Game 146: Unexpected Offense

After facing 3 of the best pitchers in the league on the Angels, they faced a familiar challenge in the form of Seattle Mariners' Felix Hernandez. Felix Hernandez has been 5-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his last 6 starts against the Yankees but tonight's 9-3 victory is why you play the game.

With the game tied at 1 in the 4th inning, Mark Teixeira broke up the tie with a deep home run to lead off the inning. Felix Hernandez's frustration was very clear following the home run and the last two runs of the five-run inning came off a no-doubt two-run home run by Chris Dickerson. The Yankees managed to score 6 runs off of the reigning AL Cy Young winner.

Phil Hughes earned the win tonight but there were moments which it seemed like the five-run lead he was given may not be enough. In the 6th inning, Hughes faced a bases-loaded, one-out jam but managed to get a pop out to Derek Jeter and a fly ball that Curtis Granderson ran down to escape with the lead safe. Phil Hughes needs to be more efficient with his pitches as he created many full count situations with trying to throw the perfect pitch.

The Yankees scored three more runs on a bases-loaded double by Robinson Cano and the first runner to score on the double was Austin Romine, who got his first career hit on his first career start at catcher tonight.

Prior to what is now a two-game winning streak, the Yankees offense was nowhere to be seen. Not surprisingly, the Yankees had a difficult time with Weaver, Haren, and Santana but they managed to win one game out in Anaheim. To see the Yankees offense put up 6 runs on Felix Hernandez, a pitcher whose constantly had great outings against the Yankees, was very impressive as they put together good at-bats and when they hit the ball, they hit it hard.

Ryan Nakada @adakannayr