The Yankees' pitching staff got knocked around last night as the Red Sox teed off on Randy Johnson, Aaron Small and Tanyon Sturtze en route to a 14-3 victory over the Yankees. The Big Unit was pretty ineffective, giving up 7 runs (only 2 earned, however) and walking five batters in only 3 and 2/3. Aaron Small accounted for 4 runs allowed and Sturtze for the other 3 in the 9th inning. The loss puts the Yankees a game back of the Red Sox for first in the A.L. East.

The only positives for the Yanks last night were Giambi launching his 11th home run of the season and Melky Cabrera going 2-3 with an RBI single in his 2006 Yankees debut. I've got nothing but love for Tanyon Sturtze and Aaron Small, and I've wanted to defend them from the people who say that Torre plays the loyalty cards too much or just uses them too much, but they certainly didn't make it easy for me last night. I guess my best argument for now would be something like "Hey, well wouldn't it be nice to have guys like this around who can eat up meaningless innings?" Still though, I'd give Small a chance as he's just come back from injury and he hasn't gotten enough reps in yet to make that judgement about him (extended spring training doesn't cut it).

Tonight's matchup should hopefully feature better pitching (at least on our side) as Mike Mussina will take the mound against Curt Schilling in a battle of 5-1 pitchers.