A-Rod, Yanks back sharp Hughes

A-Rod, Yanks back sharp Hughes

Chamberlain, Rivera close door as New York coasts to win

By David Briggs / MLB.com

CLEVELAND -- It's a strange prospect for the Yankees.

A team that has relied on experience and big-money stars for much of the past decade have entrusted their playoff fortunes in the hands of two of the game's four-youngest pitchers.

No pressure, kids.

Yet Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain are no ordinary 21-year-olds. And in the tension-filled atmosphere of a soldout Jacobs Field on Friday night, the pair showed just why they may be better stretch run options than any quick-fix trade deadline move could have offered in the Yankees' 6-1 dusting of first-place Cleveland.

Hughes, in his second start back from the disabled list, was brilliant over six innings and Chamberlain, in his second big league outing, was even better over the next two in a message-sending win that lifted the Yankees into a first-place tie with Seattle in the American League Wild Card race.

Yes, the Yankees are back. By winning 20 of their last 27 games, the Bombers now find themselves back in a setting -- leading a race -- they haven't seen since Opening Day.

And on Friday, it was thanks to the improbably green duo.

"To come up and contribute on a team like this where they haven't seen this [youth] in a while, " Hughes said, "it's a pretty cool thing."

Said Chamberlain, "Age is just a number."

Perhaps that will offer some consolation to the Indians' bats, which came in with baseball's fifth-best run-scoring offense.

Hughes gave up just one run on four hits while striking out six over six innings. Tactically mixing his curve and change with a flawlessly commanded fastball, the right-hander kept the Tribe flailing all night.

"He really pitched tonight," said bench coach Don Mattingly, who led the club Friday night while manager Joe Torre served his one-game suspension for his role in Tuesday's melee in Toronto.

Hughes' second career win was particularly welcome after his disappointing return from the disabled list. On Saturday against Kansas City, Hughes was battered for six runs over just 4 2/3 innings.

That changed Friday, thanks to a pair of mechanical changes Hughes worked on during his week's side sessions. Whereas last time out, he positioned himself on the far right side of the rubber and rushed through his delivery, Hughes shifted to the slab's middle Friday and made a conscious effort to slow himself down once he got into the set position.

"Both of [the changes] felt like they really paid off," Hughes said.

And what about the other guy, Chamberlain?

"This other kid, wow," third baseman Alex Rodriguez said. "That's pretty darn electric stuff. I'm glad I don't need to hit that guy."

Chamberlain tossed two perfect innings and struck out four in the seventh and eighth, his devastating slider and high 90s fastball leaving Cleveland's bats with hardly a chance. In the eighth inning, he consecutively struck out Josh Barfield, Grady Sizemore and Kenny Lofton, all swinging.

All this came from Chamberlain in his second big league appearance -- in a pennant race and in the opener of a defining three-week stretch that sees the Yankees playing 17 games against playoff-contending clubs.

"Pressure's what you make of it," Chamberlain said. "I try not to think about it."

Same for Hughes, his four career outings making him the graybeard of the two.

"To be honest, it didn't feel any different than any other game."

Said shortstop Derek Jeter: "They don't seem fazed by anything. They have a lot of confidence in their ability. And they should."

Offensively, Rodriguez laced his 37th homer of the season over the center-field wall in the second, Melky Cabrera extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games and the Yankees' offense tagged one of the league's hottest pitchers, Fausto Carmona, with four runs over seven innings. Yet the way Hughes and Chamberlain were throwing, it didn't seem to matter.

Not that they'll say as much. The two 21-year-old locker neighbors in the corner of Cleveland's visiting clubhouse are still deferring to the club's veterans.

"Right now, we're getting our feet wet," Hughes said. "We're soaking it in."

But give them a few more weeks, a few more seasons, and perhaps they'll be the stars. They were Friday.

"Hopefully it can continue for a lot of years," Hughes said with a smile.

Notes: Posada continues break

Notes: Posada continues break

Catcher could return to lineup Sunday after resting neck

By David Briggs / MLB.com

CLEVELAND -- It's a rough life catcher Jorge Posada lives behind the plate, foul tips slamming into him several times a night.

It goes to figure then that a bad night of sleep would force the Yankees All-Star to miss his longest stretch of the season.

Yes, Posada missed his second straight game Saturday night with an aching neck that stems from some bad pillows in a Toronto hotel earlier this week.

The injury, however, is not believed to be serious. Posada said Saturday his neck "feels better" and manager Joe Torre said his catcher may return for Sunday's series finale.

Posada last played Wednesday, but the pain in his stiffened neck gradually worsened after taking a couple foul balls off his mask. The tenderness reached a head Friday.

But his neck improved Saturday, to the point where Posada did some light hitting. For now, though, the Yankees seem bent on being cautious.

"You don't want to mess with the neck too much," Posada said.

Posada is hitting .338 with 14 homers and 67 RBIs.

Karstens on starting track: If all goes to plan, Torre said Jeff Karstens will fill Tuesday's vacant starting spot in the rotation.

"He seems to be the guy that will get the nod," Torre said.

The only way that would change is if the Yankees were forced use Karstens out of the bullpen this weekend.

That is unlikely, but possible. Consider that New York's pen was essentially down two men Saturday night.

Reliever Jim Brower was away from the club to be with his wife, Jessica, who delivered the couple's first child -- a baby girl named Landry Joy -- in Minnesota. And the Yankees planned to give the sensational Joba Chamberlain, who tossed a pair of perfect innings Friday, at least a day of rest between outings.

In safe hands: Alex Rodriguez stood smiling and flipping a sullied ball in front of his locker following the Yankees' 6-1 win Friday.

"I finally got it," Rodriguez said.

Home run No. 500? Nah. It was No. 501, which he laced over the center-field wall in the second inning.

"There were long negotiations," Rodriguez joked. "I gave up a chapstick and a glass of water. I hope the Rutgers kid is listening."

That's a reference to Sonny Kowalczck, the Rutgers graduate student who is still sitting on Rodriguez's milestone blast.

"We're going to get it at some point," Rodriguez said. "I hope."

Goodbye Igawa? Kei Igawa's brief and disappointing tenure in pinstripes could be in its final act.

According to a report on foxsports.com, the San Diego Padres have placed a waiver claim on the 28-year-old left-hander.

The Yankees, if they so choose, would have until weekend's end to complete a deal.

Igawa was 2-3 with a 6.79 with the Bombers this year. And since his second and most recent demotion to Triple-A Scranton, Igawa has allowed seven earned runs over 11 innings.

Yet considering the fortune already invested in Igawa, a trade seems unlikely. The Yankees paid his former Japanese club $26 million simply for the rights to negotiate with Igawa, and then signed the pitcher to a five-year, $20 million contract.

Giambi idle: Jason Giambi has not exactly been a busy man since returning from the disabled list.

And with Melky Cabrera having entrenched himself in center field and Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui splitting time in left field and DH, that might not soon be changing.

"Buy in or not, it's the reality," Torre said. "We're trying to keep the finger on the pulse of the team and do what works."

Giambi started at DH in his second game back Wednesday, but has sat out the first two games in Cleveland. Torre said Giambi will likely see the lineup Sunday.

"Everybody understands," Torre said. "We talked to him about that. There's a lot of talent here ... and our job is to keep people sharp."

Yankees extras: Torre rode out his one-game suspension in a Jacobs Field luxury box with friend and former NBA coach Mike Fratello. Alas, the buddies had little time to talk. Fratello was busy fielding calls from friends who saw the pair on TV, including former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. Meanwhile, Torre's pals left him alone. "I guess they figured I was managing," Torre said. ... Cabrera celebrated his 23rd birthday Saturday. ... As Rodriguez goes, so go the Bombers. The Yankees had won 17 of the last 18 games in which A-Rod has homered entering Saturday. He hit career homer No. 502 in Saturday's seven-run second inning.

On deck: The Yankees wrap up their weekend set with the Tribe on Sunday afternoon at Jacobs Field. Andy Pettite (8-7, 4.00 ERA) will be opposed by Cleveland right-hander Jake Westbrook (3-6, 5.00 ERA).