Game 8: Yankees lose 5-2

Phil Hughes (0-1) struggled with command in his start against the Kansas City Royals Tuesday afternoon in the Yankees' 5-2 loss. Hughes walked four on three plus innings and also allowed four earned runs and six hits.

Hughes also threw 87 pitches in his shortened outing. In his three full innings, he threw 22, 33 and 24 pitches, respectively. He fastball also topped out at 92 m.p.h.

The Royals offense got to work early. Joey Gathright led off the game with a single and then stole second. Following a ground out, Mark Teahen doubled to left center to score Gathright.

The Yankees were able to respond with two runs in the top of the second off of Kansas City starter Brian Bannister (2-0). After two quick out, Jorge Posada singled and Jason Giambi walked. Wilson Betemit then singled to score Posada. A Melky Cabrera walk loaded the bases and Johnny Damon then drew a walk to score the go-ahead run. The threat ended on a Robinson Cano strikeout.

Kansas City tied the game after a John Buck sacrifice fly. Alex Gordon led off with a single and took second base on a Bobby Abreu error. He then advanced to third on a ground out. Following two walks and a hit batsman, Hughes finally got out of the inning.

Gathright single-handedly scored a run in the fourth inning. After he led off with a single, he stole second and third base (he had three stolen bases on the afternoon) with no out. Mark Grudzielanek then singled him home, thus ending Hughes' afternoon.

Ross Ohlendorf did not provide much relief. He was able to induce a double play in the fourth inning, but fell apart in the fifth. Billy Butler led off with a single and then went to third on a Gordon double. Both were able to score on Ross Gload's two-run single to give the Royals a 5-2 lead which proved to be the final score.

Bannister struck out six and walked four over five innings. Like Hughes, he struggled with command and got up to 97 pitches. He gave up five hits and only two earned runs despite the walks.

Billy Traber and LaTroy Hawkins pitched a scoreless inning each. Traber allowed a hit and struck out two and Hawkins allowed a hit and a walk but also struck out a batter.

The Yankees had seven hits, all by seven different batters and all singles.

The Yankees fall to 4-4 with the loss, while Kansas City improves to 5-2. Ian Kennedy will face Zack Greinke tomorrow night at 8:10 p.m.

Notes: Posada left the game with an apparent injury and was replaced by Jose Molina. If there are any updates, I will pass them along. ... Alex Rodriguez went 0-4 with four strikeouts - three of them looking. ... The Yankees are 4-4 for the fifth-straight season.

(Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)