Blue Jays bury Hughes; Yankees unable to dig all the way out in 10-7 loss

The New York Yankees saw their four-game win streak snapped yesterday afternoon as Phil Hughes suffered through his second poor start in a row. The Toronto Blue Jays ripped Hughes to the tune of seven runs in four innings dropping his record to 11-10 and raising his ERA to 4.44. The Yankees mounted a spirited comeback but it fell short in the 10-7 loss.

Hughes allowed a run in the first off three straight two-out hits. He was able to put up zeroes in the second and third, but the fourth inning was dreadful for Hughes. He gave up a single and then a run-scoring double to Jeff Mathis to start the inning. He then walked a batter in between two outs. Rajai Davis, who was a one man wreaking machine yesterday, ripped a two-run double, then stole third enabling him to score on an infield hit by Mike McCoy. Edwin Encarnacion continued his fantastic season with a two-run homer, his 30th of the season, making the score 7-0. Hughes got the final out of the inning and was done for the day marking the second straight start in which he couldn’t through five complete innings.

Ryota Igarashi relieved Hughes in the bottom of fifth after the Yankees got on the board in the top of the inning courtesy of a Casey McGehee RBI-double, but the results were not much better. Igarashi, up to fill the roster spot of CC Sabathia, also failed to shut down the Jays after getting two outs. It was Davis again who victimized the Yankees, this time with a three-run double.

Down 10-1 in the top of the sixth the Yankees began to make some noise as Derek Jeter led off the frame with his ninth homer of the season and Robinson Cano drilled a two-run blast cutting the lead to 10-4.

The rally continued in the top of the seventh. Curtis Granderson singled and McGehee was robbed of a home run by Davis. That didn’t stop the Yankees as they were able to put together a two-out rally of their own. Jayson Nix doubled home Granderson and Jeter followed with a double scoring Nix. Nick Swisher singled to drive in Jeter and Mark Teixeira laced a double putting runners on second and third. Cano was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Andruw Jones, but he was unable to capitalize grounding into a force play at third.

The Yankees bullpen held Toronto down in the seventh and eighth, but the Bombers went quietly in their final two at-bats as well.

The Yankees ended the road trip 4-3 and their record sits at 67-47. Their lead in the American League East slipped to five games over the blazing hot Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees are back at Yankee Stadium tonight to host the Texas Rangers in the first of a four-game series against the AL West leaders.

Be sure to check out the Yanks Go Yard Series Preview Show later this morning as Ricky Keeler breaks down the series with Jared Book of Nolan Writin’.