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Hughes Impresses As Yanks Rout Tigers
Now that was fun to watch.
Phil Hughes was dynamite in his first start of the year, Nick Swisher belted a homer and scored three runs and Jose Molina crushed a grand slam as the Yanks spanked the Tigers 11-0 in Motown. Hideki Matsui smacked a triple and drove in a run and Robinson Cano extended his hitting streak to 15 games with yet another multi-hit effort. Mark Melancon, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras each contributed with a scoreless inning to help the Yankees stop their losing streak at four.
Believe it or not, this contest was a taut pitcher's duel through six innings. Tigers starter Edwin Jackson scattered four hits through six scoreless innings, but the Yanks erupted for 10 runs in the seventh off of Ryan Perry, Nate Robertson and Brandon Lyon to turn it into a laugher.
And with the victory, the guys in pinstripes moved back to .500 on the season.
The Good:
Phil Hughes. I guess that 3-0 record and 1.86 ERA in Triple-A wasn't just window dressing. Hughes had everything working for him Tuesday night against the Tigers. The young right-hander had Detroit guessing with his fastball, curve and cutter. He worked quickly, was economical and reminded me a lot of Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte with the way he attacked batters. Hughes also displayed some confidence in the sixth inning when he shook off Molina with a 3-2 count on Carlos Guillen. The two held a quick conference on the mound and Hughes came in with a fastball that Guillen popped to shallow left for the final out of the inning. Hughes picked up his first victory since 2007 with this gem: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K. Way to go, kid.
Jose Molina. There's no question that Molina is one of the best defensive catchers in the Majors, but the big guy proved that he also carries a big stick. At least on this night. Molina stepped up to the plate in the seventh with the bases juiced and drilled the first pitch he saw deep to left to put the exclamation point on a 10-run inning. Molina also contributed a sacrifice bunt earlier in the inning that advanced runners to second and third with one out. The guy can do it all. Molina finished 1 for 4 with a run scored and 4 RBI.
Nick Swisher. The People's Champ has cooled a bit since his red-hot start and has been wiffing a lot lately (8 K's in his last 18 at bats). But he got the Yankee offense going when he led off the seventh with a base hit and came around to score the first run of the ballgame on Jorge Posada's pinch-hit sacrifice fly/error. Swisher also clouted his fifth tater of the season in the ninth to cap the scoring. A Swisher Sweet! Swisher finished 2 for 3 with 3 runs scored, 2 walks and a run batted in.
The Bad:
Mark Teixeira. Oh, there always seems to be one player who doesn't contribute during an offensive explosion. Teixeira was that guy Tuesday night. The first baseman was the only Yankee starter who failed to pick up a base hit. Well, that's not exactly true. Ramiro Pena also put up a goose egg, but he was pulled for a pinch hitter after two plate appearances. Tex had five chances to contribute and managed only one walk. Teixeira is a notorious slow starter and he's proving that once again as his average dipped to .206 after Tuesday night. Hang in there, Mark. Teixeira finished 0 for 4 with a walk.
The Ugly:
Cost cutters. It takes a big person to admit when they are wrong and the Yankees are doing just that. The Bombers announced they are slashing ticket prices and even giving away some tickets in lieu of the tough economy. Here's the scoop from The Wall Street Journal: The Yankees cut season-ticket prices on some of their premium seats by as much as 50% -- to $1,250 from $2,500 for some seats and to $650 from $1,000 on others. Customers who purchased such season tickets will receive their choice of a refund or a credit. There are also complimentary-ticket provisions for fans who bought season tickets at $1,250, $850, $600, $500, and $325 per game. It's great that the Yanks are doing this, but you know times are tough when sports teams start looking out for the fans.
Joba Chamberlain (0-0, 3.94 ERA) will try and give the Yanks the rubber game Wednesday night. The Tigers will counter with Rick Porcello (1-2, 4.50 ERA). Chamberlain pitched a gutty 5 1/3 innings in his last start Friday night against the Boston Red Sox, allowing two runs on nine hits, and was helped tremendously by inducing four double plays. Still, it was an uneven performance as he walked four and struck out just two on 91 pitches. This will be Joba's first career start against the Tigers. He's made four appearances against Detroit, allowing one hit over four innings with five strikeouts. Porcello dropped his last start against the Kansas City Royals, allowing five runs (four earned) over six innings in a 6-1 loss. The big right-hander is having trouble keeping the ball in the park thus far -- he's allowed five home runs in 18 innings this season. This will be the 20-year-old's first appearance against the Yanks. And it says here Porcello is a Jersey kid. He was born in Morristown, N.J. -- a stone's throw from where I live now. Way to make it to the show.
But don't expect the Yanks to take it easy on you.
Phil Hughes was dynamite in his first start of the year, Nick Swisher belted a homer and scored three runs and Jose Molina crushed a grand slam as the Yanks spanked the Tigers 11-0 in Motown. Hideki Matsui smacked a triple and drove in a run and Robinson Cano extended his hitting streak to 15 games with yet another multi-hit effort. Mark Melancon, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras each contributed with a scoreless inning to help the Yankees stop their losing streak at four.
Believe it or not, this contest was a taut pitcher's duel through six innings. Tigers starter Edwin Jackson scattered four hits through six scoreless innings, but the Yanks erupted for 10 runs in the seventh off of Ryan Perry, Nate Robertson and Brandon Lyon to turn it into a laugher.
And with the victory, the guys in pinstripes moved back to .500 on the season.The Good:
Phil Hughes. I guess that 3-0 record and 1.86 ERA in Triple-A wasn't just window dressing. Hughes had everything working for him Tuesday night against the Tigers. The young right-hander had Detroit guessing with his fastball, curve and cutter. He worked quickly, was economical and reminded me a lot of Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte with the way he attacked batters. Hughes also displayed some confidence in the sixth inning when he shook off Molina with a 3-2 count on Carlos Guillen. The two held a quick conference on the mound and Hughes came in with a fastball that Guillen popped to shallow left for the final out of the inning. Hughes picked up his first victory since 2007 with this gem: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K. Way to go, kid.
Jose Molina. There's no question that Molina is one of the best defensive catchers in the Majors, but the big guy proved that he also carries a big stick. At least on this night. Molina stepped up to the plate in the seventh with the bases juiced and drilled the first pitch he saw deep to left to put the exclamation point on a 10-run inning. Molina also contributed a sacrifice bunt earlier in the inning that advanced runners to second and third with one out. The guy can do it all. Molina finished 1 for 4 with a run scored and 4 RBI.
Nick Swisher. The People's Champ has cooled a bit since his red-hot start and has been wiffing a lot lately (8 K's in his last 18 at bats). But he got the Yankee offense going when he led off the seventh with a base hit and came around to score the first run of the ballgame on Jorge Posada's pinch-hit sacrifice fly/error. Swisher also clouted his fifth tater of the season in the ninth to cap the scoring. A Swisher Sweet! Swisher finished 2 for 3 with 3 runs scored, 2 walks and a run batted in.
The Bad:
Mark Teixeira. Oh, there always seems to be one player who doesn't contribute during an offensive explosion. Teixeira was that guy Tuesday night. The first baseman was the only Yankee starter who failed to pick up a base hit. Well, that's not exactly true. Ramiro Pena also put up a goose egg, but he was pulled for a pinch hitter after two plate appearances. Tex had five chances to contribute and managed only one walk. Teixeira is a notorious slow starter and he's proving that once again as his average dipped to .206 after Tuesday night. Hang in there, Mark. Teixeira finished 0 for 4 with a walk.
The Ugly:
Cost cutters. It takes a big person to admit when they are wrong and the Yankees are doing just that. The Bombers announced they are slashing ticket prices and even giving away some tickets in lieu of the tough economy. Here's the scoop from The Wall Street Journal: The Yankees cut season-ticket prices on some of their premium seats by as much as 50% -- to $1,250 from $2,500 for some seats and to $650 from $1,000 on others. Customers who purchased such season tickets will receive their choice of a refund or a credit. There are also complimentary-ticket provisions for fans who bought season tickets at $1,250, $850, $600, $500, and $325 per game. It's great that the Yanks are doing this, but you know times are tough when sports teams start looking out for the fans.
Joba Chamberlain (0-0, 3.94 ERA) will try and give the Yanks the rubber game Wednesday night. The Tigers will counter with Rick Porcello (1-2, 4.50 ERA). Chamberlain pitched a gutty 5 1/3 innings in his last start Friday night against the Boston Red Sox, allowing two runs on nine hits, and was helped tremendously by inducing four double plays. Still, it was an uneven performance as he walked four and struck out just two on 91 pitches. This will be Joba's first career start against the Tigers. He's made four appearances against Detroit, allowing one hit over four innings with five strikeouts. Porcello dropped his last start against the Kansas City Royals, allowing five runs (four earned) over six innings in a 6-1 loss. The big right-hander is having trouble keeping the ball in the park thus far -- he's allowed five home runs in 18 innings this season. This will be the 20-year-old's first appearance against the Yanks. And it says here Porcello is a Jersey kid. He was born in Morristown, N.J. -- a stone's throw from where I live now. Way to make it to the show.
But don't expect the Yanks to take it easy on you.
Just put Hughes in as the fifth starter and put Joba in the pen already! I know Wang being out makes it difficult but how long do they expect to go with this bullpen?
Patience, Phil. Patience! Things could work themselves out if Joba struggles and Wang turns back into Wang. There's a lotta more left!
Brian, how about another Johnny Damon broken bat counter? I think the man broke like 2 or 3 bats last night alone! He must be up to 15 or so on the season already.
Good call! What say you, Mr. Brian?
I thought about it, but we need something new this year.
HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHES
And how is cutting ticket prices ugly? Bout time they got over themselves.
Sometimes I struggle to put things in there. I've boxed myself in! The "ugly" is the state of the economy is forcing sports teams to cut prices. I know -- it's a reach.
what do u mean u heard he is from nj?? porcello played on our summer baseball team u idiot.. he was throwing 90 when he was 16 , you cant be that far removed from the good ole days can u ? btw yanks 4 gane slide cost me 4 tickets in legends seating
I'm guessing you're calling Brian an idiot. I don't know Porcello, but I'm sure I could have taken him deep.