The Yankees lost 6–5 to the Marlins tonight, as they suffered from some sketchy defense late and a 9th inning rally fell just short. Perhaps more concerning, though, was that CC Sabathia was pulled in the 2nd inning with tightness in his biceps.

Sabathia retired just four batters before he was yanked from this one, giving up a run on three hits and allowing one walk in his inning and a third before he left the game with what he called tightness in his biceps. Peter Abraham reports that Sabathia was told he had tendinitis in the biceps, but also that Sabathia himself hopes to make his next start.

Alfredo "Ahh! Save Us!" came in and delivered yet another nice outing out of the pen, striking out two and allowing just one hit in 2 and 2/3 scorless innings. The bulk of the damage came against Brett Tomko, Phil Coke and David Robertson (but mostly Tomko), as they allowed a combined 4 earned runs over the final 4 innings of the game.

A critical moment in the game came in the bottom of the 7th, when a single by Jorge Cantu that should have only brought in one run brought in two after a throw home from Melky Cabrera got away from Jorge Posada allowed Hanley Ramirez to score to put the Marlins up 6–3. The error became significant because the Yankees got back two runs in the 9th, but a ground out to short by Derek Jeter ended the Yankees' rally and sealed the rubber game of this series for the Marlins.

Peter Abraham also reported that the final two innings of the game were played under protest by the Yankees after it was determined that an illegal substitution was made in the top of the 8th. Marlins outfielder Alejandro De Aza was brought into the game in the bottom of the 7th as a pinch hitter, but was not sent into the outfield to replace Chris Coghlan until a pitch had already been thrown in the inning, making De Aza ineligible (Colghan, the Yankees claim, should not have taken the field to begin the inning, as he'd already been replaced in the lineup).

Fortunately for the Yanks, they will not be in action tomorrow, so the bullpen will get a much needed day off after 7 and 1/3 innings of work this evening. They'll be back at it in Atlanta on Tuesday night as Chien-Ming Wang will get the start against Tommy Hanson and the Braves. Game starts at 7:00 ET.

Recap records: Patrick: 19–10, Seamus: 15–14, Andrew: 4–7