Game 34 Wrap-Up: NYY 11 KC 6

(All of the high fives and fist bumps to Mr. Overbay.  Courtesy of the AP)

The Yanks got their "8 in 7" road trip off to a good start by taking 2 of 3 in Colorado, and they were looking to keep the momentum going in Kansas City last night with Phil Hughes on the mound.  The Royals are off to a good start of their own this year, and finally appear to be taking advantage of all the high draft picks they've had in recent years.  It wasn't to be for them last night, however, as the Yankees jumped all over starter Wade Davis early and never let up on their way to a big offensive night.

Game Notes:

- Davis retired the top of the order 1-2-3 in the top of the 1st, then got in all kinds of trouble in the 2nd.  Travis Hafner drew a leadoff walk and scored on an Ichiro 2-run HR, Jayson Nix doubled and scored on a Lyle Overbay 2-run HR, and Hughes had himself a 4-0 lead.

- He gave most of it back quickly and in very frustrating fashion.  After putting the first 2 runners on, he struck out 2 in a row and had Jarrod Dyson 0-2 before falling back to 2-2 and throwing one 4-seamer too many for a 3-run homer.

- The Lyle Overbay show was just beginning.  He drove in another run in the 4th with a double and another in the 6th as part of a 5-run inning that finally broke the game open.  Chris Nelson also got in on the act with a 2-run single, and Brett Gardner plated him with an RBI triple.

- Hughes never got back on track, giving up runs in the 5th and 6th, and his night ended before he could get out of the 6th inning.  He threw strikes, just didn't locate his fastball consistently.

- The bullpen was real short behind him, but that didn't stop it from being effective.  Shawn Kelley was spectacular in 2.1 innings behind Hughes, allowing 0 baserunners and striking out 6.  Boone Logan K'd 2 himself in the 9th.

- Just for good measure, Overbay drove in another run on a GB single in the 9th.


F*ck Yeahs:

- Overbay: 4-5, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, 1 LOB.  Bravo, sir.  Bravo indeed.

- Ichiro: 3-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, 1 SB.  Been swinging the bat really well for the last week or two after his slow start.

- Kelley: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K.  Easily Kelley's best game in his still short Yankee career, and indicative of what he's capable of when he's commanding his fastball.

Oh Nos:

- Vernon Wells: 0-5, 4 LOB.  He probably just didn't want to hog Overbay's time in the spotlight.  What a great teammate.

- Hughes: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.  First HR he's given up in 3 starts.  Last night was a familiar type of bad Phil start, but let's see how he rebounds next time out before forgetting how well he had been pitching prior to last night.

Next Up:

Night game tonight with Andy Pettitte and James Shields getting the start.  That should be fun.