Park dominates Yankees and Wright goes to the DL

[RLA68]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250423110

NEW YORK (AP) -- Chan Ho Park looked as if his back problems were behind him. Jaret Wright's shoulder trouble is starting all over again.

Park pitched impressively into the seventh inning, while pain forced the oft-injured Wright to walk off the mound Saturday during the Texas Rangers' 10-2 victory over the Yankees.

Less than a month into his first season in New York, Wright is headed to the disabled list for the eighth time in his career, general manager Brian Cashman said.

"Pitchers are very fragile," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Park and Wright are even more delicate than most.

Park has been on the disabled list six times. Wright has had two operations on his right shoulder.

"After what I've been through, it's not where I want to be," Wright said.

Texas roughed up Wright and five relievers for 19 hits. Mark Teixeira hit a pair of two-run homers and David Dellucci and Kevin Mench also connected. Laynce Nix tied a career high with four of the Rangers' 19 hits.

"I think everybody had some good at-bats at some time," Texas manager Buck Showalter said.

The Yankees dropped to 7-11 for their worst start since 1997, the last year they did not win the AL East.

Park (2-1) missed three months last season because of a back injury. He looked more than fine against the Yankees, holding them to three hits in 6 2/3 innings and working around five walks.

"I was happy with the win, but I threw too many pitches," Park said. "I had 10 3-2 counts. That's not too good."

Wright (2-2), lured from Atlanta as a free agent by a $21 million, three-year contract, started the day with a 10.05 ERA and again struggled. He tied career highs by allowing three home runs and 11 hits and was trailing 6-1 with one out in the sixth when more serious trouble struck.

After he threw a pitch to Hank Blalock, Wright crouched down on the mound, bringing Torre and a trainer from the dugout. There was a brief discussion, and Wright left because of the pain.

"I kind of felt it in the second inning and it gradually got worse," he said. "It got pretty bad in the sixth."

Wright spent time on the disabled list every year from 1999-2002.

"It kind of felt like '01," said Wright, who was on the DL twice that season.

Aware of Wright's history, the Yankees wanted to protect their investment in him.

Wright's contract provides for $7 million each season. But if he goes on the DL because of a shoulder injury for a combined 75 days or more in the first two years, the Yankees can opt out of the deal for 2007 and pay a $4 million buyout.

Cashman said Triple-A prospect Chien-Ming Wang will probably start next Saturday against Toronto. In the meantime, reliever Colter Bean will likely be promoted from Columbus.

Dellucci hit a solo homer in the second inning, and the Rangers broke it open in the third.

Michael Young had an RBI single with two outs for a 2-0 lead, Teixeira followed with a home run and Wright then bobbled Dellucci's tapper for an error. With the crowd of 44,731 booing him, Wright served up a homer to Mench. It took only five pitches for those four batters to do their damage.

Nix hit an RBI single and another run scored when right fielder Gary Sheffield dropped Alfonso Soriano's liner in the seventh for an error. Teixeira hit his fifth homer of the season in the eighth.

[RockSports17]

Great, now even Yankees are playing horrible against a horrible pitcher.

[RLA68]

Like I said, where the heck is the offense against a sub par pitcher no less. How did our big money players do?

Every night there should be at least 2 or 3 guys that get it done. They have that much talent. I wish I had that much confidence in our starters.

No big loss with Jaret Wrong going to the DL.

[RockSports17]

Maybe the injury has been hurting Wright. Hopefully he'll come back, rested and pitching better.

[RLA68]

At least we can release him early according to his contract. 75 combined days for this year and next on the DL then we can do a buyout.

[RockSports17]

I heard about that. I don't think he'll get 75. If he comes back and pitches well, and then he goes back onto the DL for some reason. I don't think the Yankees will buy him out. But if he keeps it up, Yanks will probably get rid of him.

[RLA68]

I would hope they get rid of him if continues to stink it up. Brown also needs to go and go now.

[RockSports17]

I haven't really liked Brown because of his attitude. I wouldn't miss him at all if he were to leave.

[RLA68]

I was severely disappointed that he was still here on April 3rd. I understand that we could not find any takers but he is almost like a cancer. He has a bad attitude and stinks it up on the mound. I argued with some NY friends that he was our #5 man.

Funny, I have not heard from them lately. Even I am wrong and Wright is the #5 guy...Brown is pitching like a #5(AAA guy).

[RockSports17]

Ya. He's not that great of a pitcher anymore. None of our pitchers have really been outstanding. RJ has pitched ok at times. Not sure about Pavano and Mussina, but I've really haven't heard much problems with them.

[RLA68]

Moose really has never evolved to the guy that we signed. It was a no brainer that he would win 20 and become the ace of this rotation. He should be okay as the #3 guy if Pavano keeps it up and becomes the #2 behind the Big Unit.

Our biggest problem then is the #4 and #5 spots. Both disasters.