You can all exhale. The Yankees are above .500 again.
Was it pretty? Not particularly. Are their offensive problems solved? Not by a long shot. But right now, a win is a win is a win. Who cares how they got it as long as they got it.
Phil Hughes improved to 4-5 on the season after a six inning, two run performance that included seven strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 4.94 from 5.23.
One issue Hughes has been struggling with this season is giving up home runs. Tonight was no exception as Jeff Francoeur took him deep with a solo in the fourth inning. He has served up 11 home runs in 47 1-3 innings this year and he’s allowed at least one in all nine of his starts. The last time a Yankee pitcher had a streak like this was Jack MacDowell in 1995.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Yankees had the bases loaded with no outs and actually managed to score two runs. Considering how the last few games have gone, this is a big deal. Derek Jeter singled, scoring Mark Teixeira and then Curtis Granderson grounded out with the bases loaded, allowing Russell Martin to score. After Hochevar walked Robinson Cano to load the bases again, both Alex Rodriguez and Raul Ibanez struck out ending the Yankees’ scoring threat.
A combination of Cory Wade, Boone Logan, Cody Eppley, Clay Rapada and Rafael Soriano kept the Royals scoreless after Hughes exited the game. Soriano picked up his third save of the season.
Tomorrow night Luis Mendoza (2-2, 5.03 ERA) faces off against Andy Pettitte (1-1, 2.51 ERA) in the rubber game of the three-game series.
