The tug of war for .500 goes on.

The Yankees dropped their first game of the second half on Friday night to the Devil Rays 6-4 in St. Petersburg.  Roger Clemens was off, Scott Kazmir looked overpowering at times and the D-Rays made some terrific defensive plays (for a change) as the Yanks dropped a game under .500 for the 200th time this season. 

The Good:

Jorge Posada.  The Yankees reached out to Posada (and Mariano Rivera) regarding a contract extension on Friday, but Jorgie told the team to take a hike.  Can't say I didn't see this coming.  Posada is in the middle of a career year and he continued his hot hitting on Friday night.  His solo homer in the eighth pulled the Yanks to within 6-3.  The Yankee catcher was the only player to record multiple hits for the Bombers.  He finished 2 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and 1 RBI.

Hideki Matsui.  Matsui followed Posada with a tater of his own in the eighth inning.  It was the second straight night that the Yanks went back-to-back (and a belly to belly).  Godzilla cut the lead to 6-4, but the Bombers would get no closer.  Matsui finished 1 for 4 with a run scored, his 12th homer and his 54th ribbie.

Phil Hughes.  No, Hughes didn't pitch for the Yanks, but the 21-year-old phenom made a rehab start for the Double A Trenton Thunder on Friday night and was impressive: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 43 pitches.  Let's hope Hughes stays healthy and is able to rejoin the big club quickly.

The Bad:

Roger Clemens.  The Rocket was fighting himself the whole game.  His control was off and he put the Yanks in an early hole.  Clemens turned back the hands of time in his last two starts, but he looked old on Friday night.  At least that's what it looks like when he pitches poorly.  Clemens dropped to 2-4 with this: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 WP.

Scott Proctor.  Proctor has pitched well since setting his equipment ablaze at the end of the first half, but he was back to his old ways on Friday.  The Yanks cut the Tampa lead to 5-2 in the seventh, but Proctor gave the run right back.  True, he inherited a runner on second with one out thanks to Mike Myers, but Proctor's job is to diffuse rallies.  The Yanks probably wouldn't have come back in this game, but Proctor let the wind of their sails by allowing the D-Rays to regain a four run lead.  Proctor's totals: .2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 inherited run scored.

The Ugly:

Racist!  Former Yank Gary Sheffield came out swinging against his former manager Joe Torre in an interview for HBO's "Real Sports" which will air on Tuesday night.  Sheffield stated that he was treated differently than white players in the Yankee locker room.  He also stated that Derek Jeter "ain't all the way black."  The quotes are hand picked from the entire interview so maybe they are taken out of context, but Sheffield has a knack for saying dumb things.  He also discusses steroids and his relationship with Barry Bonds.  It's always a party with Gary.

Chien-Ming Wang will try and get the Yanks back on the winning track on Saturday and opposes Tampa righty Andy Sonnanstine.  Sonnanstine is 1-3 on the year with a 5.36 ERA.  His only win came way back on June 10 against the Marlins.  Wang is gunning for win number 10 and will attempt to get the Yanks back to .500 on the season.

The struggle for a winning mark continues.