Hughes Rocked as O's Beat Yanks 12-5

(Joe Giza of REUTERS and Rob Carr of the AP)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NYY	0	0	0	1	3	1	0	0	0		5	6	1
BAL	0	8	1	2	0	0	0	1	X		12	16	0

Winning pitcher - Adam Eaton (2-3)
Losing pitcher - Phil Hughes (1-2)

So much for all those good feelings flowing through Yankeeland after yesterday's 4-0 win. That was erased quickly tonight as the O's hammered the Yankees 12-5.

There's a baseball saying that goes "momentum is only as good as the next day's starting pitcher," and tonight's starting pitcher was awful. Phil Hughes lasted just 1.2 innings, allowed eight runs, on eight hits, walked two, and did not strike out a batter. He threw 53 pitches, 33 for strikes. All eight runs came in a nightmare eight-run second, that was capped off by an Aubrey Huff three-run homer.

It's been one step forward and two steps back for Hughes so far this season. After a great first start against the Tigers, he struggled against Boston on Monday and then followed that up with one of his worst starts of his career tonight. According to Joe Girardi, Hughes was"pushing" the ball, and having issues with his arm slot, which was causing his pitches to be flat. That happens with pitchers, but the key is to make the adjustments on the fly and be able to work through it. That may be a lot to ask from a 22-year-old, but it's something he's going to have to figure out how to do or else he's not going to be successful.

He also was not helped at all by his defense in the second. It was an inning Kenny Singleton said was the Yankees worst defensive inning of the year. With runners on first and second and nobody out Gregg Zaun hit a single into right field. Luke Scott, who was on second, did not attempt to score, but Nick Swisher still threw home and fired the ball over Francisco Cervelli's head allowing Scott to score and the other runners to move up to second and third. There were also two or three other balls hit in the inning that probably should have been caught but weren't. The fielders did get their gloves on the balls, but each time failed to make the play. It's still no excuse for Hughes' performance tonight, but if he had a little better defense behind him it might not have been as bad as it was.

Edwar Ramirez followed Hughes and allowed three runs on four hits in three innings of work. The way Orioles' starter Adam Eaton was pitching tonight the Yankees could have had a shot in this game had Ramirez not allowed those three tac on runs. Either way, Ramirez was once again pretty ineffective, allowing homers to Lou Montanez and Nick Markakis.

One of if not the only bright spots of tonight's game was Jonathan Albaladejo's performance. He threw two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two. I would still like to see him pitch this way in innings that matter, though.

Brett Tomko made his first appearance as a Yankee and was shaky. He allowed a leadoff homer to Adam Jones, and then allowed two more men to reach before getting out of the inning.

Offensively the Yankees were behind by eight runs before the lineup turned over, so as you might expect, almost everyone was coming up and swinging for the fences. Three of them connected as Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, and Nick Swisher each homered. Damon and Swisher are tied for the team lead with eight homers apiece.

The Yankees best chance to get back in the game came in the fourth when they were down 8-0. Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui each walked to load the bases with nobody out. But the rally would be short-lived as Swisher hit a sac fly, and Robinson Cano grounded into a double play and just like that the inning was over.

Look, today was a crappy game and a huge let down after last night, but it's not the end of the world. The worst news of the day came after the game when we learned about Joba Chamberlain's popped blood vessel in his right thumb. From everything they're saying they are not too concerned about it, but with this team's luck you never know.

At least it's a quick turnaround with a 1:35 start tomorrow. Win, take the series and move on from there.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jeter, SS	3	0	1	0	1	1	1	.266
Damon, LF	4	1	2	2	0	1	2	.319
Teixeira, 1B	3	2	1	1	1	0	2	.196
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	0	0	0	1	0	1	.143
Matsui, DH	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	.277
Swisher, RF	2	1	1	2	1	1	0	.271
Cano, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	.315
Cabrera, M, CF	4	1	1	0	0	2	0	.338
Cervelli, C	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.143
a-Gardner, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.227
Totals	30	5	6	5	5	6	10
a-Flied out for Cervelli in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Cabrera, M (3, Eaton). HR: Damon (8, 5th inning off Eaton, 1 on, 2 out), Teixeira (6, 5th inning off Eaton, 0 on, 2 out), Swisher (8, 6th inning off Baez, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Jeter; Damon 5; Teixeira 4; Swisher 4; Cabrera, M 2. RBI: Swisher 2 (21), Damon 2 (22), Teixeira (16). 2-out RBI: Damon 2; Teixeira. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, A. SF: Swisher. GIDP: Cano 2. Team RISP: 1-for-5. Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING SB: Jeter (7, 2nd base off Eaton/Zaun). FIELDING E: Swisher (3, throw). DP: (Cano-Jeter-Teixeira).

ORIOLES OFFENSE

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hughes, P (L, 1-2)	1.2	8	8	8	2	0	1	8.49
Ramirez, E	3.1	4	3	3	0	2	2	5.40
Albaladejo	2.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	5.63
Tomko	1.0	3	1	1	0	0	1	9.00

ORIOLES PITCHING

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Adam Jones (3-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)

HONORABLE MENTION: Nick Markakis (3-for-5, HR, RBI, 2 R) GOAT OF THE GAME: Phil Hughes (8 runs on 8 hits in 1.2 innings.)

Yankees @ Orioles
Game Time: 1:35 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS 880
Phil Hughes RHP (1-1, 2.70 ERA) vs. Adam Eaton RHP (1-3, 7.18 ERA)