I love a 9-1 ballgame!

I took my sweet time getting home from the Stadium tonight. It was only fitting that I had no idea what took place in Detroit until Baseball Tonight came on ESPN. The only thing I can say is that I’m a strong proponent of instant replay in every sport. Shoddy officiating robbed Armando Galarraga of his place in the baseball history books tonight. To his credit, he only gave the umpire an impish smile when the runner was called safe. I would’ve thrown down.

With that nastiness behind us, everyone not named Mark Teixeira (0-5, and not pretty) had reason to smile in the Boogie Down tonight. Phil Hughes was dominant, striking out seven over seven innings. Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson had three hits and at least two RBI a piece. The Yankees did what they needed to do against the Orioles and 24-year-old starter Brad Bergesen.

This one was pretty much over in the 2nd inning. Robbie led it off with a single. Jorge Posada, back from injury and hitting in the DH spot, followed with a walk. Granderson kept the train moving with a double to the deepest part of the ballpark. Just like that it was 2-0. Nick Swisher knocked in two in the 2nd as well, to make it 4-0.

That was more than enough for Hughes, who was dealing, and kept up the pace with the lead. The Orioles never made him sweat, and only managed to plate one run in the 6th. Hughes routinely hit 95 mph on the radar gun. He looked like he had everything working and improved his record to 7-1.

My highlight of the night came in the bottom of the 7th. With the game almost entirely in hand my buddy Omar turned to me and said he wanted the Yankees to plate two more runs, just because. Following an Alex Rodriguez single, just as Robinson Cano was stepping to the plate, I told Omar I’d love to see Robbie put one in the seats. He did a moment later. It was just one of those nights. (Robbie, by the way, is hitting out of his mind: .373/.412/.632.) Chad Gaudin finished off the O’s in a game the Yankees owned from start to finish.

Ken Griffey, Jr. also retired tonight. I may never forgive Jr. for what he did to the Yankees in the ’95 ALDS, but he’s as good a player as any who’s laced ‘em up. I’m sorry he never played in the World Series. Between the Perfect Game that wasn’t and a legend calling it a career, it was a strange night all around baseball.

* Photo source: Associated Press