Cano Slams Door on Tribe

It used to be that Yankees fans would cringe whenever Robinson Cano came to the plate with runners in scoring position. The mantra, "don't hit into a double play" could be heard when the bases were loaded. But this is not your, well, your own Robinson Cano any more.

The red hot Cano had three hits, including a back breaking grand slam, as the Yankees opened their four game series with the Cleveland Indians with an 8-2 win. Phil Hughes struck out eight over seven innings to improve to 6-1.

With Alex Rodriguez getting a routine day off, Cano batted clean up for the first time in his career. Prior to this season, it's doubtful Joe Girardi or Joe Torre would have even considered putting Cano in the big hitter spot. But this is the new Robinson Cano, who has worked hard with hitting coach Kevin Long to be more selective in his hitting approach.

After hitting .207 with runners in scoring position (RISP) and .204 with RISP and 2 outs last season, Cano has boosted those numbers to .327 and .259 this season.

Cano was aboard when Nick Swisher put the Yankees ahead 2-0 in the 2nd inning with a home run high off the foul pole in right field. Cano's second single of the game helped loaded the bases against Indians' starter Fausto Carmona in the 6th.

Juan Miranda drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run before Cano came home on a Brett Gardner sacrifice fly for a 4-1 Yankees lead.

Hughes bounced back from two straight rough outings with an impressive performance. He struck out the side in the first inning and limited the Tribe to five hits. He allowed an RBI double to Jhonny Peralta to cut the Yankees lead to 2-1 in the 3rd, but struck out Luis Valbuena with two on and two out to escape further trouble. A Russell Branyan solo home run was the only other run Hughes allowed.

Left-hander Tony Sipp replaced Carmona in the 7th with the Indians down 4-2. Derek Jeter reached on an infield single and Curtis Granderson doubled in the gap in right-center. Mark Teixeira drew his second walk of the game before Cano drilled a pitch into the right field seats for his 10th home run of the season.

Just another good at-bat with runners in scoring position for the new and improved Robinson Cano.

photo courtesy of Yahoo Sports