Arlington, TX - Just eight outs away from a no-hitter, New York rookie Phil Hughes left the game in the seventh inning with an injured hamstring, as the Yankees clobbered Texas, 10-1, with the righty picking up his first major league victory.
Despite the victory, the news after the game was not good for Hughes, who is expected to be out 4-to-6 weeks due to a strained left hamstring.
With New York holding a commanding 9-0 lead in the seventh, Hughes had Texas slugger Mark Teixeira in an 0-2 hole. Teixeira then fouled off a pitch and the young hurler came off the mound with discomfort in his left hamstring area. Huddled around manager Joe Torre, pitching coach Ron Guidry and a trainer, Hughes eventually headed for the dugout.
In his second-career start and first on the road, the 20-year-old Hughes (1-1) finished with six strikeouts and three walks in 6 1/3 innings.
Mike Myers replaced Hughes and got out of the seventh inning unscathed, but served up a double to Hank Blalock to lead off the eighth as the combined no- hitter attempt was broken. Blalock would score on Ian Kinsler's single to account for Texas' only run.
'He (Hughes) had a pretty good game plan and he executed it,' Torre said. 'He knew what he had to improve on. He has so much confidence and you can sense it. He went after everyone.'
The Rangers finished with just two hits.
Despite not making history, New York must have been inspired by owner George Steinbrenner's statement issued Monday, where he supported Torre and the players despite a slow start that has the team with the highest payroll in baseball mired in last place in the American League East.
Jorge Posada finished with three hits, three runs scored and two RBI for the Yankees, who won for just the second time in their last 10 games.
Derek Jeter went 1-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 18 games while Robinson Cano went 4-for-5 with three RBI for New York, which has won its last eight games against Texas on the road.
Texas starter Kameron Loe (1-2) was roughed up for nine runs -- seven earned -- on 10 hits in four-plus innings for the Rangers, who have lost three straight.
'I left the ball up,' said Loe. 'The pitches I was throwing down at the knees, they were taking and were hitting the ones I left up.'
The Yankees got on the board and went up 2-0 in the second. Posada singled with one out and advanced to third after Cano singled to left as Brad Wilkerson misplayed the ball, allowing Cano to move to second. Posada then scored as Melky Cabrera grounded out to second. Cano crossed the plate for New York's second run after Doug Mientkiewicz reached base on Michael Young's fielding error.
The Yanks plated four more runs in the third to increase their lead to 6-0. After loading the bases, Hideki Matsui grounded into a fielder's choice to score Jeter and make it 3-0. After an RBI double by Posada, Cano gave New York a six-run lead after knocking in a pair with a double down the right-field line.
The Yankees continued to pounce on Loe and added three more runs in the fifth. Alex Rodriguez doubled and scored on Matsui's two-base hit to right. Matsui trotted home on Posada's double. Ron Mahay then relieved Loe and was greeted by Cano, who blooped a single to center as Posada scored to make it 9-0.
Game Notes
The Yankees are 18-5 in the last 23 meetings between the clubs...Earlier this season, Texas was no-hit by Mark Buehrle and the Chicago White Sox on April 18...New York outfielder Johnny Damon did not play due to a back injury...Before the game, the Rangers placed outfielder Frank Catalanotto on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right bicep. The move is retroactive to April 30. The club also recalled outfielder Victor Diaz and pitcher Mike Wood from Triple-A Oklahoma, while pitcher Scott Feldman was optioned to the minors.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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