Hughes Brilliant as Yankees Defeat White Sox, 6-0, In Rain Shortened Game

There wasn't as much baseball as anticipated, but that didn't stop the Yankees from winning a fifth straight game in just 6 1/2 innings. We sat through two* rain delays and waited nearly four hours in total, but it was well worth it.

Phil Hughes tossed his best outing of the season, and possibly saved his rotation spot in the process. In a rain-shortened game, Hughes was exactly what he needed to be: aggressive and efficient. The right-hander needed just 65 pitches to toss six shutout innings of three hit ball, all of which were singles, while not walking a batter. Hughes also struck out four White Sox, hit 95.1 mph on the radar gun, and averaged 92.5 mph with his fastball. 

Robinson Cano provided all the offense Hughes would need with his first inning RBI double, but the Yankees would not stop there. In the next inning, Russell Martin hit his 11th homer of the season to push the Yankees' lead to 2-0.

Mark Teixeira would add three more runs to the scoreboard by launching his 30th and 31st homers of the year, a two-run shot and a solo shot, respectively.

Andruw Jones finished the scoring by plating Cano with an RBI single.

Overall, Yankees fans have to be happy with this game. Phil Hughes looked like the early 2010 version of Phil Hughes and every starter outside of Brett Gardner had a hit. There's always someone that doesn't get an invitation.

Tomorrow, A.J. Burnett will take the mound in hopes of securing a series win.

Box Score.

Play of the Game: Tex, part one.

*The first rain delay wasn't really a "rain delay," as it never actually rained.