I guess Seattle is going to put up a fight after all.

Roger Clemens wasn't sharp, Ichiro Suzuki picked up three hits and tied an AL record by collecting 200 hits in seven consecutive seasons and the M's pitching staff put the Yankee bats to sleep in a 7-1 victory on a Labor Day in the Bronx.  The victory snapped the Mariners nine-game losing streak and cut the Yankee lead in the wild card to one game.

I'll be honest with you Yankee fans, I didn't watch most of this game.  I caught the first four innings or so and then stuffed my face with burgers and dogs.  I did tape the game and was going to watch the rest of it when I got home, but I'm too tired and disgusted with this team right now.  Therefore, my roundup will be brief.

Alex Rodriguez.  So far, it looks like A-Rod is going to break the one month on, one month off cycle he's been working on this season.  Rodriguez picked up two more hits and drove in the only Yankee run on Monday afternoon.  The Yankee third baseman is now batting .455 in September.  Nice start.  A-Rod finished 2 for 4 with a stolen base and an RBI.

The Bad:

Roger Clemens.  Clemens made the start despite a barking elbow and blisters on his feet.  You gotta give The Rocket an "A" for effort, but his performance wasn't up to snuff.  He labored through most of this game and was gone by the fifth inning.  Clemens also had an MRI on his elbow after the loss.  Hopefully, it's nothing a few days off won't help.  At least the Yanks still have The Moose to fill in for him.  Right?  Clemens fell to 6-6 with this: 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR.

The Ugly:

Tough break.  Turns out Andy Phillips fractured a bone in his right wrist on Sunday afternoon.  He's scheduled to have season-ending surgery on Tuesday.  It's been a rough year for the 29-year-old Phillips.  His mom was in a serious auto accident during spring training.  That caused him to miss some time and consequently cost him a spot on the team when they headed up north.  Phillips eventually made his way back to the big club and for a time was the Yankees regular first baseman.  But the acquisition of Wilson Betemit and return of Jason Giambi began to eat away at Andy's playing time.  Now this.  Still, Phillips finishes the 2007 season with respectable numbers -- .292, 2 HR, 25 RBI in 185 at-bats.  Hang in there, Andy.

The Yanks have now dropped three of four since sweeping the Red Sox.  Chien-Ming Wang will try and break the Yankee funk on Tuesday night.  The Mariners will counter with Horacio Ramirez.  Ramirez is 8-4, but has a chunky 6.55 ERA on the season.  He shut the Yanks down in May (6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R), but he's only made it past the sixth inning once in his last eight starts.  Wang is riding a personal three-game winning streak and gave up only one hit in his last start against the BoSox.

Time for The Wanger to become the new Yankee stopper.