| As Phil Hughes mowed down one Oakland A'S batter | | | | to get the victory. |
| after another en route to his second victory of the | | | | Certainly, after his sensational second half of the |
| season, New York Yankee fans can debate the most | | | | season out of the bullpen last year, there has been |
| impressive part of his performance. | | | | hot debate over the merits of keeping him there. |
| Let's take a look. At first glance, many fans would | | | | This is similar to the debate last year over the best |
| point to his one-hitter as the most impressive part. If | | | | role for Joba Chamberlin. After all, the combination of |
| not for an unlucky bounce on a line drive, Hughes | | | | Hughes and Mariano Rivera clicked so well for the |
| might have hurled a no-hitter! One infield single was all | | | | Yankeeslast year. |
| the A's were able to muster. | | | | So, which is the most impressive feat, the one hitter, |
| Others could insist that his ten strikeouts are what | | | | the strike outs or the seven plus innings? Which |
| stand out. With his devastating curve ball, Hughes | | | | would you choose? The correct answer might be |
| sent one Oakland batter after another limping back | | | | none of the above. Think about it. What has been |
| to the dugout with their tails between their legs. | | | | perhaps the greatest factor that has kept Hughes |
| Perhaps Yankee fans were most pleased that | | | | from being a consistent starter? His control, right? |
| Hughes pitched into the seventh inning. That is | | | | The box score shows only two walks against the A's. |
| extremely encouraging given the fact that Hughes | | | | That could be the most encouraging and impressive |
| frequently crumbled when pitching past the sixth | | | | part of the outing. |
| inning during his first stint as a stater. There was no | | | | In any event, at least in this young season, it |
| fading this time, however, as he pitched strongly | | | | appears that the Yankees have made the correct |
| throughout. Strong hitting support from Alex | | | | decision in choosing Hughes as the starter and |
| Rodriquez and Robison Cano was all that he needed | | | | sending Joba Chamberlin back to the bullpen. |