A's Melt, Yankees Win

On a sweltering night in the Bronx, a night that Phil Hughes would just as soon forget, the Yankees bats picked up the slack and then some and smashed the Oakland Athletics 17-7.

Hughes wasn't around long enough to get the win, but Nick Swisher tied a career high with 5 RBI and Mark Teixeira belted a grand slam as the Yankees had their biggest offensive output since scoring 15 runs against the Orioles back on April 23. A's starter Trevor Cahill is a very good pitcher, but not when he faces the Yankees. He entered the game with an 0 and 3 won-loss record and a 9.72 ERA against the Bronx Bombers. He won't want to look at those numbers tomorrow. The Yankees tagged him for 10 earned runs in just two innings pitched.

His counterpart, Hughes, didn't fare much better. Hoping to built off his solid start against Toronto five days ago, Hughes was bad from the start, and was unable to locate his pitches. He had a 14-2 lead at one point, but with the score 14-5 in the 5th, Hughes loaded the bases with just one out. Having seen his pitcher labor through 98 pitchers already, manager Joe Girardi said enough is enough and went to the bullpen. Hughes was charged with seven runs on his record after Hector Noesi allowed two inherited runners to score. Noesi settled down after that to earn the win (2-0) with 3.2 scoreless innings.

The game was all about offense though. Down 2-0 in the 2nd inning, the Yankees bats took over and battered Cahill. Eduardo Nunez and Brett Gardner reached on RBI singles to tie the game and Derek Jeter put the Yankees ahead for good with a 2-run single off first baseman Conor Jackson's glove. Curtis Granderson's sac fly brought in the fifth and final run of the inning.

The Yankees topped the 2nd inning with a nine run 3rd inning. Nick Swisher smashed a 3-run home run, reliever Michael Wuertz walked in two runs and then allowed Teixeira's slam. It was the first home run for the Yankees; first baseman (playing DH on Friday) since June 30, a span of 78 plate appearances. Swisher added a 2-run single in the 7th to complete his big ribbie night.

Yankees third baseman Brandon Laird made his Major League debut and achieved a bunch of firsts. To begin with, he got to pinch-hit for Derek Jeter. The first pitch to him from Joey Devine went behind his back. He ended up with a walk on a pitch that Harry Doyle would have said was "Jusssssssst outside". Laird scored on Swisher's 7th inning single and one inning later it was Laird with an RBI as he went back up the middle for his first Major League hit.

Notes

A's hitting coach Gerald Perry was ejected in the 4th inning after a horrible strike three call by home plate ump Marty Foster on outfielder Coco Crisp.

To honor Hideki Matsui's 500th home run, the Yankees showed a video of Matsui home runs over the years.

Brandon Laird, Come On Down

The Yankees roster has seen a number of new names and faces this season and another has been added to it. Due to an emergency appendectomy to utility man Ramiro Pena, the Yankees have recalled Brandon Laird from Triple-A Scranton.

Unlike Pena, Laird has made his reputation with his bat and not his glove. He tore up Double-A Trenton last season before a promotion in August to Scranton. Laird started off slowly this season and has raised his OPS to just .711. He does have 10 home runs and 49 RBI playing primarily third base, with some time across the diamond and in the outfield.

Laird hit 23 home runs and drove in 90 runs in 107 games for the Eastern League's Thunder in 2010. He also added 22 doubles and 38 walks and was a Double-A All-Star. He's the younger brother of MLB veteran catcher Gerald Laird.

Pena, who turned 26 today, is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Joba Chamberlain, already sidelined with Tommy John surgery, had an appendectomy two weeks ago.

Time to Catch Up On Some Yankees Business

You know by now that Joe Girardi and his infamous binder will be back for the next 3 years at $3 million a pop. The people have also spoken when I asked if you though GI Joe would be back in 2011. Keeping in mind that the poll was started well before the Cubs named Mike Quade as their permanent manager.

As you can see more than 2/3 of you thought that Girardi would be back. And you were right. Girardi and Brian Cashman will now be looking for a pitching coach to join the staff. Dave Eiland, btw, recently rebuked rumors that he and Girardi did not get along and that is what led to his dismissal.

The Yankees recently asked for permission to talk to former Yankees farmhand and Blue Jays pitching (and Jim Bouton look alike) Gil Patterson, who is currently an employee of the Oakland A's. Patterson was very highly thought of during his time in Toronto.

Free agents - As expected, options for Kerry Wood, Lance Berkman, and Nick Johnson were not exercised, allowing the three to be free agents. Only Wood has a shot at returning.

Derek Jeter - Hal Steinbrenner recently spoke on WFAN and ESPNradio and said he did not expect things to go smoothly. Here's what some others have had to say on the topic.

Dave D'Alessandro (Star Ledger)

Mike Vaccaro (NY Post)

Mark Feinsand (NY Daily News)

Andrew Marchand (ESPN New York)

Sweeny Murti (WFAN)

The Yankees top target on the free agent market is of course Cliff Lee. The lefty dominated the Yankees in both the 2009 and 2010 post-seasons, but wasn't up to his usual game in this year's World Series. His game 5 performance was good, but not good enough. And his game 1 showing was horrendous. It's put some doubt in the minds of fans and pundits, especially since Lee will be 33 next year and as Michael Kay pointed out on his radio show, he's only two years removed from a trip to the minors. Lee will want CC money, but will the Yankees be willing to give it to a player who will 40 when the contract expires.

That's also the subject of the new poll that we ask you to contribute to.

Rumors have it that the Yankees will not be spending money on outfielders Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth, preferring to stick with what they have or go a cheaper route if they want a change.

And if Lee goes elsewhere the Yankees will look into deals for younger pitchers such as Felix Hernandez or Zack Greinke, though the latter questioned his own ability to pitch in the Big Apple.

Brandon Laird (Eastern League) and Melky Mesa (Florida St. League) were named the top players in each of their leagues by Topps (boy do I miss buying packs of baseball cards). Mesa was also added to the 40-man roster to keep him from becoming a free agent.

Chad Gaudin, who never should have been brought back, was shown the door for a second time.

That's it for now...be back with more later...and be sure to check out my Hot Stove column Monday thru Friday on BaseballDigest.com beginning this Monday.

Minor League Recap - 7/1

Games of 6/30

Scranton rallied in the 9th inning for 5-4 win, to salvage the finale of their 4-game series with the Buffalo Bisons. After a walk to Cody Ransom and a single by Eric Duncan, J.D. Closser hit a game tying 3-run home run, his first long ball of the year. Nick Green followed with a walk and moved to 3rd base on Greg Porter's single. Chris Basak's fly ball to right brought home Green with the game winner.

Dan McCutchen was outstanding in his start for the Yankees, allowing 1 run on 6 hits over 6 innings. He also struck out 5. Kei Igawa gave up the 3 runs in the 7th, but was still around in the 9th to pick up the win.

Chad Jennings has more on McCutchen's start and has an update on Alan Horne.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Buffalo 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 9 0 Scranton/WB 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 5 9 0 Recap | Box | W: K. Igawa (8-4, 3.64); L: J. Stevens (0-1, 5.40) HR: SWB: J. Lane (14), J. Closser (1).

Trenton made it three in a row over the Portland SeaDogs behind another big time effort from Eric Hacker. The right-hander allowed 1 run over 7 innings, scattered 6 hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out 3. He improved to 3-1 to go along with a 1.85 ERA. In 92 innings, between Tampa and Trenton, Hacker has allowed just 19 earned runs. Austin Jackson and Reegie Corona belted solo home runs for the Thunder.

Mike Ashmore has some notes on player comings and goings.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Portland 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 Trenton 1 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 X 6 11 0 Recap | Box | W: E. Hacker (3-1, 1.85); L: D. Gassner (0-4, 6.75) HR: TRE: A. Jackson (8), R. Corona (2).

The Tampa Yankees lost a tough one to the Palm Beach Cardinals 4-3. Starter Mike Dunn was charged with 3 runs in 5 innings, and a Yankees late rally fell short. Jose Gil was 4-4 and drove in a pair of runs to lead the Tampa offense.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Tampa 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 1 Palm Beach 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 X 4 7 1 Recap | Box | W: T. Norrick (1-1, 8.53); L: M. Dunn (3-4, 4.24); SV: F. Samuel (16) HR: PBC: L. Gorsett (2).

Jairo Heredia limited the Savannah Sand Gnats to 2 hits over 7 innings as the Charleston RiverDogs won their third straight, 5-3. Heredia allowed 1 unearned run and struck out 6 to improve to 3-2. Austin Romine and Brandon Laird both went deep.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Savannah 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 3 0 Charleston 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 X 5 8 2 Recap | Box | W: J. Heredia (3-2, 2.96); L: B. Rustich (1-4, 5.33) HR: SAV: J. Jimenez (8). CHA: B. Laird (8), A. Romine (2).

Staten Island won a pair of games with the Aberdeen IronBirds last evening. The Baby Bombers won the conclusion of Sunday's game, which had been suspended in the 2nd inning, 5-3. The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 8th when Jahdiel Santamaria singled in the go ahead run. Melky Mesa, who had earlier homered, added an insurance tally with an RBI single of his own. Walter Ibarra, who had just been sent down from Charleston, homered for the Yankees as well.

	June 29, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Aberdeen 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 6 0 Staten Island 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 X 5 9 2 Recap | Box W: J. Gonell (2-1, 3.38); L: H. Williamson (0-1, 5.79); SV: P. Venditte (3) HR: STA: M. Mesa (2), W. Ibarra (1).

S.I. made his 3 straight over the IronBirds with a supberly pitched 3-0 win. Dave Phelps won his first game of the year after allowing just 3 hits over 6 innings. He walked just 1 and struck out 6. Josue Selenes picked up his first save with a scoreless 9th.

	June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Aberdeen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 Staten Island 0 0 0 0 3 0 X 3 5 0 Recap | Box W: D. Phelps (1-0, 2.77); L: P. Egan (0-1, 2.30); SV: J. Selenes (1) HR: None.

The GCL Yankees were knocked around by the GCL Braves, 10-3, as Dellin Betances had another rough rehab outing. Betances was charged with 4 runs, 3 of them earned, on 8 hits in 2.1 innings pitched. Tough rehab assignment for Ryan Pope too, as he allowed 5 runs in 4 innings.

June 30, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E GCL Braves 1 0 3 1 0 1 0 4 0 10 15 3 GCL Yankees 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 4 3 Recap | Box W: E. Spruill (1-0, 2.57); L: D. Betances (0-1, 8.53) HR: BRA: R. Brooks (1).