Marcus Thames Gets the Pie, Nick Johnson Has Surgery: A Rough Night for Pitchers

It was a rough night to be a pitcher in the Bronx last night. Nine pitchers in total were used in the contest between the Yankees and Red Sox. Of the nine, five gave up runs in the 11-9 Yankees win.

The starters were not good. Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka had a bad first inning in which the Yankees scored five runs. The righty lasted 4.2 innings, giving up nine hits. Three of those nine were doubles. The Yankees scored seven runs off Matsuzaka before he was taken out with two outs in the fifth.

Yankees starter Phil Hughes has been one of the league's best pitchers so far this season. Last night, however, was not a good performance. He was able to battle and make his way through five innings, but Hughes gave up five runs on six hits and a walk. He gave up two home runs, one to David Ortiz in the fourth and the other to J.D. Drew in the fifth.

The Yankees brought Boone Logan to the mound in the sixth with a 7-5 lead. The lefty gave up two hits and a run. The run came on a home run by Victor Martinez that cut the lead to 7-6.

With a 7-6 lead and Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson unavailable to pitch, the Yankees called upon Chan Ho Park to pitch the seventh inning. Park was activated off the disabled list prior to the game. He had been on the DL since April 16th with a hamstring injury. His performance showed the Yankees he should have stayed on the DL, or anywhere else other than on the roster...

...Continue this story at Double G Sports.