After almost getting shut out yesterday against the Rays, the Yankees offense was again unable to score the necessary number of runs to give their starting pitcher a chance to win this game. Hughes was just about as good as the Yankees could have drawn it up, going seven strong innings and allowing just one run on a David Wright solo shot to lead off the seventh inning. After fouling off a few pitches against Hughes, Wright pulled one into the left field seats to tie the game at 1. As much as Yankee fans want to bury Hughes for coughing up leads, there was no room for Hughes to make a mistake tonight. He was working with a one run lead for an inning and knew that it would be difficult for him to keep the Mets scoreless all the way through. The home run by Wright was nothing but Hughes making one mistake that was magnified because of the score. Hughes is not an ace and has a tendency of giving up leads when his offense doesn't score him many runs. If the Yankees score him three or more runs in a start for Hughes, he wins at an incredible pace. If they don't score for him he loses. He is a fly ball pitcher who likes working with a lead. At some point down the line, Hughes is bound to give up a home run. His fly ball rate is incredible, and even spacious Citi Field couldn't hold the Wright bomb. Helping Hughes out on defense and offense tonight was none other than Brett Gardner, who tripled on a misplay by Duda in left field and would later come around to score. In the bottom of the inning, Gardner robbed Murphy of a two-run home run to center field by making a spectacular leaping grab at the top of the wall to preserve the Yankees one run lead.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, David Robertson was unable to keep the game tied in the eighth, as the feel for his pitches wasn't there. Robertson struck out Davis to begin the inning but followed the K with a fly ball grounds rule double by Mike Baxter. He would walk Jordany Valdespin, who pinch hit for pitcher Brandon Lyon. After a passed ball by Stewart that allowed the runners to advance into scoring position, Tejada grounded into a fielder's choice and Baxter was out at home plate. The very next batter, Daniel Murphy lined a single into center field to score Valdespin, giving the Mets a permanent lead. Robertson would plunk Wright and Logan replaced him to strike Duda out with the bases loaded. The Yankees couldn't score off Parnell in the ninth to suffer their second straight loss.
The Yankees are the only team in the Majors to not suffer a three game losing streak, so you have to figure they will bounce back tomorrow. The road to winning won't become any easier, as stud Matt Harvey gets the ball for the Mets. Harvey has been outstanding, but in his last start against the Reds he allowed four earned runs over seven innings to an explosive lineup. The Mets will face a great pitcher too, as Hiroki Kuroda brings his great ERA into Citi Field to try to turn the Yankees losing streak around.
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