Better Bullpen? It Wasn't Today

Kerry Wood can save games only if the Indians get a lead to him in the final inning. The setup men in the bullpen didn't do their job Friday and Cleveland's $20.5 million closer never got into a 6-5 loss to the Yankees in New York. Of course, Wood hasn't had much work at all this season since the starting pitchers have pretty much put the Indians out of most every game in the early innings, too.

The Yankees hit five solo homers -- the final one by Derek Jeter in the eighth inning that broke a 5-5 tie.

Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano also hit solo home runs.

Three of them came off starter Anthony Reyes (5.73 ERA), who allowed five hits and three runs over five innings and left with a 5-3 lead.

But Zach Jackson (5.79 ERA) got only two outs in the sixth and yielded Cano's homer before being replaced by Joe Smith (2.45 ERA), who fanned the only man he faced.

Veteran Vinnie Chulk (4.50 ERA) gave up the lead in the seventh. He had nobody to blame but himself as he walked leadoff hitter Johnny Damon, then fielded, but threw away Mark Teixeira's comeback bouncer. Damon scored to make it 5-5.

Jensen Lewis (7.11 ERA) came on to start the eighth and struck out Hideki Matsui and Brett Gardner before Jeter hit a 3-1 pitch over the wall in right for a 6-5 lead.

Mark DeRosa (.205) gave the Indians a quick 1-0 lead. With one out in the first inning, he hit an 0-1 pitch from Joba Chamberlain the other way and over the right-field wall for his second homer.

Reyes gave up consecutive homers to Damon and Teixeira in the third to make it 2-1, but an RBI single by Ben Francisco (.182) in the fourth tied it.

Cabrera's homer in the bottom half put New York in front, 3-2, but the Indians chased Chamberlain with a three-run fifth.

Asdrubal Cabrera (.290) drew a four-pitch walk and went to second on a single by Grady Sizemore (.234). DeRosa singled home Cabrera and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by Victor Martinez (.378) scored Sizemore to put Cleveland in front, 4-3.

After Travis Hafner (.258) flied out, Ryan Garko (.273) doubled over Damon's head in left to score DeRosa to make it 5-3.

The Indians tried to rally in the ninth against Mariano Rivera. Francisco flied out to center, with Gardner making a running catch to snare the deep drive. Then Tony Graffanino (.188) and Cabrera each singled, putting runners on first and second.

Trevor Crowe ran for Graffanino, but Rivera came back to fan Sizemore and DeRosa.

DeRosa thought he checked his swing on a 3-2 pitch that he thought was high and outside. DeRosa argued -- naturally to no avail -- with plate umpire Phil Cuzzi as the Yankees celebrated their first win in their new stadium.

Graffanino played second base and Cabrera moved over to shortstop in place of Jhonny Peralta, who sat out with a hand injury. Peralta said he hurt it sliding into Yankees catcher Jorge Posada on Thursday, but hopes to play this weekend.