Yanks Go Yard Recap: Hughes Stellar As New York Yankees Beat Oakland Athletics

Sometimes it takes a little while for players to bounce back from an injury. For Phil Hughes, he battled a back injury all spring and struggled early on this season. Hughes has really started to put it together now and if he continues pitching this well, he earn himself a nice chunk of change whether it be from the Yankees or another team. Hughes went eight shutout innings, as the Yankees beat the A’s 4-2.

Apr 28, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Phil Hughes (65) pitches during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Stewart broke the scoreless tie in the third with his second homer of the year. It stayed that way til the fifth, when Lyle Overbay led off that inning with his fifth homer of the year. In the sixth, Robinson Cano led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Travis Hafner‘s single.

In the seventh, Eduardo Nunez tripled with one out. Two batters later, Brett Gardner brought him home on an infield single to short. The A’s made it interesting in the ninth. Shawn Kelley gave up a single to Yoenis Cespedes. That was it for him as Mariano Rivera came in. He walked Brandon Moss. Josh Donaldson grounded into a force at second. Seth Smith followed with a single to bring home Cespedes. Josh Reddick then beat out what would’ve been a game ending double play which allowed Donaldson to score to make it 4-2. Rosales flew out to end the game.

YGY Player Of The Game: Hughes

Notes: Ivan Nova played catch today and will head to Tampa on Monday to continue his rehab. Kevin Youkilis will join Nova there to begin his rehab. Jayson Nix has begun to take grounders at first to give the club another option at the position against lefties.