New York (25-19) at Texas (26-17), 2:05 p.m. ET
Hughes' nine strikeouts
Duration: 00:01:03
05.20.09: Phil Hughes strikes out a career-high nine over five solid innings against the Orioles
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By Jared Diamond / Special to MLB.com
05/24/09 8:16 PM ET
NEW YORK -- The way they played during this past homestand, it's understandable the Yankees may never want to leave the confines of their new stadium. After an 8-2 stretch that included four dramatic walk-off wins, who could blame them? In a 10-day span, the Yankees vaulted themselves from the .500 mark to just a game behind the Red Sox for first place in the American League East standings.
But, alas, every homestand has to end eventually. Even one laden with thrilling comebacks and a constant stream of whipped cream pies to the faces of unsuspecting players. And that conclusion is now.
The Yankees begin a seven-game road trip against the Rangers and Indians Monday in Texas, with Phil Hughes on the mound. It isn't often a team gets a 10-game homestand, and the Bombers are glad they were able to make the most of it.
"This homestand, we played well, pitched well. Defensively, we played pretty well," outfielder Johnny Damon said. "The team is a better position today than 10 days ago."
Is it ever. At the start of the homestand, the Yankees were 17-17, and that's only because they won the final two games of their road trip in Toronto. Now they are eight games over .500, their high-water mark.
Despite returning to the new Stadium having lost their past five home games, the Yankees suddenly jelled and played their best baseball of the season. They completed a four-game sweep of the Twins -- the first three in walk-off fashion. The the Yanks swept three games from the Orioles.
Though they lost two of three to the defending World Series champion Phillies, nearly everyone in the clubhouse was in agreement that it was the kind of homestand that can spark a team moving forward.
"It's been a great homestand," Girardi said. "It's been exciting, it's been successful. It's good to be home."
Now the Yankees have the challenge of continuing their strong play away from home. They may be aided by the return of catcher Jorge Posada by the end of the road trip, but Girardi hedged his bets before Sunday's game and stressed that Posada likely will not come off the disabled list until the next homestand.
The road trip starts in a setting the Yanks should be used to by now -- a launching pad. Much has been made of the home runs flying out of the new Yankee Stadium at a record pace. Rangers Ballpark in Arlington for years has been known as a haven for hitters. That's what Hughes is up against.
Earlier in the week, there was some doubt Hughes would make this start at all, with Chien-Ming Wang seeming close to returning to the rotation. But Girardi activated Wang Friday as a reliever, so Hughes will get the ball again.
"I want a good outing, that's all," Girardi said of Hughes. Just continue to pitch and use all your pitches. Stay down in the zone. That's a ballpark where a lot of runs could be scored, so it's important to stay down and stay ahead. You don't give them free baserunners, because that's an explosive offense."
The way the Rangers have been playing lately, it could be a tough series. Texas has won 10 of 13 and is coming off a three-game sweep of Houston at Minute Maid Park. The Rangers enter the series atop the AL West and have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball.
Cleveland, on the other hand, has struggled and been one of the American League's biggest disappointments to this point. But the Yankees know that on the road, anything could happen.
No matter how well they played on the last homestand.
"Texas is playing well right now," Damon said. "Cleveland, anything can happen in four days. But we feel good about our team."
Pitching matchup
NYY: RHP Phil Hughes (2-2, 7.06 ERA)
Hughes picked up a win in his last start, allowing three runs in five innings to the Orioles on Wednesday.
TEX: LHP Matt Harrison (4-3, 4.71 ERA)
Harrison had a four-game win streak and two-game complete-game streak snapped in his last start. He allowed three homers against the Tigers after yielding four homers in his previous seven starts combined this season. He surrendered five runs on nine hits, which tied a season high, in five innings. Harrison will make his second career start against the Yankees. He allowed two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings in a Rangers win last season. Damon is the only Yankee with a career hit off Harrison.
Tidbits
Injured players Posada, Jose Molina, Xavier Nady and Cody Ransom all traveled to Tampa, Fla., on Sunday to intensify their workouts and prepare to play in rehab games as soon as this week. ... The Yanks have set a franchise high with 11 straight games without an error. They broke their previous mark of 10 consecutive contests without a miscue, set in 1977 and matched in '93. ... Derek Jeter has reached base in each of his past 47 Interleague games, dating back to June 25, 2006. He is also the all-time leader in Interleague hits with 286.
