This game feels like a laugher but it’s only 4 runs. Is Verlander that good even when he’s bad or are Phil and the Yankee offense that bad even when they’re good? Yes I realize this sounds like McCarver

Don Kelly up.

First pitch inside ball 1.

1-0 is a FB inside, barely, for ball 2.

2-0 is a 91MPH FB in the same place, called a strike this time.

2-1 is wayy inside, 3-1.

Pitch 60 for Hughes, who is determined to give the lead back, is a 92MPH FB low and inside for an easy take, ball 4.

Runner at 1st.  Santos up.  0 outs.  Let’s go.

First pitch is a good curve, hit and run on maybe as the runner goes, fouled off for strike 1.

0-1 to Santos, who is doing his best Russell Martin impression with his batting average, is a FB on the outer half fouled off to right for strike 2.

0-2 is called a curve but this time it’s way outside and in the dirt and Russell makes the play to stop it, 1-2.

Let’s go Hughes.

Flaherty calling for a high fastball.

1-2 to Santos is a high fastball on the inner half that is fouled back again.  Good pitch. 

Pitch 5 of the AB is a gooooooood curve that Santos is way out in front of but gets the bat on and grounds foul to 3B.

1-2 again is a FB inside, another good pitch, and Santos gets the bat on it.

Pitch 7 is the worst pitch of the AB, a FB down the middle, but Santos grounds it right at Jeter for the 6-4-3 GIDP.

Berry up.

First pitch to Berry is a 93MPH FB up and out for ball 1.  Decent location.

1-0 is in the same place at 94MPH this time he swings right through it, 1-1.

1-1 is a FB down the middle fouled off into the LF stands, 1-2.

Hughes dialing it up a bit to Berry.

1-2 is an 85MPH change that Berry lines foul to LF.

Pitch 5 is way high, 2-2.

2-2 to Berry is a good FB that ties him up inside but fouled back.

2-2 again, Martin calls for a FB inside, and it’s high and outside for ball 3.

Full count to Berry.  Martin calls for a FB outside and that’s exactly what he gets.  Pitch was a bit high, but Hughes gets the call for a strikeout looking.

After 5, it’s Yanks 5, Tigers 1.  Go Hughes.

First AB is critical for Hughes in the 6th.  If he doesn’t let Worth reach, then he can still get to a Quality Start following inevitable homers by Cabrera and Fielder.

Ibanez up.

First pitch FB outer half for strike 1. 

0-1 is a FB on the outer half again but this time Ibanez rolls it over to Fielder for an easy out.

Swisher up.

Verlander at 91 pitches.

First pitch to Swish is a changeup(?) at 89MPH on the outer half for strike 1.

0-1 is up and in for ball 1.

1-1, Verlander working quickly again, is a FB down the middle that Swisher pops up to Boesch for the second out.  Should have done more with that pitch.

Chavez up.

First pitch changeup (again to Chavez) outside for ball 1.

1-0 is another change this time outer half for a strike.  Not hittable.

1-1 is ANOTHER change that Chavez swings through for strike 2.

1-2 is a fourth change in a row, but Chavez gets the bat on it and pops it up over Peralta’s head in no-man’s land for a bloop single.

Good pitch, bad result for Verlander.  Just one of those days.

Martin up.

First pitch swinging at a FB and fouls it back behind home for strike 1.

0-1 to Russell .189 Martin is a curve that is taken for a ball.  Russell faked a bunt there.

1-1, pitch #100, is another curve, this time drops in for a strike.

1-2 to Muscle is another curve, flied to Berry for out #3.

After 5.5, Yanks 5, Tigers 1.

huuuuuuuuuuuuughes

Best inning for Hughes. With only 86 pitches he could go 7 and maybe 8 if he pitches well.

Worth up.

First pitch up and in but called a strike

0-1 up and Worth swings right through it for strike 2.

0-2 is a good pitch up in the zone but called a ball.  Hughes going all FB right now.

1-2 is in the same spot but Worth fouls it back.

Pitch 4 is a curve in the dirt that Worth tries to check his swing on but can’t and he’s the victim of a strikeout for Hughes.  Good work there.

Okay, pitch around Cabrera here please.

First pitch, 93 MPH up in the zone and right down the middle but Cabrera swings through it.

0-1 in the SAME PLACE, but Cabrera only fouls it back.

Holy shit.

0-2 to Cabrera is a FB up and outer half and Cabrera swings right through it.

Impressive.

Here’s the Prince.

First pitch, 94MPH inner half and unhittable for strike 1.

0-1 changeup low and in, easy to lay off. 

1-1 to Fielder is a fastball low and in that Fielder fouls off.  Hughes really showing up right now.  I like it.

1-2 up and in to Fielder that’s grounded weakly to Teix.

I have to say, that was an impressive sequence to two of the most dangerous hitters in baseball.  He had a similar sequence earlier in the game, but then his mechanics seemed to get screwed up and his FB was bleeding back again.  During that inning, he threw the ball to the glove and didn’t shake Russell Martin.  The results were excellent.  K’d Cabrera on 3 pitches and tied Fielder up for an easy out to first.

Go Hughes.

Strike to A-Rod way inside per the TBS zone.

Jeter up.

First pitch curve low and away but called a strike.  Bad call.

0-1 is a 93MPH FB inside for ball 1.

1-1, pitch #105, is a FB right down the middle and Jeter bloops it to RCF for a single. 

0 outs, Runner on 1st, Granderson up.

First pitch to Granderson is a changeup low in the dirt for ball 1.

Duane Below (LHP) warming.

1-0 to Granderson is a 92MPH just outside for ball 2. 

2-0 is a 93MPH right down the middle but Granderson was taking all the way.

2-1 to Granderson is another FB this time a bit more inside, but he takes it for strike 2.

2-2, pitch #110, is a changeup(?) inside for ball 3.  87MPH, not sure what that was.

Payoff, 97MPH and Granderson swings through it.  Jeter was running on the play, but stops halfway and goes back…he’s called safe at first but Fielder looked like he got him.  1 out, man on first.

ARod up.

First pitch 95MPH inside for ball 1. 

1-0 same place, same speed, called strike 1.

1-1 to Alex, who Verlander seems to be targetting, is an 84MPH changeup that Alex lines right back up the middle. 

Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out for Cano who has been absolutely fantastic with RISP.

Leyland goes to the bullpen and Below will be brought in to face Cano.

[109] Yeah, I had it the same.  Glad I’m not seeing things.

Cano can’t hit lefties

First pitch to Cano almost hits him for ball 1. 

6.1 9h 5r 3er 4k 4bb 114pitches is the line for Verlander.

1-0 is a FB right down the middle that Cano takes all the way for strike 1.

1-1 is a FB that Cano rips to Fielder who takes the easy out at first.  2 outs

Teixeira up.

First pitch low and inside for ball 1.

1-0 is a called strike

1-1 is a FB that Teix misses and flies to Kelly for out #3.

After 6.5 it’s Yanks 5, Tigers 1.

Let’s honor America.

tex had started 8 dps…thats fabulous.

Delmon Young up.  Let’s go Hughes.

First pitch curve grounded foul to 3B.

0-1 is another curve, this time Young checks his swing and takes for ball 1.

1-1 FB right down the middle popped foul behind home.

1-2 from Hughesday is a nasty curve in the dirt that Young swings over the top of for the K.  I wish he did more of that in full counts.  In the past, IIRC, he would use the curve almost exclusively in K situations, but now he doesn’t.

Boesch up.

First pitch called strike FB down the middle.

0-1 to Boesch is fouled off to 3B side, late on the FB again.

Hughes not fucking around with Boesch, 5 straight FB strikes to Boesch.

0-2 is a curve in the dirt for ball 1.

Give ‘em the heater, Ricky.

1-2 is a FB that Boesch pops up weakly to Chavez.  2 outs.

Peralta up. 

Pitch #96 is a FB down the middle that is lined the other way to RF for a single.  Not upset about that hit.

Kelly up.

First pitch FB up and out fouled away to LF side for strike 1.

0-1 is another FB up and in and it’s popped up just behind home.  Martin barely has to move and makes the play for out #3.

After 7, it’s Yanks 5, Tigers 1.  Hughes has been impressive today.  70% of the time he’s thrown the ball exactly where he wanted to.  He lost himself a bit in the 3rd/4th innings, but other than that has been nails.

hughes da man

6 Ks so far today for Hughes.  Nice.  He’s pitching very well, but has also been pretty lucky.

First pitch from Below to Ibanez is low for ball 1.

1-0 is “swung at” according to the HP ump for strike 1.

1-1 to Iganez is a FB way inside for ball 2.

2-1 right down the middle but he pops it up to shallow left and Peralta makes the play for out 1.  Minor quibble to have Ibanez in L vs. L but it’s fine.

Swisher up.

First pitch looks off-speed (no gun reading) and taken for strike 1.

0-1 down the middle lined JUST foul to third.  Nice swing.

0-2 to Swish is inside for ball 1.  Good pitch.

1-2 right down broadway but Swisher grounds it up the middle to 2B and is out.  2 outs.

Chavez up.

First pitch outer half strike 1. 

0-1 is a breaking ball that Chavez grounds lazily to SS for out #3.  Quick work.

Hughes back out for 8th, eh? I like it.

Whoever called reverse lock for this game was right on

For teh 9?

Let him start the 9th.

Omir Santos up.

First pitch curve low. 

1-0 FB flied to Swisher for out #1.  Kay explaining why his BA is higher than his OBP.  I’ve leared a lot.

Berry up.

First pitch FB and Berry lolly pops it to Jeter for out #2

Worth up.

Pitch #101 is a FB outer half for strike 1.  Hughes looks good.

0-1 is another FB this time a bit more outside, 93MPH for ball 1.

1-1 even more outside, ball 2.

2-1 again outside, ball 3.  All fastballs, but all flying outside.  Let’s go Hughes.  Pour it down.

3-1 is right down the middle and ripped hard but right to Jeter on one hop and he makes the play to Teix for the third out.

8IP for Hughes.  He did a great job.  I’d let him start the 9th, but with the heavy hitters up, it might be Soriohno time.

After 8 it’s Yanks 5, Tigers 1

It would certainly be something if Hughes got the first complete game of the year. Does he have a complete game in his career?

Do you believe in miracles? Too soon?

bug

Does UJD hate Phil a little less now?

Villareal in.  Martin up.

First pitch fouled off.

0-1 is a curve or slider but it was about 10 feet too short so I can’t tell.

1-1, as Flash tells me it was a slider, is a FB on the outer half that Martin lines over 2B for a single which he extends into a 2B. 

Jeter, 2-4 on the day, at the plate.

First pitch, nobody out and runner at 2nd, is a FB on the inside corner for strike 1.

0-1 is another FB on the inside corner for strike 2.

Sweaty Freddy up in the ‘pen.

0-2 to Jeter, as Kay has now gotten Jeter’s daily line (he said 0-5) and the count (said 0-1) wrong is fouled off to 1B side.  Still 0-2

Pitch 4 is a strike, but he missed the glove so it was called a ball at 97MPH (no gun).

1-2 is 98MPH inner half but fouled off behind home.

Crowd at the stadium is silent, but it’s still packed.

Pitch 6 is inside again, 96MPH, fouled off to 1B side.  Jeets hanging in there.

1-2 to the Captain is a nasty slider down and away but Jeter just gets the bat on it and fouls it off.  Nice AB here for Jeter.

Pitch 8 of the AB is right down the middle and he blows it by Jeter.

Granderson up.

And the only hit with RISP was a flyball by Cano that should have been caught

Long thought to not be possible, mathematicians have identified the first instance of a negative probability, when the chance of Russel Martin scoring after a leadoff double was calculated to be -10000%.

First pitch 98MPH inside to Granderson

1-0 right down the middle popped up to 3B side for out #2

ARod up.

Big matchup for Villareal.  Let’s see what he’s got.

97MPH outer half, Alex swings through it for strike 1.

Let’s go Alex. 

0-1 is another FB outer half that Alex fouls off behind 1B but nobody can get to it as it drops in.

0-2, as Alex is clearly overmatched here, is a FB inside for ball 1.  I expected a nasty slider there, so we’ll probably see it now.

1-2 is FB again, inside, Alex fouls it into the 1B stands. 

He has a strikeout if he throws the slider here.

Pitch 5 is a FB that rides up and into Alex who leans out of the way for a ball.

2-2 from Villareal is a FB right down the middle but up and Alex swings through it.

Hughes coming back out.  8.5 IP in the books, Yanks 5 Tigers 1. 

Go Hughes.

I missed who was pitching there. He threw some gas.

This seems awfully fate-tempty.

Russel Martin and Eduardo Nunez go behind the scenes at Wrestlemania? What is this, 1999?

YEAH!

Great positioning there.

You get Cabrera and Fielder and give up a hit to Delmon Young?

Oh for fuck’s sake Girardi, let him finish.

haha, and they can’t get the kid off the field.

They say they won’t show guys who run out onto the field so as not to encourage people running out ont he field ... but there doesn’t really seems to be a shortage of guys running out on the field, does there?

WOW.  That was impressive.  I’m feeling almost optimistic.  Woot!

Way to go Phil. Whatta performance.

HUUUUUGHES!

Phil HUGE!

Cabrera up.

First pitch FB outer half to Cabrera for strike 1.

0-1 is same place a little lower fouled off for strike 2.

Pitch 108 is a really nice FB on the outer half but called a ball.  Looked like strike 3.

1-2 is a FB up and in, missed the spot for ball 2.

2-2 to Cabrera, Martin calls for a FB outside and gets it.  Cabrera swings through it and foul tips it into Martin’s glove.  Nice sequence.  Go Hughes.  K #7.

Fielder up.

First pitch FB up in the zone for ball 1.

If I’m Phil, I give him some chin music here.

1-0 is a FB up again this time fouled off to 3B side for strike 1.

Hughes only has 1 CG and it was rain shortened per Kay.

1-1 is up in the zone again and Fielder lines it on one hope to Jeter for out #2.

Hughes pitched Fielder up in the zone in both of his last two ABs.  The HR was a curve that hung, so maybe it was just a mistake.

Young up.

First pitch up and in for ball 1.

1-0 is right down the middle but fouled off behind home for strike 1.

1-1 to Young is a FB on the outer half.  Good pitch, but he connects for a single between 1B/2B hole.  Good pitch, bad results.

Boesch up.

Girardi seems to want to leave him in, but we’ll see.  I’d let him go after Boesch.  Apparently someone is running around on the field.

Girardi is on the top step of the dugout.  I think he’s pulling Hughes for Soriohno after this debacle.

Nope.  He gave him a chat and went back to the dugout.  Good job Joe.  Let him finish it.

First pitch to Boesch is a FB up and away for ball 1 at 91MPH.

1-0 is a really nice FB on the outer half that’s fouled off to 3B side. 

1-1 from Phil 4:13 is another FB that bleeds to the outer half but Boesch only fouls it off.  Russ set up inside, but the pitch ended up on the outer half.

1-2 is a bit outside at 93MPH and Boesch takes it.

Drop the hammer.

2-2 Martin calls for a FB inside and it bleeds back over the middle but it’s just foul into the LF stands.

Seriously Russ, drop the hammer.

Pitch 6 is another FB that bleeds to the middle, just a bit less this time and Boesch swings through it for the 8th strikeout of the day for Hughes.

CG for Hughes.

Yay Hughes.  Yay Jeter.  Yay ARod.  Yay Cano.  Yay Verlander.

You’re all welcome for the second liveblog by shaked.  Nobody asked, yet I still delivered.  I’m like the NY Post.

Also, what a great way to follow up the worst loss of the year.

I’m so happy I’m actually going to listen to John and Suzyn on the postgame show.

Hughes runs HRs-in-consecutive-starts streak to 11!

Phil Phranchise is alive! Still 25 years old, I don’t need him to be Verlander/ Felix/Strasberg, I do think he can be the righty Andy Pettitte.

I was watching some townie highlights and during the replay of Bautista’s bomb the Jay’s color man starts a sentence with “If you’re one of those people who don’t think home runs matter that much . . .”  Who?  Who are these people who think home runs don’t matter much?

[149] 1 word: rally-killer. It counts as one word because I put a hyphen in.