(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L.A. Angels | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| N.Y. Yankees | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 6 | 9 | 0 |
WP: P. Hughes (1-0) LP: S. Kazmir (0-1)
S: M. Rivera (4)
S: M. Rivera (4)
on three hits, walked five, and struck out six. Obviously he was a little wild, and threw too many pitches (108/66 strikes), but he managed to limit the damage and pick up his first win of the season. Besides the walks, Hughes' only other mistake was a 1-0 fastball to Hideki Matsui, which he launched into the Yankees bullpen for a solo homer giving the Angels a brief 1-0 lead.If you noticed Hughes wasn't relying too heavily on his new and improved changeup--according to Brooks Baseball he threw just five--it was because the scouting reports said that the Angels batters have had success against changeups, particularly from right-handers. So don't be too concerned, we'll see the pitch as the season progresses.
“There were some points where maybe I could have thrown one (changeup),” Hughes said. “But I just didn’t feel like it was the proper pitch.” (via Chad Jennings)As for his other stuff, his fastball averaged 92.08 mph and topped out at 93.8. As a starter I don't suspect we'll see much more on his fastball, so don't expect the 94-96 MPH cheese he was throwing out of the pen. Besides the four-seamer, he relied heavily on his cutter and curve. All in all it was a nice opening start for Hughes, but he wasn't completely satisfied:
"It wasn't really a great outing," Hughes admitted afterward, "but to be able to walk off with a lead and hear that reaction from the crowd felt good." (via: Tim Britton)Hughes, who was clearly tired by the fifth, stayed on for the sixth and gave up a single to Torii Hunter and walked Matsui before leaving the game. Joe Girardi probably left Hughes in the game a little long, but I can't blame him for trying to get an extra couple outs from his starter.
Offensively, the Yanks were led by Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson. Cano kicked off the scoring for the Yankees with a solo homer in the 2nd to tied the game at one. Jeter would then give the Yanks a 2-1 lead with a solo shot one inning later. They would extend their lead to 4-1 on an RBI triple by Granderson--his first of two triples in the game--and an RBI double by Jeter. Granderson also had another very nice game in center.
Cano, who's looking more and more comfortable in that no. 5 spot, finished off the Yankees scoring with his second homer of the game, a two-run shot in the fifth. Kind of fitting that a guy named after Jackie Robinson would homer twice on Jackie Robinson day. Cano now leads the Yanks with 9 RBI and has hit safely in each of the first nine games.
Marcus Thames also had a nice game, going 2-for-3 with a double.
All the Yankees runs came off of Angels' starter Scott Kazmir, who did not look good in his first start of the year. The fact that this damage was done against a lefty should not go unnoticed. It's great to see guys like Cano and Granderson hitting lefties. Including tonight's game Granderson is 4-for-12 (.333) against lefties and Cano is 4-for-11 (.364). This offense will be a force no matter what, but if Granderson and Cano can hit lefties consistently it will make this lineup even scarier.
David Robertson rebounded from a couple rough outings throwing 1.2 scoreless. He did not allow a hit, and struck out three.
Joba Chamberlain also pitched tonight, and while he held the Angels off the board for 1.1 innings, his velocity still isn't where it needs to be. Tonight his fastball was clocking between 90-94 mph. I keep hoping that we will see the same Joba we saw in Fenway that night, but so far we haven't. Not sure why, but I can only assume that he was so pumped up that night that it added a few mph to his fastball. But if he doesn't need that velocity to be successful I guess it's not too big a deal.
Joba would have picked up the save tonight if it wasn't for a defensive miscue by Jeter with two-out in the ninth. This created a save situation and that meant it was Mariano Rivera time. He came in and got the last out to pick up his fourth save of the season.
The Yankees have now won three series to start the year against the Red Sox (in Boston), Rays (in Tampa) and Angels--three of the better teams in baseball. It's safe to say I'm pretty impressed.
They look to keep this roll going tomorrow when they open a series with the Texas Rangers at the stadium. CC Sabathia will get the ball for the Yanks, with C.J. Wilson starting for Texas. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and the game can be seen on YES.
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
| Derek Jeter, SS | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .333 |
| Nick Swisher, RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .267 |
| Mark Teixeira, 1B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .091 |
| Alex Rodriguez, 3B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .263 |
| Robinson Cano, 2B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .395 |
| Jorge Posada, C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .345 |
| Marcus Thames, DH | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .429 |
| a- Nick Johnson, PH-DH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .207 |
| Curtis Granderson, CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 |
| Randy Winn, LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .000 |
| Totals | 33 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | |
| a-walked for Thames in the 7th | ||||||||
| Batting | ||||||||
| 2B: Thames (1, Kazmir), Jeter (2, Kazmir), Rodriguez, A (5, Kazmir). 3B: Granderson 2 (2, Kazmir, Stokes). HR: Cano 2 (4, 2nd inning off Kazmir, 0 on, 0 out; 5th inning off Kazmir, 1 on, 0 out), Jeter (2, 3rd inning off Kazmir, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Jeter 6; Rodriguez, A 2; Cano 8; Thames 3; Granderson 6. RBI: Cano 3 (9), Jeter 2 (6), Granderson (6). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Winn 3; Posada; Teixeira; Cano. Team RISP: 2-for-13. Team LOB: 9. | ||||||||
| Fielding | ||||||||
| Outfield assists: Granderson (Matsui, H at home). DP: (Chamberlain-Jeter-Teixeira). | ||||||||
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| Phil Hughes (W,1-0) | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3.60 |
| David Robertson | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Damaso Marte | 0.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Joba Chamberlain (H,2) | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3.38 |
| Mariano Rivera (S,4) | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| WP - David Robertson (1) | ||||||||
| Pitches-Strikes - Phil Hughes 108-66, David Robertson 30-17, Damaso Marte 20-12, Joba Chamberlain 22-14, Mariano Rivera 4-2 | ||||||||
| Ground Balls-Fly Balls - Phil Hughes 3-5, David Robertson 2-0, Damaso Marte 1-0, Joba Chamberlain 1-1, Mariano Rivera 1-0 | ||||||||
| Batters Faced - Phil Hughes 22, David Robertson 6, Damaso Marte 4, Joba Chamberlain 5, Mariano Rivera 1 | ||||||||
Player of the Game: Robinson Cano
Honorable Mention: Derek Jeter
Honorable Mention: Derek Jeter
