Phil Hughes saved the Yankees season tonight.
Tonight, Hughes found himself in the same win or go home spot that Mike Mussina did when he relieved Roger Clemens in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. And like Mussina, Hughes came in and helped the Yankees win...8-3 tonight against the Indians in Game 3 of the ALDS.
When the Yankees needed their $25 million man to come through in the clutch, Roger Clemens did not come through. In tonight's game, Clemens pitched 2 1/3 innings giving up 3 runs before leaving with a strained hamstring. From the start, Clemens didn't look comfortable tonight. So it was up to young Phil Hughes -- or Pip, as my wife calls him -- to take over for the old Rocket.
Hughes came in and pitched lights out shutting down the Indians through 3 2/3 scoreless innings with six K's, no walks and 2 hits. What a huge, gutty performance from the kid.
Phil Hughes' contributions helped keep the game close until the Yankees bats came alive.
Finally.
Johnny Damon had a huge night going 3 for 4 with a 3 run homerun and 4 RBIs. His homerun in the 5th inning was huge and put the Yankees ahead for good. A bunch of other Yankees also came up huge tonight. A-Rod got two hits and Matsui and Cano made great contributions to the team. Posada and Jeter were still subpar, but at least this is a start.
Tonight's win cuts the series deficit to 2-1 and means the Yankees live to fight another day. ... Thanks to rookie Phil Hughes.
Has the momentum swung in the Yanks favor?
... Stay tuned.
1 comment:
Since I haven't seen an article and you only write when the Skanks win, here is the official breakdown: A-Fraud: .266, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 6 SO, 2 BB, 2 R. Absolutely disgusting. Now he is going to take his act elsewhere and without the mind-blowing pressure of playing for Steinbrenner in NYC, will probably do well. Jeter performed horribly, hit into DP after DP with RISP. Bye Torre (great manager), Steinbrenner is a jerk.
FYI: Like I told you before the series started when you were making all those wild predictions, pitching and defense wins championships. All that offense amounts to nothing against stellar pitching. The biggest question is where do the Yanks go from here?
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