Andy Pettitte started this one and was roughed up early, allowing 3 earned runs in the first 2 innings. After a scoreless third, he allowed another run in the fourth.

The Yankees offense was silent through 5, picking up just 3 hits and not scoring a single run. In the sixth, Johnny Damon led off with a triple and Derek Jeter drove him home with a sacrifice fly. The Rangers answered back with a run in the bottom of the sixth and it was 5-1, Rangers.

After allowing back to back singles (and a run) in the sixth, Pettitte was removed and relieved by David Robertson. Robertson got out of the inning without allowing any runs, but did so in an odd fashion, which included an intentional walk, a regular walk and a wild pitch. He struck out the final two hitters of the inning, with the bases loaded.

The Yankees added another run in the top of the 7th, though that was a bit of a disappointment, considering the bases with loaded with one out. Melky popped out to make it two and then Johnny Damon walked, scoring Robinson Cano. Jeter lined out to end the threat.

Robertson got off to a great start in the bottom of the 7th, striking out the first two batters he faced (making it 4 strikeouts in a row), but then he walked Marlon Byrd. And then David Murphy singled, moving Byrd to third. Girardi opted to go with Bruney.

Bruney walked the first batter he faced to load the bases for Chris Davis who made him pay, big time, with a bases clearing double, making the score 8-2.

But, the Yankees got right back in the game in the top of the eighth as two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Richie Sexson who hit a grand slam, to bring the game back within reason at 8-6. Jose Veras kept it there, pitching a scoreless inning.

Eddie Guardado came in to face the Yankees in the 9th, with Jeter, Bobby Abreu and A-Rod due up. Jeter got it started with a walk. Abreu, representing the tying run, struck out. Finally, A-Rod grounded into a double play to end the game. Yankees lose, 8-6.

Tomorrow, the Yankees will face the Rangers again at 8:05 PM ET. Sidney Ponson (6-2, 4.23) pitches against Tommy Hunter (0-0, 10.80), making his second career start.

The AP reports that Joba will see celeb sports Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday. The Yankees will not be revealing anything until after they hear what he has to say.

The Yankees blew a golden opportunity on Monday night to gain ground on both the Rays and the Red Sox as they lost a tough one in Texas on a walk-off grand slam by Marlon Byrd. A win by the Yanks would have moved them to within a game and a half of Boston and 4.5 of Tampa Bay.

The loss was compounded by an injury to Joba Chamberlain, who left the game early with a "stiff shoulder." Joba left the game with the Yankees trailing 5-4 in the fifth and Joe Girardi said he'll probably miss at least one start in the rotation. Hopefully it wasn't anything more than being cramped up in the 105 degree Texas heat.

The Yankees tied the game at 5 in the 8th on a solo shot by the red-hot Xavier Nady. The Yankees had a shot to take the lead with Johnny Damon on 2nd with two outs in the 9th, and Derek Jeter hit a line drive that at first looked like it might find the gap in left centerfield, but Josh Hamilton made a diving catch to keep the game tied at 5 apiece.

Joe Girardi brought Damaso Marte out for the 9th after he had gotten out of a runner on 3rd, one out jam in the 8th, as Mariano Rivera was again unavailable due to back spasms. Marte just didn't have it in the 9th, however, as he walked three batters and then the first pitch he delivered to Marlon Byrd was tattooed over the centerfield wall for a game winning grand salami.

I would say it's a devastating loss, but the beauty of it is that the team gets a chance to redeem itself only 24 hours later. Andy Pettitte will take the mound tonight and will face Matt Harrison. Harrison has an E.R.A. of 7.40 and has allowed 31 hits and 14 walks in just 24^1/3 innings, which means the Yanks will probably score two runs or less off of him. Game starts at 8:05 ET.

Peter Abraham reports that Joba Chamberlain left last night's game with a stiff shoulder. He'll have an MRI in New York today to determine the severity of the injury. He'll miss at least one turn in the rotation.

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports that Darrell Rasner will now work out of the bullpen as Dan Giese has been named to the rotation. Giese has a 1.35 ERA since July 1.

Yesterday, after a jog, Mo reported that he felt nothing and that his back is no longer hurting him. The Yankees held him out of last night's game, opting to give him the day off.

Michael S. Schmidt of The New York Times reports:


What the MLB is looking into is if they paid players only a portion of their supposed bonus and then kept the rest of it. The employees that we put on leave are all located in the Dominican Republic.

Via the AP.

Peter Abraham reports that Jason Giambi has shaved his Mustache off, after his recent struggles at the plate. But, wait, there's more.

He cites anonymous sources, which we have learned to be Chuck Norris and Chuck Norris' Fist. Norris, in a jealous rage, snuck up on Jason Giambi's Mustache last night, while It was sleeping - and shaved It off. Witnesses report screams and fierce battle between Norris and the 'Stache, after It noticed that It was being murdered, with only three hairs remaining. The three hairs almost defeated Norris, but he managed a sucker punch and finished them with one fail swoop.

Norris' jealousy stems from the fact that the Mustache's toughness had overshadowed his own. Giambi has vowed to dedicate the remainder of this season to his Mustache.

The Blog World & New Media Expo is an upcoming conference, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, covering everything to do with, well, blogging and new media. This includes communities, forums, podcasting, video blogging, technology, journalism, monetization, entrepreneurship, management and more, discussing varying levels of experience.

It's scheduled for September 20 and 21 with the extra Executive and Entrepreneur (E&E) conference being held on September 19. I will be there for all 3 days. It would be cool to meet some other Yankees bloggers, if any are going.

This will be my first time there. It looks like an awesome conference that will be attended by loads of cool people. I will be on a panel called "Avoiding Disaster: How Not to Use Social Media", along with Lee LeFever (Principal, Common Craft), Jason Falls (Social Media Explorer, Doe-Anderson and Blogger, SocialMediaExplorer.com) and Darren Rowse (Owner, ProBlogger.net; Co-Founder, Sixfigureblogging.com; Co-Founder and VP Training, b5media and Co-Author, "ProBlogger: The Book"), who is tentative. It should be a lot of fun.

If you are interested or involved in any of these fields and can afford to come, I'd definitely recommend checking it out. Through August 22, I have a 20% off coupon code that you can use while signing up. This code is FROGVIP and it is good for the "Exhibits Only," "Exhibits Only + Opening Party," "Full Access" and "E&E Conference" packages. The full access pass is currently $300, so the 20% off ticket would take it down to $240. The E&E pass is $750, making it $600 with the coupon.

If you are able to attend, definitely let me know so that we can meet, if you'd like. And, of course, I invite you to come to my panel, as well!

From Lisa Kennelly of The Star-Ledger reports that Mariano is day to day, thanks to back spasms.

"I don't think it's anything major," Rivera told Kennelly. "I don't think it's nothing I need to be concerned or worried about."