Chien-Ming Wang Is Still Wrong, Yankees Lose Again

BRAVES 4

YANKEES 0

Chien-Ming Wang must be the most frustrated man on the planet. In April, Wang was 0-4 with a ERA of 34.00. In May, Wang spent most of his time rehabilitating his game in the minors, was rushed back to the majors, and subsequently was compelled to come out of the bullpen in blowout games.

Ever since the Yankees have put Wang back in the rotation, they have shown little confidence in him. Tonight, Wang had one bad inning, a three run third that did him in hot Atlanta, bringing the cold starter and former ace to a lonely 0-6 record.

In the third, Wang struck out Tom Hanson and Nate McCloth with both of them looking at called strike three. Then, the bottom fell out. Yunel Escobar singled to left, stole second and advanced to third on a Jorge Posada throwing error.

Chipper Jones walked, and Brian McCann doubled to left center to drive home Escobar, making it 1-0 Braves. Garrett Anderson, who made a career of killing Yankee pitching while with the Anaheim Angles, doubled to right center to drive in Jones and McCann to give Atlanta a 3-0 lead.

Wang pitched in only two more innings having been removed after the fifth for Phil Hughes. Wang's final line: six innings of six hit ball, allowing three runs, while striking out four. He wasn't terrible, but he didn't do enough to win the game.

It didn't help matters that Hanson shut down the Yankee offense. Hanson was a little wild walking five in five and a third innings but found ways to work around each jam. The Yankees left 16 men on base, 10 in scoring position. Hanson is now 3-0 on the season for Atlanta. Box Score.

Wang deserves another shot to start, and he may have a very good chance to get that elusive first win of the year when he goes up against the depleted New York Mets on Sunday.