Angels rough up Phil Hughes, spank Yankees

This one was ugly. On the first night when the Yankees needed players to step up they saw 4 different pitchers give up runs. Phil Hughes was not sharp. He lasted only 5 innings, gave up 6 runs, and 2 home runs. Jonathan Albaladejo made his first appearance of the year, and quickly reminded fans why the team had kept him in Scranton for so long. He allowed 2 hits, walked 1 and gave up a run in only 1.2 innings of work. I’ll go out on a limb and say that this guy isn’t the bullpen savior we’ve been looking for.

The game was out of hand, with the Yankees only scoring 2 runs, both of which came in the 1st inning, but there is no fire Chan Ho Park and Chad Gaudin can’t put some gasoline on. Park allowed a run in only 1.1 innings of work. Gaudin was worse. He only pitched the 9th inning in what was then an 8-2 ball game and made sure the final score was 10-2.

The Yankee offense helped out here too. I am shocked – SHOCKED – that the team managed only 2 hits over 6 innings and 2 runs against a rookie pitcher. If only someone predicted this would happen? Don’t the Yankees have advance scouts and film? Does the team have some deal to give rookie pitchers a chance? I need answers here. This act is getting old.

There was one silver lining in all of this. The Orioles beat the Rays! The Yankees should thank their lucky stars because they dodged a bullet. Instead of the losing 1.5 games on their lead in two days the Bombers can put this ugly game firmly in the rearview mirror.

Hopefully the team rebound. Tampa is still in Baltimore while the Yankees have a quick turn around, playing a matinee against the Angels. Javier Vazquez will take the mound against Joel Pineiro in a rematch of an April game that was an ugly home loss. For me the question of the day is how Javy will respond to his extended rest. He’s gone longer than any other Yankee pitcher between starts.