Posted at 5:58 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Yankee rookie no-hit bid foiled by leg injury
Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas — Rookie pitcher Phil Hughes of the New York Yankees was working on a no-hitter in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers when he came out of the game with a hamstring injury.He was replaced by Mike Myers, who got through the seventh without allowing a hit before giving up a leadoff double in the eighth to Hank Blalock.
The 20-year-old right-hander, considered one of the top prospects in baseball, was cruising along in a dominant performance when he winced and grabbed the back of his left thigh after throwing an 0-2 breaking ball to Mark Teixeira with one out in the seventh. It was Hughes' 83rd pitch.
"He said he felt a pop," catcher Jorge Posada said.
Yankees manager Joe Torre, pitching coach Ron Guidry and a trainer came out to the mound to check on Hughes, who was removed from the game and walked gingerly back to the dugout, where he received a warm reception from teammates.
Hughes walked three and struck out six. He left with a 9-0 lead.
Hughes was called up from Triple-A Scranton to fill a spot in New York's injury-depleted rotation. Mike Mussina (hamstring), Carl Pavano (forearm) and Jeff Karstens (broken right leg) are on the disabled list. Chien-Ming Wang also missed the first three weeks of the season with a hamstring injury.
Ian Kinsler followed Blalock's double with an RBI single. Myers finished the eighth and Luis Vizcaino worked the ninth to complete the two-hitter.
