Homer-happy Yankees have 13 in 2 games
NEW YORK -- If Alex Rodriguez wasn't mired in a slump, the Yankees would really be pounding lumps on the White Sox.
For the second straight game, New York used the home run ball to bury the Sox, this time by an 8-1 decision Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
A night after tying their franchise record with 8 home runs, the Yankees hit 5 more, 3 off Sox starter John Danks.
"Bad pitching and good hitting,'' said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "If you make any mistakes with them, you will pay, and we've been paying pretty good.''
Rodriguez, who is still 1 home run away from No. 500 for his career, went 0-for-4. The star third baseman was 0-for-5 Tuesday, and he's 0-for-20 since hitting his 499th homer at Kansas City on July 25.
How bad has this series been for the White Sox, who were slugged 16-3 Tuesday?
After knuckleballer Charlie Haeger allowed a home run to Jorge Posada leading off the eighth inning, he hit Robinson Cano with the flutter pitch and was ejected by home-plate umpire Tom Hallion.
"I really don't know what to say,'' said Haeger, who was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte after the game to make room for Mike MacDougal. "One got away and it hit him. That's a terrible call. Horrible.''
Guillen, who was ejected Tuesday by Phil Cuzzi, is at his wit's end with the umpiring crew.
"I've never seen anybody try to make a point with a knuckleball, in 100 years,'' Guillen said. "You can't win. You're a baseball employee. You're a baseball (bleep), at least I am.''
Guillen sprinted out of the dugout after Haeger was tossed, and he had a question for Hallion.
"I asked, 'Did I ever do something bad to you guys? If I did, let me apologize,'Ȧ'' Guillen said.
Remember me? Darin Erstad is back on the White Sox' 25-man roster after spending much of the past two months on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle.
Erstad wasn't in the starting lineup Wednesday. And with the Sox out of contention, the 33-year-old center fielder is likely looking at a utility role over the final two months of the season.
"That's fine,'' Erstad said. "Jerry (Owens) is at a point in his career where he needs to play in the big leagues. I was in that same situation and he needs to play. He's a great guy and he does everything the right way. I couldn't be happier for him.''
Considering he's been on the disabled list seven times in the last five seasons, Erstad is not expected to return next season. He has a $3.5 million club option for 2008, but the Sox are likely to opt for the $250,000 buyout.
"Next year is so far off the radar,'' Erstad said. "I'm just trying to have these two months here and just stay healthy for two months and prove I'm healthy going into the off-season.''
Yankees 8, White Sox 1
On the mound: John Danks took the loss after pitching 4 innings and allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 6 hits (3 home runs). Charlie Haeger gave up a homer to Jorge Posada and was ejected after hitting Robinson Cano with a knuckleball.
At the plate: Scott Podsednik put the Sox in front 1-0 with an RBI triple in the first inning. The Yankees' Alex Rodriguez was 0-for-4.
-- Scot Gregor