May 1, 2007
The Yanks May Be Cursed
The Yankees may actually be cursed this season. Phil Hughes is the young pitching phenom the team hoped to develop in the minors for a few years, but was called up recently to rescue a team whose starting pitcher staff has been decimated by injuries. The 20-year-old got off to a rocky start in the major leagues with a loss last week, but was fantastic in Arlington, Texas last night against the Rangers. After 6 1/3 inning, Hughes was nearly flawless on the mound walking three and striking out six after 20 batters faced. With two strikes on the Rangers' first basement in the bottom of the seventh, the kid was one strike away from needing to face only seven more at-batters to achieve a no-hitter. But as he came out of his delivery Hughes winced in pain and grabbed the back of his leg. He tried to play cool, but catcher Jorge Posada knew what he saw. He approached the mound and quickly summoned pitching coach Ron Guidry and manager Joe Torre. In the final third of a potential no-hitter, Hughes was yanked from the game. His relief, Mike Myers, managed to get out of the inning but quickly gave up a double and a single in the 8th, allowing a run to score in 1 2/3 innings.
The Yankees offense was phenomenal, clobbering Texas starter Kameron Loe for 10 hits and nine earned runs in just four-plus innings. By the end of the game, New York had come to bat 48 times with 14 hits and 10 runs, winning 10-1. 2nd baseman Cano went 4 for 5 at the plate, with two doubles and three RBIs. Catcher Jorge Posada continued his magic ways with a 3 for 4 performance with two RBIs and a walk. Loe certainly wasn't helped by his defense, who extended innings with two errors; his team committed another in the 9th inning.
It wasn't until after the game that spirits were dampened by worries realized. Phil Hughes' injury was more serious than he was letting on. He could be out of the Yankees pitching rotation until mid-June at the earliest with a significantly injured hamstring. This is a catastrophic development for a team that just thought it had found its young savior.
Tagged:Posted by Lexiphane at May 1, 2007 11:24 PM
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