale doesn't stop there. The guy who got the ball gave it to a cute girl who he had just met five minutes earlier.

That's love — Texas barbecue style.

Indians' Lonnie Chisenhall has unbelievable night at the plate (VIDEO)

Lonnie Chisenhall enjoyed a monster game against the Rangers Monday night, going 5-for-5 with three home runs and nine RBI as part of a 17-7 victory. The Indians third baseman had an RBI single in the first inning, two-run homers in the second and fourth innings, an RBI double in the sixth, and a three-run blast in the eighth.

That's a whole week of offense for the entire Yankees team these days.

Chisenhall matched the Indians record with his nine RBI, which was also done by Chris James on May 4, 1991. The 25-year-old is just the fourth player since 1920 (when MLB began tracking RBI) to get five hits, three home runs, and nine RBI in one game and the first since Fred Lynn did it with the Red Sox on June 18, 1975. Going even further, Chisenhall is the first player since 1920 to do it while going a perfect 5-for-5.

Here's Chisenhall launching his third home run of the game to right field, a three-run shot to give the Indians a double-digit lead:

Luis Sardinas flips his bat and walks to first ... while the count is still 3-2 (VIDEO)

During Wednesday night's game against the Twins, Rangers rookie Luis Sardinas flipped his bat and proudly took his first Major League walk:

But there was a little problem — although Minnesota pitcher Kyle Gibson had in fact thrown a ball — Sardinas forgot the count and it was only 3-2:

On the next pitch, Sardinas flew out to left field, forcing him to take an even longer walk back to the dugout where the rest of the Rangers had a good laugh before showing the 21-year-old a little love.

Yu Darvish freezes Torii Hunter with surprise eephus pitch (VIDEO)

During Thursday's game between the Rangers and Tigers, Yu Darvish got creative with an 0-2 count and two outs against Torii Hunter. The Rangers pitcher didn't get strike three with the whimsical eephus pitch, but it forced Hunter's head to spin.

Darvish's low-speed, 55 mph-junk throw came at the right time — a seven-run lead and no one on base — to have a little fun. And even if the seventh-inning pitch didn't pack any heat or make Hunter swing, it still got his brain to freeze.

Smooth little kid charms group of lady fans with foul ball switcheroo (VIDEO)

A quick thinking little kid with Clooney-sized charm — who was handed a game ball at Globe Life Park at Arlington during the Rangers-Blue Jays game on Saturday night — already knows how to impress the ladies.

Too bad what must have seemed like the most charming gesture to a group of pretty older women sitting behind the young guy — after he takes the prized souvenir he got from Jays third-base coach Luis Rivera and gallantly hands it over to them — turned out to be a Penn and Teller sleight of hand.

  

Unbeknown to the women and just about everyone else, the smooth kid already had another baseball in his hand when Rivera gave him the game ball and the pint-sized David Copperfield (he was married Claudia Schiffer) actually handed the thrilled ladies the decoy in  a brilliant switcheroo.

They don't notice the slight of hand, though, because the little magician never took the gamer out of his glove.

The girls think they have a real souvenir, kid keeps the game ball and everyone's a winner.

That's called outfoxing the foxes and it'll help him navigate the world of dating one day.

Justin Smoak's incredible 9th-inning snag saves game for Mariners (VIDEO)

Infield catches don't come any better — or timelier — than Justin Smoak's incredible diving 9th-inning play Friday night.

The Mariners first baseman — playing well off the bag with the bases loaded — goes airborne to snag Adian Beltre's screaming liner and then step on first base to turn a unassisted, game-ending double play and save a 6-5 lead against the Rangers.

I guess you could say Beltre got Smoaked on the play.

ESPN TV ad foreshadowed the Kinsler-Fielder trade three years ago (VIDEO)

Call it a strange episode of life imitating art imitating life — or something like that.

Prince Fielder and Ian Kinsler were swapped in a blockbuster deal between the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers on Wednesday night. The trade seemed to take many by surprise, but if conspiracy buffs were paying attention to their Sunday Night Baseball ads back in 2010, they probably think this spot had something to do with the deal.

Coincidence? Premonition? Weird.

Josh Donaldson makes unbelievable catch between tarp and a hard wall (VIDEO)

Some are already calling it the best catch of the 2013 MLB season.

And, after seeing the incredible grab pulled off by Oakland Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson in the top of the sixth inning of Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers, you might have to agree.

With one out and a runner at first, Rangers left fielder David Murphy lifted a high pop fly that drifted toward the third base seats. Donaldson wasn't about to let the stands—or the tarp laying in his path—stop him from chasing down the ball and making the catch

Donaldson makes the incredible play in foul territory, disappearing behind the tarp and in front of the left field wall.

Amazing concentration by Donaldson.

Ian Kinsler's unbelievable hidden ball inside-the-park home run

It's a lesson every kid learns day one in Little League — the play isn't over until the umpire makes a call. Chicago White Sox leftfielder Dayan Viciedo finally learned that lesson to his dismay.

A ground ball down the left-field line eluded Vicedo and got lost behind the wall allowing Ian Kinsler to round the bases for a bizarre inside-the-park homer.

While logic says Kinsler should have been held up at second or even third for stadium interference, the umpire never ruled the play dead. So the Texas Ranger scored standing up.

Back flipping cheerleader throws out first pitch at Rangers game

Rangers Ballpark was invaded by 200 cheerleaders who took over a section of the stadium Wednesday night and rah-rahed for the hometown Rangers in a game against the Brewers.

And all that perky spirit didn't go to waste as Texas went on to a 5-4 victory.

Prior to the game, one of the limber ladies threw out the ceremonial first pitch while doing a back flip — something she seems to love doing and showing off.

Check this out!



Let's go Rangers!