MLB

FOUR-HOUR DELAY HAS EFFECT ON PLAY

DETROIT – Last night’s Yankees-Tigers game at Comerica Park was delayed at the start by a ludicrous 4 hours and 1 minute thanks to very heavy rain.

And based on the sluggish way the first inning was played, the delay had an effect on the players’ performances.

Initially, the Yankees were told the rain would start between 6 and 7 p.m. but wouldn’t be a long-term deal. Nevertheless, Tigers starter Andrew Miller’s first pitch wasn’t thrown until 11:06.

By that time the Yankees knew the Red Sox had swept the White Sox in a doubleheader and the Mariners had toppled the Rangers.

Predictably, the opening frame was sloppy. Third baseman Brandon Inge couldn’t field Johnny Damon’s leadoff single and second baseman Placido Polanco committed his first throwing error since July 1, 2006 (147 games) to put runners at first and second without an out. After Derek Jeter forced Damon at third, Melky Cabrera was caught trying to steal third.

Roger Clemens struggled in the home half, giving up a leadoff double to Curtis Granderson and a two-out homer to Magglio Ordonez on a first-pitch hanging slider.

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Ron Villone‘s balky lower back paved the way for Brian Bruney‘s return from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre yesterday, but don’t expect Bruney to change the way he approaches hitters.

Sent to Triple-A Aug. 7 because of trouble throwing strikes – 30 walks in 421/3 innings – the hard-throwing right-hander isn’t about to re-invent himself.

“I am a reliever and I can’t put the ball on a tee because I would give up hits all day,” Bruney said. “I know the walks were high, but it’s not like I didn’t know how to throw strikes.”

In four games for SWB Bruney was 2-0 with a 6.00 ERA, issued two walks and fanned five.

As for Villone, he suffered the injury covering first base Tuesday night in the second inning on Casey Kotchman‘s grounder to first baseman Andy Phillips and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

“I jammed on the brakes a little hard,” said Villone, who hopes it doesn’t take longer than the 15 days to be ready. “I talked to Joe [Torre] Thursday and said it wasn’t getting better, that I have to rest it and take care of it.”

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Not wanting Tigers lefty Andrew Miller to put Bobby Abreu‘s swing in a funk, Torre started the right-handed hitting Shelley Duncan in right field last night.

“I like where he is,” Torre said of Abreu, who is riding a 12-for-28 (.429) hot streak. “This guy is a slinger and I don’t want one at-bat to mess him up.”

It was Duncan’s first start since Aug. 15 against Orioles lefty Erik Bedard.

Torre used Johnny Damon as the DH. That meant Jason Giambi, who like Damon hits left-handed, didn’t start for the second straight game and the fourth in five games.