Yankees vs. Tigers - April 29

The Yankees finally return to Yankee Stadium tonight for the start of a 9-game homestand. It won't be an easy 9 games either, with 3-game series against Detroit, Seattle, and Cleveland.

Things kick off tonight with Phil Hughes (0-3, 7.85) taking to the mound against Tigers veteran Kenny Rogers. Hughes will again be trying to right the ship after a rocky start this season. He appeared to be on the right track in Chicago when the rains came and forced his removal from the game after just two innings.

Hughes faced the Tigers just once last season without success. He got saddled with the loss after allowing 5 runs in 6 innings pitched. He allowed just four hits, but three of them were home runs.

Rogers has struggled this season as well, compiling a 1-3 record with a 7.66 in 5 starts. The 43-yr old left-hander made just 11 starts last season after a blot clot removed from left shoulder. Rogers has faced the Yankees 35 times in his career, only 14 of them as a starter. He's put a 5-7, 6.45 record and the team has a .325 average against him.

Tigers vs. Hughes

Curtis Granderson 1-2 1 HR 1 RBI
Carlos Guillen 1-3 1 HR 2 RBI
Brandon Inge 0-2
Magglio Ordonez 0-3
Placido Polanco 1-3
Ivan Rodriguez 0-1
Marcus Thames 1-3 1 HR 2 RBI

Yankees vs. Rogers

Bobby Abreu 1-5 2 RBI
Johnny Damon 15-49 (.306) 2 HR 7 RBI
Morgan Ensberg 1-5 1 RBI
Jason Giambi 10-23 (.435) 4 HR 9 RBI 7 BB
Derek Jeter 8-20 (.400) 1 HR 2 RBI 5 BB
Hideki Matsui 2-3 1 HR 1 RBI
Jose Molina 5-12 (.417) 3 RBI

It's unfortunate that A-Rod and Jorge Posada are out of the lineup since they have destroyed Rogers in the past. Arod is 10-19 (.526)-5 HR-9 RBI with 5 BB. Posada is hitting .500 (8-16) against Rogers with 1 HR, 2 RBI and 9 walks.

News and Notes

According to a Star Ledger report yesterday Harlan Chamberlain was released from the hospital and is back home. Great news!

The Yankees are really reaching out to find catchers. The Times Tribune's Chad Jennings reports that the Yankees have brought in 29-yr old catcher Eladio Rodriguez to take Chris Stewart's spot at Scranton. "E-Rod" was the one time MVP of the Israel Baseball League.