Cano’s slam paces Yankees to 10-4 win over Royals

New York Yankees’ second baseman Robinson Cano entered yesterday’s game against the Kansas City Royals with 4 RBIs and finished with 8. Cano blasted a third-inning grand slam, the eighth of his career, to help Phil Hughes earn his second win of the season.

Hughes lasted into the seventh inning for the first time this season, allowing three runs on six hits and just one walk. He struck out seven batters which set another season high.

The game started a little rough for Hughes as he walked Alex Gordon with one out and then allowed a double to Billy Butler giving the Royals a 1-0 lead.

The Yanks struck back quickly to tie it up in the top of the second as Mark Teixeira, who walked to lead off the inning, scored on a Raul Ibanez single.

In the top half of the third, the Yankees jumped all over Royals starter Luke Hochevar. Dewayne Wise led off the inning with a single and moved to second on Derek Jeter‘s bunt single. Wise scored on a third straight single by Curtis Granderson. Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Cano, who drove a 2-1 pitch from Hochevar to right center giving the Yankees a 6-1 lead. After Teixeira flied out, Nick Swisher, making his first start in a week homered to right putting the Yanks up 7-1 sending Hochevar to the showers.

Hughes allowed a RBI single to Gordon in the fifth and a solo homer to Humberto Quintero which ended Hughes’ day.

Rodriguez hit a three-run homer in the eighth to put the Yanks up by seven. The Royals got one run in the bottom of the ninth bringing the final score to 10-4 and earning the Yankees as split in the four-game series.

The Yankees are off today as they head back home to start a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

PETTITTE DEEMS SELF READY

Andy Pettitte declared himself ready for the big leagues after his start yesterday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, according to Paul Casella of MLB.com. Pettitte took the loss in a five-inning appearance where he allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits, two walks and he struck out five. He threw 92 pitches in total.

NOTEWORTHY

• Brett Gardner is ready for Triple-A rehab assignment according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
• Rodriguez’s homer was the 634th of his career.
• Hughes came two pitches short of his career high with 115.

AN INTRODUCTION

I’d like to take a few moments to introduce myself. My name is Chris Carelli and as of the publishing of this article I’ve taken over the editorial duties at Yanks Go Yard. Robbie Clark will be helping me transition into the site and will be staying on as a staff writer through the end of the month.

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