Props to Cox Cable for not blowing it today.

The Yanks are in KC today, looking to improve their record to 5-3 against former Met Brian Bannister. Hughsie is making his second start today and I don't think there's one of us fans that doesn't get giddy with excitement when it's time to see our cherished young'uns take the mound!

Jeter is out today because of the strained groin he sustained yesterday (DAMN YOU PAVANO I KNOW THIS IS SOMEHOW YOUR FAULT), but don't fret - Girardi has not made any indication that Jeet is heading to DL-ville.

Lineup:
Damon LF
Cano 2B
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Giambi 1B
Betemit SS
Cabrera CF

See you in an hour when Extra Innings finally switches to game coverage!

3:55pm EDT: Tigers are losing... again.

4:00pm EDT: Yikes, the weather looks pretty nasty in KC. Chilly, cloudy, drizzly... but the game shall go on, they say.

4:03pm EDT: No YES coverage, obviously. We'll be listening to the smooth sounds of Ryan Lefebre and Paul Splittorff instead of Kay and the Gang.

PLAY BALL!

Top First:

The Yanks are up to bat for the first time thus far this season. Let's jump on top early, boys! And get your mind out of the gutter; I know you're all thinking of some dirty sexual innuendo.

Or is that just me?

Damon is leading off, as usual.

Bannister had a stellar first outing, going seven innings without giving up a run or a walk (and only 2 hits!), but he walks Damon on five pitches.

Are they BOOING him? Already? WTF? Who are they, Red Sox fans?

Strange to see Cano in the #2 spot. He still needs to heat up -- let's start that trend today, OK Robby?

BB recovers from the walk and gets Cano to go after a low one and there's one away.

Por favor, don't waste a leadoff walk, Abreu.

The announcers just said that over the winter Girardi called some of the players and told them to get in better shape for the season. Smart move - I'm willing to bet Torre never did that.

Ug... Abreuuuu grounds into a DP and the inning is over.

Let's go Hughsie!

Bottom First:
Gathright, Grudzicantspellhisname and Teahan will be first up to face Hughes.

JG bloops one into center for a base hit and the Royals start their game with one on.

Gruzaasoiuwrejlksdf's name barely fits on his jersey. When Mientkicantspellhisname was on the team as well the letter-sewing people had quite the job to do.

Pitch out and Gath steals -- bad throw by Posada but Cano doesn't let it get away. No more DP situation.

Gruz hits a grounder to Better Mint, who holds Gath - who was running - to third and throws G out at first. One down now for Teahan and a runner on third.

HUGHES! Simmer down. Teahan knocks one into center for an RBI dub. Still just one out.

Guillen starts off with a quick 3-0 count but Hughes prevails: He pops out to the Mint and there's two down.

PS: It looks VERY windy out there.

There we go! Hughes bounces back and gets his first strikeout of the day to Butler.

Top Second:
PS: Detroit losing 4-0 in the sixth. How is it even possible for a team that good to fail so badly?!

A-Rod goes down looking to start the inning. Banny is looking sharp. Posada and Cano really need to get out of the slumps this afternoon and give the Yanks an edge here.

I'm not happy with this strike zone, kiddos. It seems pro-Royal.

Hideo Nomo is on the Royals? He's still alive?

Matsui fouls off several (get that pitch count up for Ban) before sending one down the first base line. Unfortunately, Ross Gload dives and robs Matsui of what would likely be an extra base hit.

Two away for Jorgie.

There's that bat, Jorgie! Base hit into right field.

Goddamn Giambi is off to a slow start. .083 thus far. How bout a 2-run homer here?

Or a walk - that'll do! Best eye in baseball.

Two on, two out for The Mint.

MINTY! RBI double. Posada goes as fast as he can (which isn't very fast) and beats Guillen's throw from right field by about .00009 seconds.

1-1 game.

It's Melky's turn now -- two runners in scoring position.

Rally it up, boys! Melky walks on four pitches and the bases are loaded for Damon.

Banny works Damon to a 3-2 count but ends up serving up an RBI walk and the Yanks have the lead!

Cano steps up with the bases loaded, two outs.

His bat is still cold as ice. Strike three and Banny is out of it with minimal damage.

Bottom Second:
Gordon hits a base hit to Abreu, but he KICKS the ball and AG gets to second on the error.

Watching a player make an error is EXTREMELY frustrating.

Gload grounds out to Cano - a hit that should have been a double play had ABoo-Boo not made that stupid error.

Runner on third with one out for catcher Buck.

Buck flies out to Melkster, but it's deep enough to get AG in from home. Tied up again!

Bases clear and two outs now for Pena Jr.

This strike-zone is DEFINITELY Royal-biased. TPJ makes his daddy - who is on the Yanks bench - proud and works himself a walk.

ANOTHER failed throw-out attempt. TPJ safe as Better Mint fumbles Jorgie's good throw.

Two outs with TPJ in scoring position for Gathwright.

Did Hughes change his number this season? I thought he was #65 last year.

HUGHES! I said SIMMER. He hits JG on his calf and now there's two on.

FOCUS BOY FOCUS! Gruzlkjjsdfauioewkjl takes four straight balls to walk the bases full for Teahan.

Hughes: Calm down.

Can we please get out of this inning? I'm starving and need a commercial break to procure some food.

30-pitch inning already for Hughsie... Let's blame the cold weather.

Finally! Hughes strikes out Teahan to end the inning.

Answer back, Yanks.

Top Third:

Abreu makes up for that error with a base hit. COME ON YANKS, don't waste this one.

COME ON BLUE! This strike-zone is ridiculous.

A-Rod down looking again.

Here we go... Matso singles up the middle and now there are men on first and second for Posada and just one out.

Posada flies out to center, but Abreu tags up to head to third. Runners on the corners and two outs now for Giambi.

Failure. Ground out to second and we're off to the bottom of the inning.

Bottom Third:
Hughes is already up to 56 pitches, by the way.

Zoinks.

He gets an easy first out, at least, as Guillen flies out to Melky on the second pitch.

Butler fouls off a few but sends one sailing up the middle for a base hit. Alex Gordan is up next with a man on first.

Double play time, boys.

AG grounds out but sadly not into a DP. Butler to second and into scoring position for Gload.

Another walk? Hughes! I thought I told you to calm down.

Two on, two out for Buckster.

Walk #4 for Hughes. He's looking wild. Eiland to the mound for a pep talk.

NICE CATCH MELK! Pena sends one into center, but Melky puts it away to save the inning for Hughes.

It was rough out there on the mound this time around, but they came out of it without letting any runs in, so I suppose its ok.

Game tied 2-2.

Top Fourth:
Bannister still doesn't look as good as he did in the first inning but he gets Better Mint on strikes.

Melky pops up to catcher Buck and there are quickly two away. It's up to Damon now to keep the inning alive!

"Some people are worried about the rain. Other people just like to dress up in a yellow garbage bag" --Lefebre in the booth. SWEEET.

Good work, Dame! A 2-out single up the middle. Now let's see if Cano can NOT FUCK IT UP.

Sidnote: Tigers are now 0-7. Panic time?

FAILURE CANO. Ground out, inning over. Score still tied.

Bottom Fourth:
Update: Hughes up to 79 pitches. How many will he throw? He needs to keep it quick this inning.

Another leadoff single! Gathright hits one into left field and the Royals have one aboard.

On the plus side, it didn't take many pitches!

Ha.

WHAT IN TARNATION?! Deja vu... Gathright steals second, Posada throws well, and Betemit fucks it up and loses the ball.

This Gathright character is a stolen base fiend. He's on third now.

Grudzy lines one into right field for an RBI single. Score now 3-2 Royals. No outs.

This could be a long day...

Hughsie is out.

Sidenote: I updated my baseball glossary with the "Small Ball" definition yesterday.

Ross Ohlendork, who's had a good season so far in 3 previous appearances, is in to take over and hopefully salvage at least the inning. Grudz on first, no one out, and Teahan at the plate.

Nice work, Dork! He gets Teahan to ground into the classic 4-6-3 double play and Guillen will now come up with two outs and empty bases.

Strike three! O'Dork gets Guillen and the inning is over.

Isn't it insane to think that our bullpen is actually... dare I say... GOOD? this year? Could it be?

Except for Farnsworthless, obv. No faith in him. Ever.

Top Fifth:
Let's make sure Hughsie doesn't get himself a loss, OK boys? Thank you.

BriBan is up to 84 pitches.

Abreu makes the first out of the inning by grounding out to Gload. NEXT.

A-Rod has gone down on strikes twice already... easy does it this time...

Make that three. This one looking.

Imagine me sitting here with a little tear running down my cheek.

1-2-3 for Banny as Matso Ball pops out.

Get it together, offense. You should not be having this much trouble scoring one goddamn run.

Bottom Fifth:
O'Dork is back - he only tossed 8 pitches last inning.

OK come on. ANOTHER leadoff single? Can we please get things under control here?

Butler on first.

Another hit? A dub for Gordan. Two dudes in scoring position with no outs for Gload the Toad.

I wonder if Joba's dad is in the stadium today? I remember him showing up to the Yanks-Royals game last year because it was close enough to his home to go by car rather than by plane. Since we're on FSN and not YES, though, they might not mention it if he is there.

The Toad sends a double into centerfield, scoring both Butler and Gordan easily. 5-2 Royals.

Oh yeah, still no outs.

Look, an out! I've heard of those before.

Buck pops out to Posada. One away.

Pena down on strikes and The Dork is one out away from getting out of the jam he got himself into...

Gathright grounds out to Better Mint and the inning is finally over, but the Yanks are now down by three.

Onward to the sixth! Let's get something going, Yanks!

Top Sixth:
BB is out of the game after pitching 97 over five innings. Ron Mahay, a lefty, is in to face the Yanks.

Jorgie pops out to Grudziouwjlasfdljk. That is NOT a rally starter.

Giambi draws his second walk of the day and the Yanks finally have a chance to get someone home.

Two outs. Minty down on strikes.

Dear Melky,
Please get an extra-base hit and knock Giambi in.
Love,
Yankees Chick

Hey, an infield single! We'll take it!

Two on, two out for Damon.

Dear Damon,
I do not appreciate that fly-out.
Angrily yours,
Yankees Chick.

Bottom Sixth:
The announcers just announced their space heater as "player of the game"

Grudzy fouls one almost into the stands, but Abreu runs after it and makes a nice grab for a quick out.

What is this, batting practice? Another dub for Teahan. One out, runner in scoring position now for Guillen.

The Dork gets Guillen to strike out. Two outs.

Billy Butler grounds out to The Mint to end the inning.

The Yanks have 9 outs left to score three runs. That SHOULDN'T be a problem with this lineup, but apparently it is...

Top Seventh:
Cano REALLY needs to get a hit here. I am sick of these early-season slumps already.

Hey, look! See that, Cano? THAT'S what I've been talking about.

(Base hit for Cano)

Abreu down on strikes. One away.

Mahay is heading out and righty Ramon Ramirez is coming in to face A-Rod.

Dear A-Rod,
If you strike out again, I will punch the wall.
Love,
Yankees Chick

The Yanks have given up 10 hits.

What's worse, they've hit 7 themselves and only have 2 runs to show for it.

Dear A-Rod,
Congratulations on your Golden Sombrero.
I must go punch some walls now.
Painfully yours,
Yankees Chick

Three outs as Matsui flies out to Gordon.

Bottom Seventh:
Gordan is up first, and he'll face Billy Traber.

BT gets Gordan to strike out and there's one away. Can we please have a 1-2-3 inning? Is that too much to ask?

Yes, it is too much to ask. Gload singles to left.

Jose Molina is in to catch, by the way.

Gload steels second, and this one is all Traber's fault. He threw to Giambi in a pick-off attempt, but threw the ball so slowly that by the time Giambi got the ball he had no chance to get it down to second.

There we go! Molina makes up for it by throwing out Gload at third. These Royals are running on everything and finally we got one of them.

Two outs!

Strikeout #2 for Traber - Bucky is done.

Six outs left to score three (preferably more) runs. GET IT TOGETHER.

Top Eighth:
Nunez is in to pitch, Ramirez out.

The Yanks have stranded NINE BASERUNNERS! FAIL.

Molina pops out to Grudzoiusdaljk; and we're down to five outs.

Giambi down looking?? I trust Giambi's eye over an ump's. If he doesn't swing, it's not a strike.

Minty Fresh strikes out too. GRUMBLE.

3 up, 3 down for Nunez.

Bottom Eighth:
LT Hawkins is in. Perhaps he won't BLOW IT this time.

Pena Jr gives him easy out by grounding to short.

Everyone is very bundled up, so I'm going to blame this whole debacle on the cold weather. Y'all with me?

Hawkins strikes out Gathwright on a couple nasty pitches, and actually has a shot at a 1-2-3 inning.

Hope I didn't jinx that.

Sorry.

Gruzasfdlkjweroiu gets himself another base hit.

LTH walks Teahan and there are now runners on first and second with two outs for Guillen.

I hate it when announcers say that a player is "due" for a hit. Does that make a difference? Come on now.

He was "due" but did not deliver: ground-out back to LTH.

Last chance for the Yanks coming up!

Top Ninth:
Soria has come in to try to close the game out.

How about... score some runs?

One away as Melky pops out to Teahan in left. Two chances left.

WOWZA Web Gem... Guillen makes a running grab to rob Damon of a base hit and put his team just one out away from a win.

Cano down, and the Royals are now 5-2 to start the season.

Who would have thought, one week ago, that the Tigers would be 0-7 and the Royals would start off with a 5-2 record?!

Glad this game is finally over. This gets old real fast when our team is losing!!

See you tomorrow night with more live bloggin!