(REUTERS/Rebecca Cook)| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| NYY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 0 | |
| DET | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
Welcome back to the big leagues, Phil Hughes.
You could not have asked for more from the 22-year-old tonight in Detroit. In six shutout innings the right-hander allowed just two hits and two walks, and struck out six. He threw 99 pitches in the game, 58 for strikes. I've seen every one of his starts as a Yankee and the only time he's thrown the ball this well was during the no-hitter in Texas.
According to MLB.com his fastball averaged 91.3 MPH, and he was topping out at 94. His fastball was explosive tonight, with a lot of late life, and he had great command of it.
That wasn't the case with his curveball for the first few innings. It had great movement, but he had no idea where it was going. Apparently he made whatever adjustments he needed to make, because by the third inning he had regained command of the pitch. The significance here is that last year he wouldn't have been able to make the adjustments necessary. Here's what Dave Eiland said about it, "He was getting quick with his lower half and I said something to him. He made the adjustment whereas last year he had something else in his head. He’s much more focused and confident now.” To me that's a big deal. It shows he's light-years ahead of where he was last year as a pitcher.
Hughes got into one jam in the game when the Tigers had runners on first and second with one out in the fourth. He got Gerald Laird to ground into a force for the second out of the inning, but then walked Brandon Inge to load the bases. Remember, at this point in the game it was still 0-0 and the Yankees had a four-game losing streak, so the pressure was on. It didn't seem to bother Hughes as he was able to get Josh Anderson to ground out to second. Hughes then retired the next six batters he faced before leaving the game after the sixth.
Tigers' starter Edwin Jackson also pitched great and matched zeros with Hughes through six. But the Yankees made him work and got his pitch count to 117 pitches through six. The Tigers had to go to their pen and the Yankees offense decided to wake up. Nick Swisher led off with a single and Melky Cabrera walked, and the Yanks were in business with two on and nobody out. Jose Molina laid down a sac-bunt to move the runners into scoring position for Jorge Posada who was pinch-hitting for Ramiro Pena. Posada hit a flare to left field that Anderson misplayed. Both runners scored and Posada ended up on second base. The Yankees would go on to add eight more in the inning with the rally being capped off by a grand-slam off from Molina.
Mark Melancon relieved Hughes in the bottom half of the seventh and pitched a very quick 1-2-3 inning, needed just 11 pitches (7 strikes). He also struck out one. His fastball was averaging 92.4 mph, and his breaking ball was filthy, especially the one he used to strike out Inge.
Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras pitched a scoreless inning each to finish off the game.
The Yankees have a chance to take the series and head home on a high note if they can win tomorrow night with Joba Chamberlain on the mound. You don't want to head home with a sub .500 record with the Angels, Red Sox, and Rays coming to town.
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Jeter, SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .294 |
| Damon, LF | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .286 |
| Gardner, CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .220 |
| Teixeira, 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .206 |
| Matsui, DH | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .288 |
| Cano, 2B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .381 |
| Swisher, RF-LF | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .300 |
| Cabrera, M, CF-RF | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .325 |
| Molina, J, C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .276 |
| Pena, 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .211 |
| a-Posada, PH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .279 |
| 1-Berroa, PR-3B | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 |
| Totals | 37 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 14 | |
a-Hit a sacrifice fly for Pena in the 7th. 1-Ran for Posada in the 7th. | ||||||||
| BATTING 3B: Matsui (1, Jackson). HR: Molina, J (1, 7th inning off Lyon, 3 on, 2 out), Swisher (5, 9th inning off Rincon, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Jeter; Damon; Matsui 4; Cano 2; Swisher 5; Cabrera, M 2; Molina, J 4; Berroa. RBI: Posada (14), Damon (8), Matsui (5), Cano (16), Cabrera, M (8), Molina, J 4 (5), Swisher (15). 2-out RBI: Matsui; Cano; Cabrera, M; Molina, J 4. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Damon 2; Cabrera, M; Cano 2. S: Molina, J. SF: Posada. GIDP: Berroa. Team RISP: 4-for-9. Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING SB: Jeter (4, 2nd base off Jackson/Laird). | ||||||||
TIGERS OFFENSE
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Hughes, P (W, 1-0) | 6.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Melancon | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Ramirez, E | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6.48 |
| Veras | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.73 |
TIGERS PITCHING
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Phil Hughes (W, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K)
HONORABLE MENTION: Jose Molina (1-for-4, Grand-slam, 4 RBI, R, Sac-bunt)
TOMORROW'S GAME
Game Time: 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS 880
Joba Chamberlain RHP (0-0, 3.94 ERA) vs. Rick Porcello RHP (1-2, 3.75 ERA)
Game Time: 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS 880
Joba Chamberlain RHP (0-0, 3.94 ERA) vs. Rick Porcello RHP (1-2, 3.75 ERA)
"He was getting quick with his lower half and I said something to him. He made the adjustment whereas last year he had something else in his head. He’s much more focused and confident now.”
ReplyDeleteNot to be too cynical but that sounds a lot like, "Hey guys I said something to him and he started pitching better, please don't fire me!"
To me it sounds like-- "Phil has matured nicely since I was his pitching coach in Trenton 3 years ago."
ReplyDeleteAnd no doubt what happened to Phil the Saviour last season was all his own fault?
ReplyDeleteAnd who's responsible for the fact that Wanger are now undergoing physical therapy sessions he should have received 3 months ago?
ReplyDeleteThe President of the Republic of China(aka Taiwan)?
Meloncan's curve ball was down right disgusting. The way he made Inge spin out of the batters box thinking it was coming for his head was just hilarious. It only made me laugh harder when the ump looked at Inge and signaled "called stike 2". I laughed so hard I woke up my 4 month old. LOL. I havent enjoyed a Yankee game that much since the Boston Massacure II series (5 game sweep in Boston) back in 2005.
ReplyDeleteThat was in 2006 Bostowned. But it was pretty sick.
ReplyDeleteHUGGHHEEESSSSSS
ReplyDeleteI don't see how PeteAbe thinks he'll stay in the majors if he pitches well.
Outstanding outing by Hughes...just when the Yankees needed it most. The batters were really struggling but he kept giving his team a chance, the Yanks finally caught a break and they made the most of it. It would been have a travesty had he not got a W. Who'd have thought three weeks ago that it would be Hughes who ended the Yanks' slump? Now the rest of the starting rotation must follow suit.
ReplyDeleteBoy did we need that! Nice job!
ReplyDeleteLet's take another one tonight.
Mike
LOL @ Edwar and Veras can they ever pitch a clean one two three inning.
ReplyDeleteMelancon has pitched two innings without giving up a hit or walk.
Melancon the Assasin looks strong and a possible 7th inning dominator when Bruney is back.
ReplyDeleteMelancon/Bruney/Rivera
Pretty scary if the starters get on a roll if you ask me.
it would be really great if Wang can come back strong, Hughes keeps it up, and the other 3 stay healthy. than the bullpen can look like Melancon/Bruney/Joba/Mo innings 6-9. Big start tonight for Joba.. if he doesnt pitch good, and his fastball is still in the low 90's I'll be all for putting him in the pen( if the scenarios that I said earlier work out)
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! Please stop with the Joba in the bullpen crap! Moving him back and forth between a starter and a reliever will certainly screw up this young kid's development.
ReplyDeleteAnon,
ReplyDeleteThe Joba-to-the-pen stuff will never stop.
Why would you want your starting pitchers only going 5 innings a game. Joba is more effective throwing 6 to 7 innings of good ball compared to 1 or 2. Bruney has nasty stuff and so does Melancon so give them a chance and let Joba develop. Let it go. Its like the Sopranos...Its over time to move on.
ReplyDeleteIf u want the Yankees to be the best team possible, than Joba in the pen is where he should be...BUT READ THIS CLEARLY: AS LONG AS WE HAVE CC, PETTITTE, BURNETT, WANG, AND HUGHES ALL HEALTHY AND PITCHING GOOD. If Wang continues to suck cock on a regular basis than we need Joba as a starter.
ReplyDeleteOur pen sucks and we will continue to blow games. Yes we have Melancon now, but he cant pitch everyday, and we dont know how really good he is.. Joba is most effective when he can throw as hard as he can for an inning or two.. he throws too many fucking pitches when he starts, he usually only goes 5 innings. He doesnt have that intimating look to him when hes a starter, like Greg said when were playing Boston, he's not pitching inside enough. We're turning him into a bitch, he has to be a cocky guy that batters cant touch, we're fucking this guy up...lastly I want him as our future closer.
and about the Melancon/ Bruney/ Joba/ Mo 6-9, thats for when its a 8-6 game( lets just say), when our starter wasnt good.. so basically 7-8-9 would be Bruney and Melancon/ Joba/ Mo... u remember those games when we were close and we brought in Veras and Marte and got rapped? Well now we can bring in Melancon.. we cant bring in Bruney every close game, we need more reliable arms in the pen
ReplyDelete