Bombs, Runs, and Just Good Enough Pitching Pushes Yanks to 8th in a Row

Jeremy Guthrie dug himself an early hole. What would normally be considered almost an insurmountable lead to overcome, visitors are learning that with mediocre pitching and a hitter friendly ballpark, no lead during the late spring and summertime of 2009 is safe. The Yankees jumped all over Guthrie Wednesday night at Cathedral 2.0, taking an early 5-0 lead, and all Phil Hughes had to do what pitch HIS game. Yes, he struck out a boatload of hitters...but was he dominant? I would say anything but.

Hughes barely lasted 5 innings, giving up 3 earned, and 2 home runs. Hughes should've cruised to an easy victory, going 6 or 7 solid, and making a case for his staying in the starting rotation. Instead it appeared to be another in a long line of immature outings for the former top pick of the Bombers, and he's more than likely punched his own ticket back to AAA-Scranton. Chien Ming Wang has looked great in his handful of rehab starts, and is ready to come back to New York for his next scheduled start this weekend.

What saved Hughes and the pitching staff, was that the Yankees' offense came alive. They became the Bronx Bombers of old, crushing everything that appeared to be near the strike zone. Swisher, Cano, and Melky all went yard with Jimmy Jacks, and the contest became one-sided very quickly. It was as close as 5-3 in the 8th inning, before the Yankees broke it open to finish off the Orioles once again, winning 11-4.

The standings are taking on a bit of a change in the AL East. The getting healthy Red Sox have handled the Toronto Blue Jays in the first two matchups, cutting their lead in the East to 1 1/2 games, while the Yankees having won 8 in a row with Wednesday night's victory, are within 2 1/2. Many people still question whether or not Toronto can hang throughout the season, but as I've told fellow competitors in my fantasy league..."It's a long season, and just about anything can happen."

So what happend tomorrow night during the Orioles/Yankees finale in the New Boogey Down? Joba Chamberlain gets another shot at revenge at Aubrey Huff, who took Joba deep during their last matchup, and made sure he knew that he was being mocked, as he did the Joba fist pump while circling the bases. Had it been me, I would've done one of two things...either taken my medicine, and shut my mouth, or I would've earholed Huff the next time he came to the plate. It was right around that time that the Yankees began this streak...perhaps it motivated all of them to shut their mouths and simply win games. We shall see what happens tomorrow night the first time Huff comes to the plate against Joba in the Bronx.

As always, take care, be good, and take care of your buddy next to ya!