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Yankees Game 131: Hughes, Yankees fall to start series

Phil Hughes allowed 5 runs in 4.2 innings of today’s loss. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

New York Yankees 2 — Toronto Blue Jays 5

 

Hughes struggled in tonight’s 5-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Yankees got the game going well with a Brett Gardner single. A pitch that deflects off the glove of catcher, Josh Thole, would allow Gardner to advance to second. The return of Derek Jeter would start with a ground out to the shortstop that the speedy Gardner would actually advance to third on. Robinson Cano would hit a ground out that deflected off of R.A. Dickey’s glove and the Yankees would plate the first run of the game.

Phil Hughes would start tonight’s game well but a little bad luck got him. In the second inning, Brett Lawrie would start the game with a single and Moises Sierra would walk to put two on with no outs. Josh Thole would ground into an easy double play and with two outs, Hughes would just need to get rookie outfielder Kevin Pillar out. With two strikes, Hughes would put a pitch down in the dirt that Pillar would bloop into short center field and the luck of the hit got the game tied.

Some sound baseball strategy would get the Blue Jays the lead when Jose Reyes got a single, advanced on a bunt and scored from second on a single by Edwin Encarnacion. With the Yankees trailing 2-1, Alex Rodriguez would come through with an opposite field home run to open the fifth inning. The game was tied and Phil Hughes was bailed out of a bit of bad luck.

A little more unexpected bad luck would show up once more for Hughes.

With one out in the fifth inning, Jose Reyes drilled a line drive into right field for a double. Second baseman Ryan Goins hit a single to put runners on the corners and the unexpected happened. A deep fly ball to right field that would ordinarily be a sacrifice fly to the normally sure-handed Ichiro Suzuki would deflect off of his glove. The error on Ichiro allowed Encarnacion to reach base and the go-ahead run scored. Adam Lind would hit a double to bring in one more run and after an intentional walk, the sacrifice fly for the third run of the inning would be the end of Hughes’ start.

In 4.2 innings, Phil Hughes allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts. A tough line to take with R.A. Dickey pitching and the postseason race getting tougher and tougher.

The Yankees had a chance to score in the sixth when Alfonso Soriano hit a single to right field and advanced to second on the bobble by Moises Sierra. But Curtis Granderson would go down looking. Soriano would steal third but the ball would not be put in play by Alex Rodriguez too, also striking out. The Yankees would be unable to muster another scoring opportunity but there was a positive in the bullpen.

David Huff, who went five scoreless relief innings against Toronto on August 21, went 3.1 innings tonight. He allowed no hits and walked just one while striking out five. Many wonder if Huff will get a shot in the rotation in place of Phil Hughes. Time will tell what the Yankees will do to get the wins they need on their push for the postseason.

Derek Jeter was hitless in his third return to the Yankees. He grounded out, hit into a double play, walk and strike out swinging.

 

Win – R.A. Dickey (10-12)

Loss – Phil Hughes (4-13)

Save – Casey Janssen (24)

 

Notables

Yankees

*Alex Rodriguez – 1 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (3) in the 5th, RBI (7)

*Brett Gardner – 2 for 3, R

Blue Jays

*Edwin Encarnacion – 1 for 3, R, 2 RBI (97)

*Adam Lind – 1 for 4, 2B, RBI (45)

 

Current Yankees Record: 69-62

 

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