The New York Yankees won the second game of their three-game series against the Cleveland Indians, 6-4, on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. Phil Hughes (8-6) pitched eight shutout innings in which he allowed just six hits and one walk while striking out four.
Cory Wade relieved Hughes, and promptly gave up four hits and four earned runs, three of which came on a Jose Lopez home run to left field. Wade was pulled with one out left in the ninth, allowing Rafael Soriano to enter the game and earn his 16th save of the year on just two pitches.
While Hughes was shutting down the Indians lineup, the Yankees were doing a good job generating runs without relying on homers. Nick Swisher and DeWayne Wise occupied the corners when Chris Stewart hit an infield single to score Swisher in the second inning. On the next at-bat, Derek Jeter loaded the bases with another infield single, setting up Curtis Granderson for a two-RBI single to left center to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead. For the night, the Yankees went 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Mark Teixeira hit a sac fly in the fifth to score Granderson and extend the Yankee's lead to 4-0 in the fifth. Indians starter Justin Masterson (4-7) left the mound after six innings having given up four earned runs off seven hits and three walks, while striking out two.
Of course, New York can't go too long without showing off a little power. Alex Rodriguez took Indians reliever Tony Sipp deep to left field for his 13th home run of the season in the seventh inning. Stewart capped the Yankees' scoring with a sac fly to score Swisher in the eighth.
The Yankees got a little help from the umpire at the end of the seventh inning. Wise appeared to make a spectacular grab over the fence and into the stands on a Jack Hannahan foul ball. Replay showed that Wise never had control of the ball, even though the umpire called an out to end the inning. Hannahan was subsequently ejected for arguing the play.
-- See Pinstripe Alley for complete discussion and analysis of the Yankees.