PHILthy. Yanks end Skid
Well step one in Uncle Sal’s hope to save the season worked like a charm as Phil Hughes got his first victory since Sept 27,2007. Hughes was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and called on to jump into the rotation while Chien-Ming Wang tries to work his way back from hip injury rehab in Tampa. Hughes gave up two hits over six scoreless innings. He spotted his curveball and used his cutter to strike out six, while walking two.
His big test came in the fourth inning, when he loaded the bases but came out of it unscathed. With one out Hughes got inside a little to much and hit Miggy Cabrera, Carlos Guillen singled to left, a force play for the second out and a walk to Inge put Tigers on every base. Using his 2-seamer Hughes got Josh Anderson to ground weakly to second base for the final out and his only real jam of the night.
“He was great,” Molina said. “He put the ball where he wanted to and was aggressive in the zone all night long. His pitches were working, and he was the Phil Hughes that everybody knows.”
Former Rays prospect Eddie Jackson matched Hughes as he kept the silent Yankees bats of late hushed through 6 scoreless innings. Jackson gave up 4 hits and struck out 4 but left with no decision as Hughes tamed the Tiger bats and they couldn’t back up the good pitching performance from the 26 year old first year Tiger.
The Yankees finally ended their hitting drought in the top of the 7th inning. Nick Swisher greeted Reliever Ryan Perry with a single to left, Melky Cabrera walked Molina sacrificed the runners, and the Yanks got on the board as pinch hitter Jorge Posada reached on an error by left fielder Anderson scoring two runs and leaving Posada on second base. Jeter drew a walk and in came Nate Robinson. Damon singled in pinch runner Angel Berroa, slow starting Mark Teixeira popped up for the second out of the inning. Matsui continued his hot hitting and singled to drive in a run, followed by the torrid Robbie Cano’s single scoring Damon. Swisher kept the conga line going with a walk, out went Robinson and in came Brandon Lyon, a Melky walk scored Matsui, and a Grand Salami by Jose Molina capped off the 10 run outburst.
Mark Melancon kept step two in Uncle Sal’s dream plan to save the Yankee season with an 11 pitch 1-2-3 inning, so Melancon has looked sharp in both of his outings. Nick Swisher homered for his 5th of the season in the top of the 9th to close out the scoring and ending the Yankee 4 game slide. Eddie Ramirez and Jose Veras closed out the 8th and 9th innings.
Joba Chamberlain gets a chance to follow up on Hughes’s nice performance tonight as he goes up against Rick Porcello Detroit’s 07 first round draft pick. Joba can temporarily hush the Chamberlain to the bullpen chatter with a quality start, but foremost he can try to help the Yankees right the sinking ship, not to mention help restore the confidence in the recently battered Yankee rotation.
Chamberlain allowed two runs, one earned over 5 1/3 innings in his last start for New York, allowing a career-high nine hits to the Red Sox at Fenway Park, but dodged bullets all game by inducing three inning ending double plays. Chamberlain struck out only two, matching a career low, but he has held opponents to three earned runs or less in 13 of his 15 career starts. This will mark his first start and third appearance at Comerica Park. Porcello won’t be a day at the beach, the Tigers are very high on this kid, so this will be a very good match up.
After surrendering two early homers to Kansas City, Porcello settled down and used all his pitches effectively to keep Royals’ hitters off-balance. He wound up allowing four earned runs in six innings with a performance that manager Jim Leyland was very happy about. Leyland mentioned he liked what Porcello did in the loss at Kansas City better than what Porcello did in his win at Seattle.
Phil Hughes’s next start in the grand plan to save the Yankee season comes on Sunday against the thorn in their side LA Angels
Like we mentioned a few weeks ago supply and demand has forced the
Yankees Suits to lower their ridiculous ticket prices.
The Yankees yesterday announced they are lowering ticket prices for seats located in the Legends Suite and a few other of their more expensive locations in Yankee Stadium.
Those who already have purchased season tickets will have a choice between a refund or a credit to make up the difference.
The struggling economy and an outcry from outraged fans likely led to the decision.
For all you High Roller Legends out there, Lets hold out and get them to drop the prices even more. Maybe we can get the lunch pail crowd into the new digs without refinancing their mortgage
Thanks to Pete at LoHud
Ian Kennedy has been terrific down in Scranton, pitching to a 1.59 ERA in four starts. He has allowed 18 hits over 22.2 innings and struck out 25.
But Kennedy left Monday’s start in Rochester because of numbness in one of his fingers on his right hand. He was in New York yesterday getting checked out and we should know more today. Hopefully it’s nothing serious.
Good Morning Buddio–it was sweet for the team to get bsck on track. Many positives, as you’ve mentioned. I’ve never seen Hughes more confident with his stuff, even though he was squeezed very hard by the home plate umpire. It only made Phil more determined, which is a great sign. Melancon could be a keeper–his stuff is great and his motion is just quirky enough that batters will have trouble getting comfortable in the box. One aspect I haven’t seen mentioned yet—Robbie is playing great defense. He IS a keeper.
On an unrelated note—I use this site for real baseball discussion. What happens at the DN has turned into a sexually perverse freak show. I wasn’t even around yesterday when the nonsense started flying about me in a way that I decided not to let go. I had to take a shower later and now regret even lowering myself to go there. The Hollygood guy you laughed at is indeed obsessed with what goes on here and at Bronx Brass Tacks. It’s driving him crazy.
noogerguy
April 29, 2009 at 11:56 am
Bud,I had kinda the same recovery plan in mind.Good to see a bulked up Phil with command of that hook.Don’t want to get overly excited,but maybe his time is upon us.Nothing like home grown.Melancon needs to keep producing as well before the jerseys hit the stands,but I like what I see.Needed that game.
giantdamnyankee
April 29, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Good morning fellas Yes good win indeed. love what Cano and Melancon are doing. Phil looked gereat, love to see him follow up now with another good one. fingers crossed for joba today.
the DN hahahaha SWF’s with Cha Cha and his toothless pitbull buddiboob. Keep an eye out for trolls now that uncle charlie’s cover has been blown.
have a good one fellas thanks for the drop by
unkulsal
April 29, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Unk,I had this image yesterday of chacha sitting on a throne proclaiming himself Supreme Pooba of the the Hell’s Angels,while vince peeled grapes.
giantdamnyankee
April 29, 2009 at 2:10 pm
hahahahahahaha
unkulsal
April 29, 2009 at 2:13 pm
the two of them walking down the street hand and hand with the toothless pitbull buddiboob on a leash
buddi doesn’t nip at yankee fans ankles he pisses on their living room rugs
unkulsal
April 29, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Yeah Bud,if that’s the best that tool can bring,it’s just sad.The only time he gets the attention he craves is when someone is scanning too fast and falls for it being you.Someone else sets em straight soon enough.I think I answered him once just to swat at him,and I was given the honor of being another of your handles.Gene pool needs stabilizer.
giantdamnyankee
April 29, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Good win by the Yanks,especially with Hughes pitching well,Melancon looking good.Molina hits a grand slam as often as we see haley’s comet,even the bullpen couldn’t blow an 11-0 lead-lol.I just hope that Hughes uses this as a springboard to continue pitching well and avoids injury.The sux lost to make it a great night.Penny lost concentration when he saw a hotdog wrapper on the field.The great sux defense cost them the game,Lopez dropped the pukers throw at 1b.Its incredible how the perception of a team changes from day to day.Hopefully,last night was the start of something good for the Yanks.
dallasbomber7
April 29, 2009 at 2:33 pm
On a lighter note,I saw that the mets honored the great met,Gary Sheffield for hitting 1 home run as a member of the mets.They are just a pathetic joke-the owner thinks they are the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to flushing and they honor Sheffield,whom all of their fans hated when he was a Yankee and called him a cheater,steroid freak,juicer,etc and now love him.Talk about hypocrites-the met way!!!
dallasbomber7
April 29, 2009 at 2:42 pm
That’s some good comedy don’t ya think DB.Surely the franchise/TT/straw/etc. knows it’s a tainted HR.
giantdamnyankee
April 29, 2009 at 2:44 pm
GDY,they know it,would never admit it.
dallasbomber7
April 29, 2009 at 3:44 pm
YEAH BAYYYBEE,,,,
GO PHILly boi,, GOod Win, finally,,
bats came alive, for an inning anyway,,, & Melancon earned his paycheck for an inning too,,,
Maybe now J O B A can go to the pen where he belongs,, & Hughesy can lighten the load for us,,,
Tex HAS to start hitting like we know he can,, & maybe, just maybe, Molina should carry the WEIGHT for the catching duties for awhile,, he has a great arm,, he calls a great game ( if the pitchers can listen ) & Jorge needs to get back into full strength, first,
i love Jorge, but i like wins more,,,
Girardi gets a reprieve for now,, but he better watch his step, & be more aware, so no one, least of all Boston, ever steals home again,,, Nasty business,,,
i truly hope we throw right @ that Ellsbury punk the 1st time he steps in against us,, punk ass bitch,, taking a freaking curtain call for a stolen base ???
figures in that pansy-pussy twon with a pussy team like the Sucks,,, FEH !!!1
just my opinion, but i know im right,,,
Da Don
Don Butchie
April 29, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Da Don try not to hold anything back (LOL) Sal you finally got a win from your young gun, pathetic that the two clowns Kennedy and Hughes were shutout last year. The Sox will run away with this division, so your looking at a wild card, or a get well card might be more appropriate. The new nursing home in the Bronx. Go Sox!!!
Big Jack
April 29, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Big deal. Sox popped their cherry in April and will need franchise-sized doses of Extenze to make it through to game 162.
libertyboynyc
April 29, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I wasn’t hearing so much (in fact NONE) macho prediction a few days ago from you guys. Butch – “pansy-pussy” team???? How about the team that literally laid down and died all last weekend in front of a National TV audience? Talk about a bunch of over the hill, over paid marginally talented players…And don’t tell me about Alex (“Mr. August”)Rodriguez – how many rings does he have??
Don’t get TOO excited about this win. And, by the way, let me know the next time a Yankee steals home in a close game with the bases loaded, we can all get all celebrate.
On the bright side, something we can all bond with – The Mets suck!!
Bruce Katz
April 30, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Bruce calm down. Take a gander at Lester, Penney, and Dice-K—that’s 3/5 ths of your rotation—and tell us how confident you are. Further, when Wakefield’s air balloon comes back to earth (and that’s due to arrive shortly) what’s left?
noogerguy
April 30, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Well see, I was holding it in all weekend, didn’t want to gloat or anything…now that you guys have a couple of wins I thought we could get back into it.
I’m not worried about Lester and Dice-K. Penney might be a rare mistake on the part of Theo. They do have Smoltz waiting,and Bucholz And Beckett and Masterson, so I don’t think starting pitching is going to be a problem. That knuckleballer….well, he will come back to Earth as he always does…Even so, Beckett, Lester, Masterson, Smoltz, Dice-K are a pretty good 5, with Wakefield, possibly Bucholtz as back-ups.
Bruce Katz
April 30, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Bruce–perhaps it’s prudent to reserve your “confidence” regarding Smoltz until he at least throws his first pitch with his surgically repaired soup bone. Dice-K—apparently hurt/tired just a tad earlier than usual this year. Who is your shortstop this week? Have you seen your third baseman bend over/run lately? Big Grand Papi’s bat speed? Drew’s back? Varitek’s decline? I’m thinking that you shouldn’t be buying any playoff tickets just yet.
noogerguy
April 30, 2009 at 1:37 pm
what’s up fellas good to see you all
Whoo testy testy Bruce you should be mellow with Mr. Van Every another rookie helping the varsity. You finally got Drew out of the line up you should be celebrating, but then again another Lester pounding would make me a bit nervous also
unkulsal
April 30, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Also Bruce let’s remember your out of the little cash register on Yawkey Way so your back to a sub 500 club again. Should be an interesting weekend/ beginning of the week for you boys. Your still gonna miss the Yankees at full strength, but you lose the big advantage of the friendly confines of Fenway so an even playing field, but a lost weekend to the slow starting Rays and we’ll need to reopen NayShun Rehab for you boys and girls from Bahston
unkulsal
April 30, 2009 at 1:47 pm