Yankees 4, Reds 0

The Race for the Rotation just got a little more interesting.

Homer Bailey went 2 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, in the loss to the Yankees. He walked three, struck out three and hit a batter. He was opposite of pitch-efficient: He threw 59 pitches and didn't even get through the third.

Edinson Volquez started his night by striking out Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui around a hit by Jorge Posada. Volquez went four innings, allowing two run on five hits. He walked none and struck out eight. He threw 54 pitches in four innings.

"Homer threw the ball good," Dusty Baker said. "He just got out of sync at the end. Volquez was throwing great. I like his attitude. He doesn't want to give up anything. He's not one of those six-innings, three-runs-or-less quality start guys. He gets upset when he gives up anything."

Bailey was good in the first. He gave up hits to Derek Jeter and and Rodriguez singled. But he got Giambi for the third out, thanks to a very nice by shortstop Paul Janish.

Bailey struck out Posada to start the second on what appeared to be a screwball. Bailey said it was a change. He ran up his pitch count from there -- walk to Matsui, strikeout, walk to Nick Green, walk to Damon, lineout by Jeter. 32 pitches in the inning.

New York starter Joba Chamberlain wasn't much more pitch efficient than Bailey. He was done after 2 1/3 and 49 pitches.

It got away from Bailey in the third. He walked Bobby Abreu to start the inning, then gave up an RBI double to ARod and a single to Giambi. He struck out Posado again. But Matsui singled in a second run. After Bailey hit Green, he was done. Gary Majewski got a double play to prevent further damage.