Bronx, NY (Sports Network) – Jorge Posada hit a grand slam for the second straight game and Phil Hughes picked up his ninth win of the season, as the Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 9-5 victory.
Posada also walked twice and scored twice while becoming the first Yankee to hit grand slams in consecutive games since fellow backstop and Hall of Famer Bill Dickey turned the trick August 3rd and 4th in 1937.
Robinson Cano hit his 13th home run of the season, walked twice and scored three runs. He continues to lead the majors with a crisp .371 average. Ramiro Pena chipped in two RBI and Brett Gardner two hits and a run batted in as New York won for the 11th time in 14 games.
Hughes (9-1) endured a four-run sixth inning and was pulled after 5 2/3 frames having allowed five runs on seven hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts. The win set a new career high for the young right-hander, was his fourth in a row and tied him with Tampa Bay’s David Price for the American League-lead.
Brian Moehler (0-3) lasted just 4 2/3 innings and surrendered four runs on four hits with five walks. Kevin Cash drilled a two-run homer and Tommy Manzella came through with a two-run single for the Astros, who have lost eight straight to the Yankees.