Hughes Bounces Back With Help of an Un-Wise Ump

Photo courtesy of cbssports.com

Phil Hughes needed a boost of confidence after last week's home run derby loss to the Atlanta Braves. He got it in the form of eight shutout innings in the Yankees 6-4 win over the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium Tuesday night.

It may not have had a real impact on the game, but Hughes also got some help from third base umpire Mike DiMuro on a foul pop in the 7th inning. With a runner on third base and two outs, Indians' third baseman Jack Hannahan lifted a pop up into foul territory on the left side of the field.  Yankees left fielder Dewayne Wise leapt for the ball and fell into the stands. When he got up, DiMuro signaled that Hannahan was out. But DiMuro never checked for the baseball.

Replays showed the ball actually hit the heel of Wise's glove and immediately popped out. The Indians went along with the play until they saw the replay themselves. DiMuro assumed Wise caught the ball - he never actually checked if Wise had it. Hannahan went ballistic when he returned to the field and was ejected from the game (ironically, his replacement Jose Lopez smacked a 3-run home run off of Corey Wade in the 9th).

So while the play was "Jeterian" in nature, Derek actually caught the ball when he dove into the stands. Wise wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Even Indians' manager Manny Acta agreed that you take the out no matter how you get it. Deadspin has video showing the fan who ended up with the baseball..well away from Wise.

As for the Yankees offense, Curtis Granderson and Chris Stewart drove in two runs each and Alex Rodriguez hit a long solo home run. Indians' starter Justin Masterson struggled with his control - he threw 114 pitches in six innings - and gave up four earned runs.

Besides Wise's non-catch and Jeter's 38th birthday (his parents and sister were in attendance), Hughes  was the story of the game. He pitched efficient innings, had command of his fastball, and improved his recrod to 8-6.